The finalists for this year's Scottish Bar and Pub Awards have been announced this week with more than 600 people now preparing to attend a ceremony which has been dubbed the 'Oscars of the industry'.
With prizes in a range of categories from Best Live Music Venue to Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year up for grabs, the 28th edition of the awards, formerly the DRAM awards, recognises those who go above and beyond to provide great service.
After customers voted for their favourites, a number of 'mystery shoppers' were tasked with putting the pubs and bars from every corner of Scotland to the test.
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From Our Place in Annan to Scotch and Rye in Inverness, the best of the best are now set to be judged by a panel that will have the final say in choosing their winners.
The results of the 2023 awards will be announced at a ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow on Tuesday, August 29.
Organiser Susan Young, said: “This year, a record number of votes were received from the public across a multitude of categories.
"The best of the best have now been named ranging from pubs that are Dog Friendly to cocktail bars that serve up fabulous drinks, from community pubs with stars behind the bars to late-night venues.
“It was certainly not an easy task due to the quality of all the finalists and many miles have been travelled.”
See the full list of categories and finalists below:
ARO Procurement Customer Service Award
The Boudingait – Cupar
Coia’s Café – Glasgow
Mini Grill – Glasgow
Prime Steak & Seafood – Inverness
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Ardshiel Hotel – Campbeltown
The Piper Whisky Bar - Glasgow
The Pot Still – Glasgow
Tipsie Midgie - Edinburgh
Buzzworks & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Brandon Van Rensburg – Tempura, Ayr
Craig Scott – Bartenders Lounge, Aberdeen
Melanie Cranston – Scotts of Rose Street, Edinburgh
Sandy McGregor – The Foresters Arms, Cambusbarron
Campari Mixologist of the Year
Adrian Gomes – The Tippling House, Aberdeen
Scott Keith – Siberia, Aberdeen
John Mcintosh – Chop Grill & Bar, Aberdeen
David Howie – Buzzworks
Vlad Valentin – Banca di Roma, Glasgow
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year
Adam Norquoy – Dundonald Links,
Cameron Ewen – The Balmoral, Edinburgh
Colin Hinds – Tipsy Midgie, Edinburgh
Thomas McDonagh – The Bon Accord, Glasgow
Drinks Express Best Outdoor Area
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
The Fox and Willow – Ayr
Hugos Bar & Pavilion – Dalgety Bay
The Ivy Lodge – Aberdeen
THE DRUM Digital Innovator of the Year
Boozy Cow – Edinburgh
Bucks Bar – Glasgow/Edinburgh
Radisson RED Sky Bar – Glasgow
Siberia Bar & Hotel - Aberdeen
Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award
Lisini Pub Company
SWG3 – Glasgow
The Old Workshop – Aberdeen
Buzzworks Holdings
‘Giving More’ Award in partnership with Edrington UK
Bartenders Lounge – Aberdeen
Graham Chalmers – Radisson RED, Glasgow
The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin
Zach Sapato – Mikaku, Glasgow
HI-SPIRITS Best Live Music Venue
King Cons – Stirling
King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Glasgow
St Lukes – Glasgow
The Keg – Paisley
Venue 38 – Ayr
Hospitality Employer of the Year
Auchrannie Hotel
Buzzworks
Cru Holdings
Manorview
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Stephen Adams – Vienna’s, Paisley
Carys McGhee – The Tree House/T-Bar, Ayr
Rory McGinley – Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Glasgow
Olivia Wong – Stravaigin, Glasgow
Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
The Oak Tree Inn – Balmaha
The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin
The Woodside Hotel – Doune
Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering
Malo – Glasgow
Scotch and Rye – Inverness
The Criterion – St Andrews
The Fox and Willow – Ayr
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
Bartenders Lounge – Aberdeen
King Cons – Stirling
The East End Fox – Baillieston
Thirty Knots – South Queensferry
Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year
The Absent Ear – Glasgow
Hey Palu – Edinburgh
Panda and Sons – Edinburgh
T-Bar – Ayr
Mediaworld Casual Dining Award
The Balerno Inn – Edinburgh
Crown & Anchor – Findhorn
The Greenside – Maybole
Our Place – Annan
The Torfin – Edinburgh
Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year
Cromlix House Bar – By Dunblane
Great Scots’ Bar – Cameron House
Smiths at Gretna Green
Titan Sky Bar – Meldrum House, Inverurie
Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the Year
Behind The Wall – Falkirk
Brewhemia – Edinburgh
Indigo Yard – Edinburgh
The Record Factory – Glasgow
Pernod Ricard Best Late-Night Venue
Cathouse Rock Club – Glasgow
Dropkick Murphys – Edinburgh
Radisson RED Sky Bar – Glasgow
Stramash – Edinburgh
Premier Card Services Independent Operator of the Year
Behind The Wall
Boteco Group
R4 Group
The Rocks Leisure Group
WORQ Group
Sheep Dog Whisky Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Forth Inn – Aberfoyle
Hillend Tavern – Hillend
The Mercat Bar & Grill – Nr Musselburgh
The Old Smiddy – Glasgow
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentices
Helina Adams – Bonnie & Wild, Edinburgh
Bex Allan – Bonnie & Wild, Edinburgh
Paton Allan – The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow
Bryony Baxter – Meraki Bar & Restaurant, Bridge of Don
Christina Davidson - The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow
Emily Eason – King Cons, Stirling
Logan Eason – Oscar’s Wine Bar, Stirling
Marcus Gordon – Orchid Cocktails, Aberdeen
Jamie Hadden – The Fox, Troon
Alex McQueen – Bartenders Lounge, Aberdeen
James Piper – Gleneagles Townhouse House, Edinburgh
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
Camphill Vaults – Bothwell
The Four Marys – Linlithgow
Malones – Aberdeen
The Old Smiddy – Glasgow
Sportsterz – Glasgow
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