We are popping champagne corks here at Gibbon Bridge today after being voted one of Britain’s Best Places to Work . . . beating off stiff competition from more than 1000 top hotels and restaurants across the UK.

The prestigious contest – run jointly by industry bible The Caterer and HR experts Purple Cubed – rated us FIFTH in their Top 30 nationwide.

Our four star hotel owned and run by Janet Simpson, was one of only three northern venues to make the Top 30 list.

We also beat both other northern nominees which were Manchester’s Midland Hotel (ranked 19th) and 25 Langdale Leisure (ranked 25th) in Ambleside, Cumbria.

Judges praised Gibbon Bridge’s management team for its focus on “work-life balance, fair pay and career progression for staff.”

Gibbon Bridge scored a performance rating of 87.5% on being a company that respects work-life balance against a benchmark of 69.94%, and 90.63% against a benchmark of 78.73% on creating an environment where staff work together to produce good results.

Gibbon Bridge is a family affair. It opened as a hotel in 1982 when Janet and her mother Maggie decided to diversify from farming. They started with six bedrooms and a bar, but as the business grew, so did the hotel. There are now 30 bedrooms, a restaurant and conference and events facilities set in 23 acres.

Janet says: “It is wonderful that we have been recognised among some of the largest and most prestigious players in the United Kingdom.”

Asked why Janet believes she has retained her core team from the start, she said: “I don’t have much family left and my staff has become family to me.”

For the full list of winners and their ranking: https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/366821/the-top-30-best-places-to-work-in-hospitality