Stonegate Pub Company has won the award for best Promotional and Marketing Activity at UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards, an annual celebration of the UK’s late-night hospitality sector. The winners were announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at Troxy, Commercial Road, London on Wednesday 16 October 2019.
In this category, the judges were looking for a stand-out company that fills its late-night venues by attracting customers through its innovative promotional activity.
Stonegate is a key player in the late-night industry; in the last year, over seven million people have partied in the company’s iconic venues including Popworld, Reflex, Flares and Fever, as well as its many specialist LGTBQ+ specialist sites.
Each year, Stonegate Pub Company’s central marketing team plans a robust but fluid 12 month rolling marketing calendar covering all key dates, campaigns and activity, resulting in the delivery of over 50 major marketing campaigns and activations as well as 250 events, which resulted in an average sales growth of more than 20%.
Highlights include the pioneering New Year’s Eve events when Stonegate late-night venues were seen as the ‘place to be’ on the stroke of midnight, with a range of entertainment on offer, such as Masquerade Balls and Colour Festivals. The jewel in the crown was the creation and launch of Jägermeister Ice-Cold Tour, which comprised of an immersive customer experience, featuring Jägermeister edible bubbles, a live ice wall sculpture, immersive actors and a laser mirror dancer.
Alan Armstrong, Head of Marketing at Stonegate Pub Company, said: “It is a real honour to have won this award. The whole team has worked incredibly hard over the past year to increase customer engagement and drive sales for our venues, through our carefully planned marketing campaigns and promotional activity – and the results speak for themselves.
“Over the coming year we will continue to create industry leading campaigns to grow our social media influence, digital footprint and brand awareness. We have big plans for 2020, so watch this space!”
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Editor’s notes:
About Stonegate Pub Company
Stonegate Pub Company is the largest privately held managed pub operator in the UK, with revenues in excess of £800m and we employ over 14,000 people. The company has 772 pubs, split into two divisions, Branded, comprising: Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout, Be At One, Venues; and Traditional comprising: Proper Pubs, Town Pub & Kitchen, Classic Inns and Common Room.
2019 – UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards – Icon Award (Ian Payne MBE)
2019 – UK Hospitality’s Dusk ‘til Dawn Late Night Awards – Best Marketing and Promotions Award
2019 – Great British Pub Awards – Best LGBTQ+ Pub
2019 – BII Scotland Awards – Best Operator for Training
2019 – Ian Payne MBE, Lifetime Achievement Award, Retailers Retailer of the Year; Investor of the Year TDR Capital, Retailers Retailer of the Year
2019 – Two Menu Innovation & Development Awards (MIDAS): Slug & Lettuce best menu – Premium High Street Pub; Walkabout best menu -Town & City Pub
2019 – Publican Awards (five awards): Best Community Pub Operator, Best Pub Employer (501+ employees), Best Managed Pub Company (51+ sites), Best Drinks Offer, Business Leader of the Year – Chief Executive, Simon Longbottom
2018 – Late Night Awards – Best Service & Team Development and Best Late Night Company
2018 – Licensed Trade Charity – Outstanding Corporate Contribution Award
2018 – Great British Pub Awards (two awards) – Best LGBTQ+ and Best Sports Pub
2018 – APPBG PUBAID Corporate Charity Fundraiser Award
2018 – Publican Awards – Best Late Night Operator
2017 – Great British Pub Awards (three awards) – Best Pub Garden, Best Entertainment and Best Sports Pub
2017 – Publican Awards (two awards) – Best Managed Pub Company; and Best Late Night Operator (plus highly commended Best Employer)
2017 – Menu Innovation and Development Award (MIDAS) - Premium High Street Pub (TPK)
2017 – Retailers’ Retailer Award – Investor of the Year (TDR Capital)
2016 – BII National Industry Training Awards (NITA) (two awards) – Best Managed Company for Training; Lifetime Achievement Award for Chairman, Ian Payne
2016 – Great British Pub Awards – Best Sports Pub
2016 – Scottish Training Federation – Best Large Employer
2016 – HR Excellence Awards – Best Learning and Development Strategy
2016 – HR Distinction Awards (two awards) – Innovation for Digital & Social Media; People Development
2014 – (Three awards) – HR Distinction in Innovative Use of Technology; Publican - Business Leader of the Year, Chairman Ian Payne; MIDAS Best New Concept Missoula, Montana Bar & Grill
2013 – (Two awards) – Publican award Best Pub Employer; MIDAS City and Bar Dining award Slug and Lettuce.