Northern Restaurant & Bar
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About this event
Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) — Hospitality Trade Event
Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB) is the North’s leading hospitality trade event, designed to bring the hospitality industry together under one roof. NRB is positioned as a must-attend date for industry professionals and features a strong mix of exhibitors, product showcases, and educational content aimed at supporting operators and businesses across the sector.
Dates and Venue
- Event dates: 9–10 March 2027
- Show location: Manchester Central Convention Complex
- Address: Windmill Street, Manchester, M2 3GX, United Kingdom
- Show times:
- Tuesday, 9 March 2027: 10:00am – 5:00pm
- Wednesday, 10 March 2027: 10:00am – 4:30pm
What NRB is like
NRB focuses specifically on the needs and interests of hospitality professionals. With over 10,000 visitors and 400+ exhibitors, NRB offers a concentrated marketplace environment where visitors can discover solutions, suppliers, and new offerings relevant to bars, restaurants, and wider hospitality operations. The show is supported by a structured seminar programme, and it includes visitor-facing highlights such as:
- Seminar Schedule and speaker-led sessions
- Kuits NRB Top Fifty
- NRB Futures
Audience (who it is for)
NRB is presented as an industry professionals-only show, bringing together decision-makers and practitioners across the hospitality ecosystem. The audience is built around operators who are actively running venues, as well as professionals looking for products, services, and ideas that can strengthen day-to-day performance and long-term growth.
Scale and exhibition profile
The show is promoted as “the North’s number one hospitality show,” and it emphasizes the depth of its exhibitor base and the quality of engagement on-site. Key figures shared by the event include:
- 10,000+ visitors
- 400+ exhibitors
Why attend
NRB is built for hospitality professionals who want to connect with relevant suppliers and learn through an engaging programme of seminar sessions. It’s also positioned as a high-value industry meeting point where attendees can explore new products, see what’s available from specialist providers, and get inspiration from industry-focused content.
Co-located / relationship with other programming
NRB is presented as being “co-located” with additional show programming and features, including elements listed under “What’s On” (Seminar Schedule, Kuits NRB Top Fifty, and NRB Futures). This structure helps make the event more than an exhibition floor by adding education and industry-facing highlights.
Useful contact routes (as published by the event)
For exhibitors and stand enquiries, the event provides a direct contact route through the official website’s exhibitor section. (Contact details are listed on the site under the exhibitor/stand enquiry area.)
If you’re evaluating NRB for global or regional hospitality sourcing, supplier discovery, or industry networking, NRB’s strong visitor and exhibitor concentration—along with its hospitality-focused seminars—makes it a clear fit for hospitality brands and service providers targeting the UK hospitality market.
Data sheet
Northern Restaurant & Bar – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: 9–10 March 2027
Location: Manchester Central, Manchester, United Kingdom
Event Status: Upcoming
Research Date: 2 July 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | Northern Restaurant & Bar |
| Event Date | 9–10 March 2027 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Manchester Central Convention Complex |
| City | Manchester |
| State / Region | Greater Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Organizer | NRB (official organizer named on event site) |
| Official Event Website | northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk |
| Event Type | B2B hospitality trade show and conference |
| Primary Category | Hospitality |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Food & Beverages, Business Services, Home & Office, Logistics & Transportation |
| Audience Reach | National, with strong regional concentration across Northern England and the UK hospitality market |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Over 10,000 visitors; 400+ exhibitors (organizer-stated figure) |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Confirmed organizer marketing claim; not independently audited in the source text |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect hospitality operators, buyers, suppliers, and speakers for sourcing, networking, education, and business development |
About the Event
Northern Restaurant & Bar is positioned as the North’s leading hospitality trade event, bringing together operators, suppliers, and industry professionals at Manchester Central. The official event messaging emphasizes a large-scale trade environment with over 10,000 visitors and 400+ exhibitors, making it a key annual buying and networking venue for the hospitality sector.
