New Moon Scoops Prestigious Award #Blog
Taste Cheshire
9th October 2014
Cheshire based New Moon Pub Company, was crowned ‘Business of the Year’, at The 2014 Cheshire Business Awards on Friday night. The owners David Mooney and Paul Newman were delighted to have scooped such a prestigious award just days before they open their 6th site The Mockingbird Taproom in Chester city centre.
The awards ceremony was held at Chester Cathedral, a stunning backdrop to the event, and companies from across Cheshire were represented at the annual awards. Lucy Meacock presented the award to New Moon and made reference to the fact it had been a heavily contested award. New Moon beat fellow short listers Chester Race Company and Roberts Jackson Solicitors, two very high calibre entrants.
Paul Newman, commented “What a great week! A fantastic award and the opening of our sixth site to boot! We’re really chuffed with the award, particularly in light of the strength of the competition.”
New Moon, established by restaurant stalwarts, Paul Newman and David Mooney, have now established 6 successful venues across the North West in just 3 years. A shared vision and an exciting marketing plan have all contributed to the success of the duo who first opened The Lord Binning in Kelsall in 2011 and subsequently the Old Sessions House, The Hanging Gate and The Montgomery followed and then their first city centre location Beef & Pudding in April 2014. Chester’s new venue, the Mockingbird Taproom opens on Watergate Street this week.
David Mooney, co-owner and Chef Patron at The New Moon Pub Company has a glittering CV including an apprenticeship with Raymond Blanc and a stint as Commis Chef to Marco Pierre White! Previously Chef Patron of the Belle Epoque in Knutsford, David is recognisable as a media star, with many appearances on television and on radio under his belt. Notably, he was the resident chef on the region’s Granada Tonight programme and made over 200 appearances, as well as hosting the ‘Food Hunter’, in which he travelled throughout the North West cooking up a culinary storm in various locations using locally sourced produce.
Paul Newman is a veteran front-of-house marketeer and operator with over 25 years’ experience in the hospitality, fine dining and wine industries. A former Regional Brand Manager for Absolut Vodka UK, Paul was a founder member and shareholder in successful concern Living Ventures Ltd, renowned for setting up The Living Room restaurants and bars, Gusto Restaurants and The Blackhouse Grills. In 2009 due to his sustained accomplishments, he was named as one of the most influential people in the UK hospitality industry at the Theme Magazine awards.
Paul and David have known each other for a number of years and held a mutual admiration for each others’ businesses and work ethics. With complimentary skills and a great friendship to support it they are an unstoppable duo and are transforming venues and creating concepts which are proving highly successful, across the North West!