Last night saw the CLASS awards and as ever there was some controversy over some of the winners. Take a look at the list below to see the full round up:
Bartender of the Year
Tristan Stephenson – Purl, Marylebone, London
Other Nominees:
David White – Tigerlily, Edinburgh
Jon Hughes – Sygn, Edinburgh
Susie Wong – Australasia, Manchester
Jamie Jones – Cocktail & Spirits Initiative
Ryan Chetiyawardana – Worship Street Whistling Shop, Shoreditch, London
James Wynn-Williams – All Star Lanes, London
Maxime Creusot – The Player, Soho
Justyn Bell – Hausbar, Bristol
George Collyer – Hotel du Vin, Bristol
Best New Bar
Nightjar, London
Other Nominees:
Sandinista, Manchester
Hyde & Co., Bristol
ECC Chinatown, London
London Cocktail Club, Goodge Street
Best Classic Bar
Be At One, (across London)
Other Nominees:
The Lonsdale, London
Trio, Leeds
Tonic, Edinburgh
World Service, Nottingham
Good Times Bar
Mojo (Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester)
Other Nominees:
The Box, London
Jake’s Bar, Leeds
El Camion, London
Hula Tiki Lounge, Manchester
Best Brand Ambassador
Julien Lafond, Grand Marnier
Other Nominees:
Meimi Sanchez, Havana Club
Shervene Shahbazkhani, Bacardi
Ago Perrone, Galliano
Tim Stones, Beefeater
Best Hotel Bar
Zetter Townhouse, London
Other Nominees:
American Bar at the Savoy Hotel, London
Booking Office, St Pancras, London
Merkaba, Brighton
Blythswood Square, Glasgow
Best Bar Menu
Blythswood Square, Glasgow
Other Nominees:
Bassoon, The Corinthian Hotel, London
Callooh Callay, London
Purl, London
Jekyll & Hyde, Birmingham
Best Bar Manager
Luca Cordiglieri, China Tang at The Dorchester, London
Other Nominees:
Pete Jeary, Hawksmoor Seven Dials, London
Andrea Montague, Callooh Callay, London
Sophian Ejjanfi, Salvatore at Playboy Club London
Sarah Mitchell, Graphic, London
Best Drinks Writer
Dave Broom, Whisky Magazine and his own books
Other Nominees:
Rebecca Seal, House Tonic
Chris Mercer, Just Drinks
Clinton Cawood, Imbibe
Emily Miles, Esquire
Best New Product
Adnams First Rate Gin
Other Nominees:
Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambery
Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy
Piedre Almas Pechuga Mezcal
Ardbeg Alligator
Its an insult to every decent bar in the country that Be At One won best classic bar.
Pernod have just invested £ashite load of cash in b@1… They’re just protecting their investment!
Have you tried that Adnams gin? Did I see it on the shelf at Waitrose the other day…