The event is commercially relevant for procurement, product discovery, menu innovation, operational improvement, and supplier relationship building. It attracts decision-makers from restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, and hospitality service businesses, alongside brands offering food and beverage products, equipment, technology, services, and category-specific solutions.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality operators | Restaurants, pubs, bars, hotels, group operators | Direct purchasing and supplier selection | Core buyer group for food, beverage, equipment, POS, and services |
| Procurement and sourcing teams | Multi-site hospitality groups, chains, contract catering businesses | Category management, supplier vetting, contract negotiation | High-value contacts for tenders, framework supply, and multi-site rollouts |
| Operations leaders | Regional operators, venue groups, hospitality brands | Influence on product adoption, service standards, and efficiency | Relevant for operational technology, logistics, waste, workforce, and back-of-house solutions |
| Chefs and culinary leaders | Independent venues, premium chains, food-led hospitality brands | Menu specification, product evaluation, innovation | Key for ingredient, beverage, equipment, and menu-tech suppliers |
| Bar and beverage buyers | Bars, pubs, hotels, drinks-led venues | Assortment selection and supplier review | Strong fit for spirits, beer, wine, soft drinks, mixers, and dispense solutions |
| Distributors and wholesalers | Foodservice distributors, beverage wholesalers, supply partners | Channel buying, distribution partnerships, account expansion | Important for suppliers seeking trade routes to market |
| Importers and brand owners | Drink brands, specialty food brands, hospitality product companies | Sourcing, UK expansion, route-to-market decisions | Suitable for launch, distributor recruitment, and partnership meetings |
| Technology leaders | Hospitality groups adopting POS, ordering, booking, CRM, and analytics tools | Specification, implementation, and integration authority | Relevant for hospitality tech vendors and system integrators |
| Industry consultants and advisors | Hospitality consultants, accountants, advisors, agencies | Influence on client supplier decisions and recommendations | Useful for partnerships, referrals, and long-cycle business development |
| Media and association leaders | Hospitality publications, trade bodies, sector associations | Thought leadership and market influence | Useful for brand visibility, PR, and market education |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester host city | Local hospitality operators, venue managers, chefs, beverage buyers | High | Major city-market concentration and strong same-day attendance potential |
| Greater Manchester / North West England | Regional hospitality groups, distributors, wholesalers, suppliers | Very High | Core regional buyer base for the event |
| Northern England business hubs | Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham spillover | High | Strong inbound reach across hospitality-heavy urban markets |
| United Kingdom national market | National chains, supplier brands, procurement leaders, operators | Medium to High | Event positioning suggests a broader UK trade audience beyond the North |
| International | Selected brands, importers, beverage suppliers, hospitality tech vendors | Low to Medium | International reach is plausible, but the event is primarily UK-focused |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event is based in Manchester but markets itself as the North’s leading hospitality trade event with UK-wide relevance for operators and suppliers. |
| Regional overlay | Strong | Deep penetration into Northern England hospitality networks, which are typically the most concentrated attendee base. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JW Lees | Pub and hospitality operator | Quoted attendee in official event content; strong hospitality buying relevance | jwlees.co.uk | Procurement Manager, Operations Director, Category Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Brunning & Price | Pub and restaurant operator | Quoted attendee in official event content; operator-side buyer profile | brunningandprice.co.uk | Operations Director, Purchasing Manager, Head of Food | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Madre / Salon Madre / Belzan | Restaurant group | Quoted attendee in official event content; independent operator buyer profile | madrehospitality.co.uk | Founder, Chef Patron, Procurement Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| North Bar | Bar operator | Quoted attendee in official event content; beverage and bar systems buyer | northbar.com | Operations Director, Bar Manager, Purchasing Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Cask Marque | Trade association / quality body | Listed in official event news content; influential to pub and drinks operators | caskmarque.co.uk | Partnership Director, Commercial Manager, Membership Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| GuestRevu | Hospitality technology provider | Official event news mentions partnership showcase; buyer-side tech relevance | guestrevu.com | IT Director, Operations Director, General Manager | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| MONIN UK | Beverage ingredient supplier | Official event news lists product launch activity; buyer audience includes beverage purchasers | monin.com/uk | Beverage Buyer, Procurement Manager, Category