Wilsons announce second year title sponsorship of the Nottingham Restaurant Awards

Nottingham based insurers and financial advisors, The Wilson Organisation (Wilsons) have shown their support and confidence in the Nottingham restaurant scene by taking title sponsorship of the Nottingham Restaurant Awards for the second consecutive year. Charlotte Prow, Joint Managing Director of The Wilson Organisation has been explaining why, in the face of a recession, it was an easy decision to sponsor the awards again.

"Nottingham's restaurant scene has real strength in depth, with some exceptionally talented individuals, and is proving to be a sector with real buoyancy", she says. "We wanted to show our ongoing support for Nottingham restaurateurs and so it was a straightforward decision for us to continue our sponsorship of the Nottingham Restaurant Awards into a second year. "We are all looking forward to working with the organisers and the restaurants to make the 2009 awards a real year to remember." Inevitable Surpassing the standards set by the 2008 awards would be no mean feat, by all accounts. The number of public votes cast and received by independent adjudicator EMNET broke all previous records, with a final tally of 42,052 votes. Gary Thompson, proprietor of Tonic, commented: "In the face of tough economic trading conditions it is inevitable that some people will dine out less frequently. It is therefore more important than ever for restaurants attract new customers. "The recognition that Tonic has received through first winning the Nottingham Restaurant Awards Best     Newcomer 2007 and then following this up with Runner Up in The Nottingham Restaurant of The Year 2008 award has played a key part in raising awareness of Tonic restaurant and attracting first time visitors. "Turning those customers into regulars is then down to the quality of the food and service, the environment in which it is offered, and value for money - the fact that the restaurant is growing at almost 30% year on year suggests that Tonic has got this covered." Latest figures released by Nottingham City Council indicate that restaurants and bars within the city employ 9,500 full and part time employees. Of this figure 3,700 are employed on a full time basis and 5,800 as part time staff.