The top movers and shakers of the UK drinks industry gathered in London to hear the results of the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2019.
The nominees were voted for by Imbibe magazine’s readers in record-breaking numbers and the shortlist included the highest calibre of UK on-trade professionals.
Christine Parkinson, Hakkasan’s group wine buyer and Sommelier Wine Awards Head of Judging, picked up the prestigious Industry Legend award. This is Christine’s second Imbibe Personality of the Year award win, having picked up the Restaurant Personality of the Year award in 2011 (the first ever edition of the awards), the same year the late Gérard Basset picked up the Industry Legend award.
Imbibe editor, Chris Losh, commented: “Ever curious, always innovative, unfailingly generous and never anything less than wholly professional, Christine has trained, inspired and instilled all the right values in an entire generation of bar- and restaurant staff.”
“She’s put in the time, for starters, with over 30 years experience of hospitality, and having filled positions from head chef to sommelier to operational and managerial roles, it’s safe to say she knows the on-trade inside out.”
“Her self-avowed goal is to make people see hospitality as a top career of choice. And with her legendary inspiration it surely can be.”
The winners on the night were:
Christine Parkinson, Hakkasan Group
Industry Legend 2019 (sponsored by Southern Comfort)
James Bowker, Nocturnal Animals, Birmingham
Hot Stuff 2019 (sponsored by Tanqueray No. Ten)
Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson, Swift, London
Bar Owner of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Woodford Reserve)
The Edgbaston, Birmingham
Bar Team of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Ketel One Vodka)
Dan Bovey, Hyde & Co, Bristol
Bartender of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Fernet-Branca)
Cont…
Jan Konetzki, Ten Trinity Square, London
Sommelier of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Ramón Bilbao)
Andy Davies and team, Beer Merchants Tap, London
Tapster of the Year 2019
John Azzopardi and Aaron Burns, Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing
Pub Personality of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Licor 43) (Note: joint winner)
Jonathon Swaine, Fuller’s
Pub Personality of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Licor 43) (Note: joint winner)
Marcis Dzelzainis and Michael Sager, Sager + Wilde and Fare, London
Restaurant Personality of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Champagne Gosset)
Dawn Leeder, Norwich City of Ale, Norwich
Innovator of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Fentimans)
Hannah Lanfear, The Mixing Class
Educator of The Year 2019 (sponsored by Brew + Press)
Judges for the competition included Jane Payton (founder and principal at the School of Booze), Martin Lamb (wine consultant and Sommelier Wine Awards team leader), Sam Fish (operations director at MOJO Bars), Julian de Féral (Gorgeous Group), and of course the Imbibe editorial team.