Manager | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| Claxton’s Spirits | Spirits brand | Official event news showcases launch activity and drinks trade relevance | claxtons.co.uk | Beverage Buyer, Bar Manager, Trading Director | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| DropWorks Rum | Spirits brand / distillery | Official event news indicates launch activity at NRB 2026; relevant for bar and restaurant buyers | dropworksdistillery.com | Purchasing Manager, Bar Buyer, On-Trade Sales Director | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| BeerSaver | Draught line cleaning / hospitality services | Official event news highlights product launch for hospitality operators | beersaver.co.uk | Facilities Manager, Bar Manager, Operations Director | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| Evans & Co Hospitality Accountants | Professional services for hospitality | Official event news notes launch of hospitality-focused services | evansco.co.uk | Finance Director, Owner, Operations Director | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
| Pago Premium Fruit Juice | Beverage brand | Official event news includes exhibitor presence and beverage buyer appeal | pago.com | Category Manager, Beverage Buyer, Supply Chain Manager | Confirmed Sponsor / Exhibitor |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer / Head of Procurement | Procurement | C-level / VP | Controls sourcing strategy, supplier panels, and contract approvals |
| 2 | Procurement Manager / Sourcing Manager | Procurement | Manager | Evaluates suppliers, pricing, and terms for hospitality spend categories |
| 3 | Operations Director / General Manager | Operations | Director / Senior Manager | Owns site performance, supplier adoption, and efficiency improvements |
| 4 | Category Manager / Buyer | Commercial / Buying | Manager | Directly responsible for product selection and supplier comparison |
| 5 | Chef Patron / Executive Chef / Head Chef | Culinary / Kitchen | Owner / Senior Management | Influences menu-driven purchasing and product trials |
| 6 | Bar Manager / Beverage Director | Front of House / Beverage | Manager / Director | Chooses drinks ranges, dispense systems, and bar suppliers |
| 7 | Facilities Manager | Facilities / Operations | Manager | Relevant for equipment, maintenance, cleaning, and back-of-house solutions |
| 8 | IT Director / CTO / Digital Transformation Lead | IT / Digital | Director / Executive | Evaluates POS, booking, CRM, and hospitality software |
| 9 | Supply Chain Director / Logistics Manager | Supply Chain | Director / Manager | Important for route-to-market, availability, and distribution discussions |
| 10 | Partnerships Director / Business Development Director | Commercial / Partnerships | Director | Identifies collaborations, sponsorships, and strategic supplier relationships |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hospitality | Primary sector served by the event | Operator, group, venue, and procurement targeting |
| 2 | Food & Beverages | Strong beverage and menu sourcing component | Ingredient, drinks, and on-trade category buyers |
| 3 | Restaurants | Core attendee base includes restaurant operators | Independent and multi-site restaurant decision-makers |
| 4 | Leisure, Travel & Tourism | Hotels, venues, and tourism-linked hospitality businesses attend | Hotel and venue purchasing stakeholders |
| 5 | Wholesale | Relevant for distributors and trade route partners | Distributor and wholesaler partnership development |
| 6 | Import & Export | Useful for beverage and specialty food brands entering UK on-trade | Brand owners seeking UK distribution |
| 7 | Information Technology & Services | Hospitality tech and digital tools have clear relevance | POS, booking, CRM, and analytics vendors |
| 8 | Business Supplies & Equipment | Operators attend for back-of-house and front-of-house procurement | Equipment, fixtures, disposables, and operating supplies |
| 9 | Events Services | Strong exhibition and sponsorship ecosystem around the show | Sponsorship, experiential, and trade-marketing suppliers |
| 10 | Environmental Services | Sustainability, waste, and compliance topics are relevant to operators | Waste management, cleaning, and sustainability solutions |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Over 10,000 visitors | Confirmed organizer claim | Official event website homepage copy | Not independently audited in source text |
| Exhibitor count | 400+ exhibitors | Confirmed organizer claim | Official event website homepage copy | Broad exhibitor scale supports lead-generation use |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed by the organizer | Unconfirmed | Organizer website does not publish a buyer-only count | Use visitor count as the best available proxy |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed in source text | Unconfirmed | Agenda and speaker list referenced on site, but count not stated in provided text | Likely meaningful but not quantified here |
| Sponsor count | Not publicly confirmed in source text | Unconfirmed | Sponsors & Partners page referenced on site | Useful for prospecting, but count not verified in the provided source text |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procurement | Better pricing, service levels, and supplier consolidation | Meet buyers evaluating new suppliers | Trade supply, managed procurement services, account support |
| Food sourcing | Ingredient quality, provenance, margin protection | Sampling and menu innovation conversations | Food products, specialist ingredients, produce |
