Ibbotson, who has run the Ox for over 10 years, picked up his award in front of more than 1,200 guests at the glamorous ceremony, which hails the pub industry’s finest, at the Grosvenor House hotel in London.
Judges were impressed with his “outstanding track record at the Durham Ox” and his “confidence in the pub trade” by launching two new venues.
Other big winners on the night were London brewer and pub operator Fuller’s, which picked up the Managed Pub Company and Regional Brewer of the Year awards.
Meanwhile, Martson’s was named the Tenanted & Leased Pub Company of the Year.
Merged publications
The awards, which were hosted by comedian and TV presenter Dara O’Briain, took place during the week that the The Publican merged with BigHospitality’s sister publication the Morning Advertiser to form the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.
Charles Reed, group managing director of parent company, William Reed Business Media, said: “This event is quite rightly held in high regard because it celebrates the success of, and provides recognition for, the sector’s top companies and licensees.”
He added: “The pub trade has plenty of talent, and, of course, our finalists are the cream of that trade.”
Winner of Freehouse of the Year was Driftwood Spars in St Agnes, Cornwall, while the Cask Pub & Kitchen in London’s Pimlico was named as the Tenanted & Leased Pub of the Year.
The Multiple Operator of the Year (2-19 outlets) was Renaissance Pubs, the company, which is headed by Tom Peake, Mark Reynolds and Nick Fox, and operates five pubs in London.
The Shibden Mill Inn in West Yorkshire was named Food pub of the Year, while Steve Smith of the Freemasons in Wiswell, Lancashire, picked up the Newcomer of the Year awards.
The awards were sponsored by Booker, Brakes, Budweiser Budvar; CPL Training, Diageo Raise the Bar; Kuehne+Nagel, Makro, Morgan’s Spiced, Playboy Energy Drink, PRS for Music, Stowford Press Cider, Turbo Drinks Company, and Walkers.
Full list of winners
Publican of the Year
Michael Ibbotson of the Durham Ox, Crayke, North Yorkshire
Barperson of the Year
Rebecca Jones, team leader of the Terra Nova, Cardiff Bay, South Wales
Family Pub of the Year
Swiss Cottage, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
Corporate Social Responsibility
Adnams, Southwold, Suffolk
Multiple Operator of the Year (2-19 outlets)
Reniassance, London
Regional Brewer of the Year
Fullers, Chiswick, London
Freehouse of the Year
The Driftwood Spars, St Agnes, Cornwall
Tenanted and Leased Pub of the Year
Cask Pub and Kitchen, London
Tenanted and Leased Pub Company of the Year
Marston's
Music Pub of the Year
Golden Fleece, Chelmsford, Essex
Community Pub of the Year
The Grays Inn, Aberdeen
Pub Design of the Year
Horatio Todd's, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Customer Service Pub of the Year
The Station Hotel, Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester
Food Pub of the Year
Shibden Mill Inn, Shibden, West Yorkshire
Accommodation Pub of the Year
The Wiremill, Felbridge, Surrey
Managed Pub Company of the Year
Fullers
Newcomer of the Year
Steve Smith, Freemasons, Wiswell, Lancashire