Awards

Since its inception in 2009, GSG Hospitality has become an award-winning independent bar and restaurant group. Nominated and honoured for its business acumen, quality of food and people behind the brand, ten years on, GSG continues to make waves in the hospitality industry, being shortlisted and awarded across its portfolio.

2026

  • NORD retains 2 AA rosettes
  • Liverpool City Tourism Awards – Best Restaurant NORD receives a special commendation

2025

  • Liverpool Hospitality People Awards
  • Holly Haines, from Bold Street Coffee, Barista of the Year
  • Richie Grieson from NORD Excellence in Food Service,

2024

  • NORD has received Two AA Rosettes for culinary excellence
  • NORD has been shortlisted for the Ethical, Responsible, and Sustainable Tourism Award, sponsored by Kimpton! This nomination reflects their commitment to sustainable practices and responsible sourcing
  • NORD was officially part of the Michelin Guide, less than a year after opening
  • Liverpool Hospitality People Awards 2024 directors, Nick Thomas & John Ennis, won the prestigious Bar Mixologist of The Year awards
  • Liverpool Hospitality People Awards 2024 Kristie Palmer, Operations Manager at Bold Street Coffee, earned the well-deserved Manager of The Year title.
  • Liverpool Hospitality People Awards 2024 John Douglas, Operation Manager for GSG Hospitality, and Daniel Heffy, Executive Head Chef for NORD, received honourable nominations in their respective categories! GSG had a total of 7 nominations across the 17 categories.
  • Manolo was awarded Class Bar’s Social Media Presence of the Year
  • NORD was awarded Conde Nast Traveller’s Top New Restaurant of the Year
  • Bold Street Coffee Manchester was nominated for Coffee Shop of the Year at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards!
  • NORD was nominated for the Good Food Guide’s Best Sunday Roast
  • Time Out’s number 7 best city in the WORLD was Liverpool, and GSG Hospitality’s resident dive bar Salt Dog Slim’s has been spotlighted for its world-class late-night energy!

2023

  • UK Top 50 Cocktail Bars – Manolo won the award for Best Newcomer
  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Duke Street Food and Drink Market nominated for Independent Tourism Business of the Year
  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Bold Street Coffee nominated for Taste Award for Cafe/Bistro of the Year
  • Restaurant, Marketer and Innovator Awards – Duke Street Food and Drink Market nominated for Best Use of Technology in partnership with Peazi

2022

  • Duke Street Food and Drink Market won the award for Best Food and Drink Market in SME News’ Northern Enterprise Awards 2022
  • UK Top 50 Cocktail Bars – Manolo was shortlisted Top 50
  • Merseyside Independent Business Awards – Duke Street Food and Drink Market won Restaurant of the Year
  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Duke Street Market shortlisted for Independent Tourism Business of the Year
  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Bold Street Coffee won the Taste Award for Cafe/Bistro of the Year

2021

  • City of Liverpool Business Awards 2021 – Duke Street Market won the award for Hospitality Venue of the Year 2021

2020

  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Duke Street Market won the award for Tourism Business of the Year
  • National Burger Awards – Slim’s shortlisted for its signature Double Cheeseburger
  • Business Masters Awards – Duke Street Market shortlisted for Newcomer
  • Business Masters Awards – GSG shortlisted for Large Business
  • Business Masters Awards – GSG shortlisted for Investment

2019

  • Restaurant Marketer & Innovator Awards – GSG’s Lab was shortlisted for Innovation of the Year.
  • Merseyside Independent Business Awards – Directors Matt Farrell and John Ennis shortlisted for Business Person of the Year Awards.
  • Great British Entrepreneur Awards – Directors Matt Farrell and John Ennis were shortlisted for Food and Drink Entrepreneurs in the North West alongside other incredibly successful entrepreneurs and were awarded runner up!
  • Food Porn Awards – Slim’s Pork Chop Express won the Casual Dining category with its famous roast dinner.
  • Northern Restaurant Bar Awards – Founders Matt Farrell and John Ennis were both named in Northern Restaurant Bar’s top 50 Northern Hospitality Power List.

2018

  • Northern Restaurant Bar Awards – Graffiti Spirits Group was voted by judges as one of the top 50 companies in the North West.

2017

  • Downtown In Business Awards (Liverpool) – Co-founder Matt Farrell scooped the Young Entrepreneur of the Year award.
  • National Pizza Awards – Santa Maluco beat thousands of other venues to make it to the final 16 pizzerias to be named in the UK’s best pizza makers.
  • Northern Restaurant Bar Awards – Graffiti Spirits Group was voted by judges as one of the top 50 companies in the North West.

2016

  • Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – Graffiti Spirits Group was named in the top 5 regional tourism businesses.
  • Merseyside Independent Business Awards – Directors Matt Farrell and John Ennis were shortlisted from more than a thousand businesses and took home the Highly Commended accolade in the Independent Business Person of the Year category.
  • North West Business Insider’s 42 under 42 – Founders Matt Farrell and John Ennis were included in the highly acclaimed 42 entrepreneurs and pioneering achievers in business.
  • Northern Restaurant Bar Awards – Graffiti Spirits Group was voted by judges as one of the top 50 companies in the North West.

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Our Brands

Bold Street Coffee Duke Street Market Nord Salt Dog Slims 81 Ltd MDNT Manolo El Bandito