| Beverage innovation | New drinks lines, premiumization, trend-led ranges | High-contact product launch and tasting opportunities | Beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, mixers, syrups |
| Hospitality technology | Efficiency, data, bookings, and customer experience | Demo-led conversations with ops and IT leaders | POS, CRM, booking, analytics, ordering platforms |
| Operations and facilities | Reliability, maintenance, hygiene, and labor efficiency | Target decision-makers responsible for site performance | Equipment, cleaning, waste, maintenance services |
| Partnerships and channels | New routes to market and commercial partnerships | Sponsor, distributor, and reseller introductions | Distribution agreements, co-marketing, channel programs |
| Sustainability | Waste reduction, compliance, and responsible sourcing | Position measurable efficiency and ESG improvements | Environmental services, packaging reduction, recycling |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The audience is strongly aligned with hospitality purchasing, operations, drinks, food, and technology needs. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | The event attracts owners, operators, procurement leads, and functional managers who influence buying decisions. |
| Data collection potential | High | Strong exhibitor footprint, agenda content, and sponsor ecosystem support prospect list building. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Well-defined hospitality, foodservice, beverages, wholesale, and tech buying profiles map cleanly to Apollo filters. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Manchester and the North West are strong anchor regions, with broader UK reach. |
| Best outreach approach | Multi-touch pre-event outreach | Use attendee/exhibitor intelligence, category-specific messaging, and meeting-booking CTAs. |
| Overall lead quality | Very High | Excellent event for hospitality supplier targeting, attendee list sales, and buyer profiling. |
| Best use case | Lead generation and account-based outreach | Best suited for supplier campaigns, distributor recruitment, and hospitality product launches. |
| Limitations / risks | Moderate | Current-year attendee list was not fully available in the provided source text; some participation evidence is prior-year or sponsor/exhibitor based. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Hospitality; Food & Beverages; Restaurants; Leisure, Travel & Tourism; Wholesale; Import & Export; Information Technology & Services; Business Supplies & Equipment; Events Services; Environmental Services | Align outreach to hospitality buyers and adjacent supplier ecosystems |
| Departments | Procurement, Operations, Purchasing, Supply Chain, Food & Beverage, IT, Facilities, Commercial, Partnerships | Reach the functions that own or influence purchase decisions |
| Seniority | Owner, Partner, C-Level, VP, Director, Head of, Manager | Prioritize decision-makers and key influencers |
| Job titles | Procurement Manager, Head of Procurement, Purchasing Manager, Operations Director, General Manager, Category Manager, Beverage Buyer, Head Chef, Executive Chef, Bar Manager, IT Director, Facilities Manager, Supply Chain Director | Capture the most relevant hospitality buyer personas |
| Geography | United Kingdom; North West England; Manchester; Leeds; Liverpool; Sheffield; Birmingham; London | Focus on core travel radius and national buyer market |
| Employee size | 11–50, 51–200, 201–500, 501–1,000, 1,000+ | Covers independents, groups, and multi-site operators |
| Keywords | hospitality, restaurant, pub, bar, hotel, foodservice, on-trade, beverage, procurement, sourcing, POS, menu, distributor, wholesaler | Sharpen discovery for event-relevant companies and contacts |
| Company type | Operating companies, chains, groups, distributors, brand owners, technology vendors, service providers | Separate buyers from exhibitors and adjacent suppliers |
| Revenue range | Any; prioritize mid-market and enterprise for multi-site operators | Focus on organizations with repeat purchasing potential |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: (hospitality OR restaurant OR pub OR bar OR hotel OR foodservice) AND (procurement OR purchasing OR sourcing OR operations OR “food and beverage” OR “category manager” OR “general manager” OR “bar manager”) AND (United Kingdom OR Manchester OR “North West England”).
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Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Restaurant & Bar official website | Official organizer source | Event name, dates, venue, city, country, visitor/exhibitor scale, status context, official messaging | Very High |
| Manchester Central official website | Venue source | Venue identity and city-level venue verification | High |
| NRB News & Press page | Official news/press source | Examples of exhibitors, sponsors, product launches, and speaker-related market activity | High |
| NRB Exhibitor List 2026 | Official exhibitor directory | Prior-year participation evidence and supplier ecosystem | High |
| NRB Seminar Schedule | Official agenda source | Content themes and audience interests for buyer profiling | High |
| NRB Sponsors & Partners | Official sponsor page | Sponsor ecosystem and commercial stakeholders | High |
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Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Northern Restaurant & Bar — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
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