Director of 56-year-old family-run Northampton pub business with 18 venues scoops top spot at esteemed Food & Drink Awards
The operations director of a 56-year-old family-run pub business with 18 venues across the county and beyond scooped top spot at the esteemed Weetabix Food & Drink Awards 2026/27.
Tom McManus, who was named F&B Achiever on Thursday October 15, joined McManus Pub Co. in 2019 and has held his post as operations director for the past 18 months.
“It was very much recognition and I’m very proud to have received it,” Tom told the Chronicle & Echo. “It was humbling and a good recognition of the direction we’re going.”
Tom described McManus Pub Co. as a 56-year-old family-run pub business with 18 venues, 16 of which are in Northamptonshire and the other two are in Southend-on-Sea in Essex. He says they have an "eclectic mix of businesses”, with pubs that just serve drinks to food-centric establishments.
“We consistently invest in our venues, people and services to improve our premium products and environment,” said Tom, who explained it is only in recent years that McManus Pub Co. has put itself forward for local awards.
“This gives us confidence that we’re not standing still and we’re constantly trying to innovate what we do to operate at the top of the industry locally.”
Tom’s main focus over the past three months has been investing in the company’s technology infrastructure, including a new till system, a soon-to-be introduced loyalty scheme, and an employee app to support training.
“We’re data driven across the business with a good use of AI to put us at the front of what we’re doing,” said Tom. “We’ve invested in competitive socialising, including a karaoke room at Phipps, interactive darts at Barratts and interactive beer pong is coming to another site. We want to make the most of every square foot of each venue.”
When asked his hopes for the future of McManus Pub Co., Tom concluded: “We’re not in a rush to keep adding businesses. We’ll be looking at our estate to understand what’s working for us and invest in improving what’s not.
“We’re focusing on inward investment to make our estate the best it can be. Across the county there are gaps for improving country pubs, the quality of food and looking at adding bedrooms.”