Casual Dining – the UK’s dedicated trade event for the multiple restaurant and pub group sector, has been nominated for ‘Best UK Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ for a second time in its first two years of business.  Following on from its big win of the same award at the exhibition industry’s annual AEO Excellence Awards last year, Casual Dining (organised by Diversified Communications UK) will now have the chance to defend its title.

Casual Dining was the first launch show in over five years to triumph in the Association of Event Organisers’ hotly contested ‘Best Tradeshow Exhibition under 2,000sq.m’ category; with the judges commenting that "great marketing and strong innovative ideas resulted in very high customer satisfaction levels”.  Previous winners of the award include Diversified UK’s lunch! show in 2010 and 2011.

Since the successful 2015 show in February, which saw 75% of exhibiting companies rebook onsite, stands have been selling at a record rate.  Nine months ahead of its highly anticipated third show, the Ground and Mezzanine Levels of Casual Dining are already sold out.  Whilst the Upper Feature Level, the new home of the highly respected Casual Dining seminar theatre and Casual Dining Design Awards Gallery, has only limited stands left.  The show is currently 85% sold out.

Speaking on behalf of the Casual Dining team, group event director Chris Brazier says: “To have the honour of Casual Dining winning Best Trade Show last year was incredible.  The fact that Casual Dining has been nominated again – that’s twice in our first two years – is a fantastic achievement for the show.  A big thank you must go to the whole industry, including our exhibitors, visitors, media and association partners for supporting the show from the very beginning and helping to make Casual Dining the show that this important sector truly deserves.”

As in previous years, Diversified UK received multiple nominations across five AEO Awards categories; including ‘Most Respected Company of the Year’ (a new award voted for by AEO members).

The AEO Excellence Awards 2015 will take place at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London, on Friday 26 June.

Casual Dining (including the Design Awards and Innovation Challenge Live) will return to the Business Design Centre, Islington, London, on 24-25 February 2016.  For more information, and to stay up-to-date with all the latest news and exhibitor information, please visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk.