Coffer Group Chairman, David Coffer was last night awarded with a special prize for Outstanding Services to the Leisure Industry at the annual Peach Network 2020 Conference Hero and Icon Awards.

It was one of 13 Industry Icon Awards presented for excellence in the UK eating and drinking out market as part of the sell-out a 2012 conference hosted by the Peach Factory.

Staged in London, Hero award winners also included Jamie’s Italian Gatwick, which was awarded Best Transport Opening. Earlier this year, Davis Coffer Lyons (DCL) advised Gatwick Airport for Jamie Oliver’s first airport restaurant at Gatwick’s North Terminal. The bespoke restaurant, which opened in June, provides a number of options for time-pressed passengers including a Jamie’s Italian restaurant complete with the first ever Jamie’s Italian Bakery and a Union Jacks Bar. It forms part of DCL’s ongoing instruction by Gatwick for its £1.2 billion investment programme to transform the airport and provide fresh, modern facilities.

Other winners were Andy Bassadone of Cote & Bill’s Produce, Nando’s, Loungers, Cote, YO! Sushi, Wagamama, Hall & Woodhouse, Byron Burger Shack and Living Ventures New World Pub Co. Mitchells & Butlers chairman Bob Ivell and YO! Sushi chief executive Robin Rowland both received Industry Icon awards at last night’s Awards for their inspirational contribution to the UK eating and drinking-out market.

Peter Martin, CEO of Peach Factory, said of the winners: “This the most competitive era for the eating and drinking out market in Britain. It is also the most exciting and creative, as our winners so ably demonstrate, rising to the challenge of tough times with ingenuity and determination. They show just what a vibrant and inspirational market this is.

“David Coffer has been one of eating-out’s most influential players of the last 40 years, establishing the pub and restaurant sector as a distinct element of the property market. ‘Mr Leisure’ has been an active partner for many of the country’s most successful operators and developers—and he has found time to encourage others through work with trade associations and charities.”

The full list of winners were:

ICON AWARD:

Bob Ivell

ICON AWARD:

Robin Rowland

NEWCOMER Presented by Ecolab:

New World Pub Company

BREAKTHROUGH BRAND Presented by Reynolds Catering:

Loungers

EVOLUTIONARY BRAND Presented by RBS:

Côte

BEST TRANSPORT OPENING Presented by Livebookings:

Jamie’s Italian, Gatwick

BRAND EXTENSION Presented by Peach Factory:

Byron’s Burger Shack

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT Presented by Enotria:

Hall & Woodhouse

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION Presented by MICROS:

Wagamama

CONSUMER CHOICE Presented by Coca Cola Enterprises:

YO! Sushi

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: COMPANY Presented by Fourth Hospitality:

Nando’s

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: INDIVIDUAL Presented by Coffer Corporate Leisure:

Andy Bassadone, Côte and Bill’s Produce

SPECIAL AWARD For outstanding services to the industry:

David Coffer