The winners of this year’s Scottish Bar and Pub Awards were celebrated last night as hundreds of hospitality industry professionals gathered in Glasgow.
Now in their 29th year, the awards shine a spotlight on “all that is good and great” about the industry with more than 100 venues shortlisted as finalists at the event.
The winners picked up their trophies at a Grand Ole Opry-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree Hilton, where industry veteran Stuart Ross, former Chief Executive of Belhaven was honoured with the Legend of the Industry Award.
David and Ruth Wither, the founders of Edinburgh-based Montpelier Group, picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Elsewhere, there was a double win for The Piper Whisky Bar in Glasgow which took home Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year with Gillian Kirkland becoming Deanston Whisky Guru 2024.
Also representing the city, The Absent Ear was named Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year, Shilling Brewing Company as Cold Town Craft Beer Pub of the Year, Boteco Do Brasil as Favela Latin American Venue of the Year while The Smokin’ Fox was recognised with the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year accolade.
Fullbacks Sports and Pizza Bar in Milngavie was named Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year while Ayr venues Tempura and The Stravaig were also winners picking up the Casual Dining Award and Kopparberg New Bar of the year awards respectively. The Ship in Irvine was Dog Friendly Pub of the Year and Steven Muir of Beatbox Leisure was named Boss of The Year.
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Also celebrating a double win was the team at Stravaigin in Glasgow as Olivia Wong was named HOSPO Manager of the Year and Marquis Smith as Schweppes Bartender of the Year.
From Edinburgh, Black Ivy claimed the Best Outdoor area award for the second year in a row while Teuchters Landing was named Inverarity Morton’s Best Drinks offering and Lochrin Rooftop Bar (Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge) as Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year.
Malones in Aberdeen were crowned Jameson Best Irish bar, while Fife venue Hugo’s Bar and Pavilion collected the Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality and in Dundee Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort was awarded Family Business of the Year.
There was also a special award for The Craw’s Nest in Carnoustie who scooped the ‘Community Pub of the Year’ accolade.
Other big winners were “industry giants” Manorview Hotels with the Hospitality Health Employer of the Year gong and Inverness-based Cru Hospitality who won Drinks Express Independent Operator of the Year.
The late Janet Hood was posthumously named ‘Inspirational Woman of the Year’ and Gordon McIntyre received the Scottish Hospitality Group’s Contribution to the Industry award.
Susan Young organiser and editor of industry publication DRAM, said, “These awards are all about the people that make the hospitality industry the success it is.
“This year we had an exceptional entry.
“All the finalists deserve credit for the great venues that they run, but the trophies were presented to the pubs, restaurants and people that impressed their customers, judges and mystery shoppers most.
“Congratulations to each and every one.”
See below for the full list of winners:
Lifetime Achievement Award
David & Ruth Wither
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
The Piper Whisky Bar - Glasgow
Black Ivy and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Alex & Rachel Palumbo – Hey Palu & Chancho, Edinburgh
Brugal Best Cocktail Bar of the Year
The Absent Ear - Glasgow
Campari Bar Apprentice 2024
Finlay Paterson - Scotts South Queensferry
Cold Town Craft Beer Bar of the Year
Shilling Brewing Company - Glasgow
Deanston Whisky Guru 2024
Gillian Kirkland - The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
DRAM Casual Dining Award 2024
Tempura - Ayr
Drinks Express Independent Operator of the Year
Cru Hospitality - Inverness
De Kuyper Liqueurs Mixologist of the Year
Fowwaz Ansari – Bittersweet, Edinburgh
Favela Latin American Venue of the Year
Boteco Do Brasil - Glasgow
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Ship - Irvine
Hospitality Health Employer of the Year
Manorview Hotels - Howwood
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Olivia Wong – Stravaigin, Glasgow
Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year
Forbes of Kingennie - Dundee
Unsung Hero Award
Jules Clark – Montpeliers
Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering
Teuchters Landing - Edinburgh
Jameson Best Irish Bar
Malones - Aberdeen
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
The Stravaig - Ayr
Media World Best Outdoor Area
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year
Lochrin Rooftop Bar - Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge
Schweppes Bartender of the Year
Marquis Smith – Stravaigin, Glasgow
Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution To the Industry Award
Gordon McIntyre
Sims Automatic Sports Bar of the Year
Fullbacks Sports & Pizza Bar - Milngavie
Inspirational Woman of the Year
Janet Hood
Boss of the Year
Steven Muir - Beatbox Leisure, Ayr
Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality
Hugo's Bar and Pavilion - Dalgety Bay
Community Pub of the Year
The Craw’s Nest - Carnoustie
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
The Smokin’ Fox - Glasgow
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