Not one, but two pubs in Aberdeen have won national awards for being the best pubs in the UK.

Foundry on Holburn Street and Murdos on Caincry Road have scooped awards at parent company, Stonegate Pub Company’s annual conference and awards. They beat off stiff competition from across the pub company’s 625 pub estate to win Top Drink Pub for Foundry and Top Sports Pub for Murdos. The awards were based on sales achievements across the financial year as well as customer feedback.
Mark Joseph and David McNair, the general managers from each pub will be rewarded, alongside other national winners, with a once-in-a-life-time trip to South Africa in January. They will be treated to 5-star luxury during their stay in Sun City and enjoy a visit to one of the nearby game reserves where they’ll experience the African bush in all its glory, home to the Big Five; leopard, lion, buffalo, rhino and elephant.

Commenting on their achievement Toby Smith, CEO of Stonegate Pub Company said, “Congratulations to the teams at Foundry and Murdos who achieved exceptional results this year and are great examples of brilliantly run pubs.”

Both Mark and David joined the company in August 2012 and set their sights on creating two of the best pubs in the company within a year. “When we attended last years’ conference we were blown away to see the managers from the best performing pubs win a trip to Las Vegas,” said David McNair, general manager of Murdos. “A prize like that was certainly a great incentive during the year and I’m over the moon to win the holiday to South Africa, but the real thrill is knowing the pub is the best sports pub across the whole estate. It’s been a real team effort over the last year and congratulations go too to the staff at the pub. Our customers are truly delighted for us and just love the difference in the pub over the last fifteen months.”