The SIBA Business Awards 2023

The winners of the SIBA Business Awards 2023 were unveiled at BeerX in Liverpool in March this year at a ceremony hosted by beer writing legend Pete Brown.

The annual awards celebrate the very best beer businesses across the UK – with categories recognising successful breweries, pubs, taprooms and bottle shops, as well as the people behind them.

A Wild night

Wildcard in Walthamstow, London, took home the award’s biggest accolade, winning Brewery Business of the Year 2023 in what was a big night for the beer and brewing industry.

Wildcard’s owners Will Harris and Jaega Wise were on hand to accept the award.

“Delighted to win the award – it’s just huge recognition for everyone at Wildcard and we’re just really proud of what we have achieved as a team,” said Will Harris.

Jaega Wise added: “We have been going for eleven years now and to get recognition on a national level is unbelievable for the team –we’re going to go out tonight and celebrate! At Wildcard we operate a skinny team that works hard, so for us this is the ultimate validation. Sometimes things have got tough over the last couple of years and so an award like this really does mean everything.”

The SIBA Business Awards are judged by a panel of independent beer industry experts, and organised by SIBA. The awards cover everything from brewery marketing, design and innovation, to efforts to make businesses more sustainable or impactful.

Awards host Pete Brown had this to say on Wildcard’s win: “Wildcard were hugely impressive across the board, taking home the top prize in two categories and carve a niche for themselves with unique design, top quality beers and keen business instincts. Their influence on the industry has been huge for what is a relatively small brewery and judges were blown away by just how much they doing to progress the brewery on all fronts.”

New for 2023

The 2023 awards also for the first time included a new “Empowering People” Award, which seeks to highlight the best breweries in the UK to work for by empowering and supporting their teams and championing inclusivity and diversity. The new award places a spotlight on independent craft breweries who go above and beyond for the members of their team; empowering people to achieve more in their professional career, introducing initiatives and incentives which create a positive working environment, making efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity, or providing benefits or support mechanisms which encourage a happier healthier life for employees.

On the panel

Joining the expert judging panel for 2023 were Andy Slee, SIBA Chief Executive; Caroline Nodder, Editor of Independent Brewer and the SIBA British Craft Beer Report; Alex Metcalfe, lead on CAMRA

Learn & Discover; Jo Hunter, Interior & Architectural Design expert and founder of Hunter’s Daughter; Charlie Docherty, SIBA Business Development Officer; and Neil Walker, SIBA Head of Comms & Marketing, who chaired the panel.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists in this year’s awards from everyone in the SIBA team!

SIBA business awards winners 2023

Winners

Marketing Implementation

Black Sheep Brewery - WINNER

Sponsor - Festival Glass

Presented to Alex Balchin by Kelsey Cheesbrough

Sustainable Business

Bluestone Brewing Co & Ramsgate BreweryJOINT WINNERS

Sponsor - Charles Faram & Co Ltd

Presented to Tom Dunn & Eddie Gadd by Will Rogers & Charlie Gorham

Individual Design

Anspach & Hobday - WINNER

Sponsor - Evolution Cooling Ltd

Presented to Daniel, Paul, Jack & Jacob by David Rock

Concept Design

Wild Card Brewery - WINNER

Sponsor - Rankin Brothers & Sons

Presented to Ellie, Jaega & William by Andy Cox

Supplier Associate of the Year

Festival Glass - WINNER

Sponsor - SIBA

Presented to Kelsey Cheesbrough by Andy Slee

Business Innovation

Lincoln Green Brewing - WINNER

Sponsor - Close Brothers Brewery Rentals

Presented to Anthony Hughes by Mark Banks

Commercial Achievement

Hobsons Brewery - WINNER

Sponsor - Saxon Packaging Ltd

Presented to Charlie by Mike Impson

Community Engagement

Full Circle Brew Co - WINNER

Sponsor - Napthens

Presented to Full Circle Brewery by Jamie Allison

Empowering People

Brewhouse & Kitchen - WINNER

Sponsor - Konvoy UK

Presented to Brewhouse & Kitchen by Tom Meakin

Craft Beer Retailer - Single Brewery Market, Twickenham - WINNER

Sponsor - Beer Box Shop

Presented to Denis & Linda by Heather Hulse

Craft Beer Retailer - Multiple A Hoppy Place - WINNER

Sponsor - Beer Box Shop

Presented to Dave & Naomi by Nick Birchall

Craft Beer Retailer - Online

A Hoppy Place - WINNER

Sponsor - Certruss

Presented to Dave & Naomi by Wesley Thompson

SIBA business awards winners 2023

Craft Beer Promotion Hop Forward - WINNER

Sponsor - Willis Publicity

Presented to Nick Law by Rachel Harriott, SIBA

Craft Brewery Tap Room

Hackney Church Brew Co. - WINNER

Sponsor - Deep Water Blue Limited

Presented to Jacob & Hamish by Ken O'Brien

Craft Beer Pub or Bar - City

Bullhouse East, Belfast - WINNER

Sponsor - Sure Purity

Presented to Bullhouse Brewery by Gary Robson

Craft Beer Pub or Bar - Rural Elephant & Castle, Wheathampstead - WINNER

Sponsor - Enexus Energy Ltd

Presented to Jason & Nick by Richard Powell

Craft Brewery Webshop Wild Card Brewery - WINNER

Sponsor - Saxon Packaging Ltd

Presented to Ellie, Jaega & William by Mike Impson