Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame has been named in the top 20 most powerful people in the hospitality industry.

The list was compiled by the Caterer - the sector's leading trade title.

It ranked the boss of the Faversham-based brewery giant 16th in its top 100 list. In 2012's list he was ranked 71.

He was also ranked fourth in the pub and bar operator list - up from 10th six years ago.

His position at 16th in the main list put him ahead of the likes of Tom Kerridge (18th), Michel Roux Jr (24th), Marcus Wareing (36th) and Rick Stein (42nd).

The title said: "Kent is beer country; a centre of brewing and hop-growing for centuries. As chief executive of Britain’s oldest brewer, Jonathan Neame represents the best of the old and the new, respecting the tradition while ensuring that the family business is fit for purpose for the 21st century. In the year to June 24 2017, Shepherd Neame reported an 8% year-on-year increase in underlying pre-tax profit to £11.2m, on an 11.7% rise in turnover to £156.2m. At the financial year-end, the business operated 327 pubs – 66 managed and 253 tenanted pubs, plus a handful of investment properties."

The top three in the list were Alastair Storey, chairman and CEO or independent catering giant the WSH Group, second was Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon and in third the chef Gordon Ramsey.