Greater Manchester pub shortlisted for best new site at national awards
Cheadle Hulme’s The Station House has been shortlisted for Best New Site at the prestigious Publican Awards 2026, one of the most respected accolades in the UK hospitality industry.
The Best New Site category celebrates pub openings or substantial redevelopments that have successfully built trade, connected with their communities and delivered a compelling guest experience. Having opened in October following a joint £1.3m renovation between Almond Family Pubs and iconic Manchester-based brewery Joseph Holt, The Station House has been shortlisted alongside an impressive field of finalists from across the UK.
The Publican Awards are widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence within the hospitality industry and are judged by an independent panel of experts who assess everything from operational performance and innovation to customer experience and long-term sustainability. Reaching the finalist stage is a significant achievement for Almond Family Pubs, which was also nominated for Best Pub Operations Team at the 2025 Publican Awards. The Station House marks a return to Cheadle Hulme for the group, and represents a significant evolution of their offer.
James Almond, director of Almond Family Pubs, said: “We are delighted to see The Station House shortlisted for Best New Site at The Publican Awards. This nomination means a great deal to us and is a real testament to the passion, creativity and commitment of our general manager Zac and his entire team. From the outset, this was a big departure for us. We wanted to create something elevated but still true to our brand and to what our customers are seeking: quality, value and a great atmosphere.
“The design was inspired by the golden age of rail travel, and was carefully considered to allow the space to evolve throughout the day, from coffee mornings to pints at the bar, allowing us to welcome a broad mix of guests. Our aim was to create a pub for all occasions and all seasons: inclusive but with an exclusive feel. The feedback so far has been fantastic, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that recognised at a national level.”
Richard Kershaw, CEO of Joseph Holt, said: “The collaboration between Joseph Holt, one of the country’s most historic and respected family breweries, and Almond Family Pubs, a thriving family-run business, represents a true coming together of ideas, community, ethos and shared values. Both are family businesses with strong local roots and long-standing track records of running successful pubs.
“When Almond Family Pubs took over the tenancy of The Station House, formerly Platform 5, from Joseph Holt, it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It is hugely gratifying to see this rejuvenated landmark pub now being shortlisted for this prestigious award, and we wish the team every continued success for the future.”
The winners will be announced at the Publican Awards ceremony, taking place at Evolution London on 25 March 2026, bringing together leading pub and hospitality operators from across the UK to celebrate the very best in the industry.