Montpeliers founders among winners at the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub awards!
The winners of the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards have been revealed! The winners picked up their trophies at a glittering ‘Grand Ole Opry’ themed event held at the Doubletree Hilton in Glasgow on Tuesday 27th August.
The awards, now in their 29th year, celebrate all that is good and great about the hospitality industry with more than 100 hospitality venues shortlisted as finalists at the event.
Industry veteran Stuart Ross, former Chief Executive of Belhaven received a Legend of the Industry Award while David and Ruth Wither, the founders of Edinburgh-based Montpelier Group, picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other award winners came from as far apart as Carnoustie and Inverness.
There were celebrations in Glasgow as The Piper Whisky Bar won the double for Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year and with Gillian Kirkland becoming Deanston Whisky Guru 2024! 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 and The Smokin’ Fox snatched 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!
It was also a winning night for Stravaigin in Glasgow who proved they have some of the best staff around as Olivia Wong was named HOSPO Manager of the Year and Marquis Smith as Schweppes Bartender of the Year.
The party continued in Edinburgh where Black Ivy snatched 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.
In Aberdeen, Malones were crowned Jameson Best Irish bar, in Fife 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 two of the industry giants – Manorview Hotels who proved what a great company they are to work for by snatching 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!”
The full list of winners is below:
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
Scottish Bar and Pub Awards Community Pub of the Year
The Craw’s Nest – Carnoustie
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
The Smokin’ Fox – Glasgow
Picture: David and Ruth Wither with some of the Montpeliers team
The full list of finalist were:
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
The Malt Room | Inverness |
The Piper Whisky Bar | Glasgow |
The Pot Still | Glasgow |
Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar | Edinburgh |
Brugal 1888 Best Cocktail Bar of The Year
The Absent Ear | Glasgow |
Kelvingrove Café | Glasgow |
Nightcap | Edinburgh |
The White House | Inverness |
Black Ivy & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Shandy Martin – Dizzy Izzy’s | Edinburgh |
Alex & Rachel Palumbo – Hey Palu | Edinburgh |
Iain Reid – The Tap Yard | Glasgow |
Jane Ross – The Mother Superior | Edinburgh |
Campari Bar Apprentice of the Year 2024
Charlie Atkin, The Parkville
Marek Brzozowski, The Old Workshop
Ryan Knowles, The Citizen
Caitlyn Marcinek, The Redhurst Hotel
Jillian Ormerod, The Triplekirks
Finlay Paterson, Scotts Port Edgar
Louis Sherrit,, The Fort/Wine Spa
Cold Town Craft Beer Bar of The Year
The Craftsman Company | Aberdeen |
The Raven | Edinburgh |
Salt Horse Beer Shop & Bar | Edinburgh |
Shilling Brewing Co. | Glasgow |
Deanston Whisky Guru 2024
Dom Cummings |
Colin Hinds |
Gillian Kirkland |
Jane Ross |
Viki Stevenson |
Dram Dog Friendly Pub of The Year
The Blue Blazer | Edinburgh |
The Craw’s Nest | Carnoustie |
The Ship | Irvine |
The Torfin | Edinburgh |
Drinks Express Independent Pub Group of The Year
Cru Holdings |
Kilderkin Group |
Malones Irish Bars |
The Rocks Leisure Group |
De Kuyper Liqueurs Mixologist of The Year
Fowwaz Ansari – Bittersweet |
John Clark – The White House |
Johnny Morrison – VEGA |
Carrie Smith – Hoot The Redeemer |
Favela Lager Latin American Venue of The Year
Boteco Do Brasil | Glasgow |
El Santo | Glasgow |
Joao’s Place | Edinburgh |
Topolabamba | Glasgow |
DRAM Casual Dining Awards 2024
The Boathouse | Isle of Gigha |
Bucks Bar | Glasgow |
Our Place Annan | Annan |
Tempura | Ayr |
Hospitality Health Employer of The Year 2024
Apex Hotels |
Buzzworks Holdings |
Manorview Hotels |
Signature Pub Group |
HOSPO Manager of The Year
Michael Eaton, Care Royal, Edinburgh
John Mannion, The Blue Blazer, Edinburgh
Steven Muir, Harleys, Ayr
John Ogilvie, Montagues, Kirkcaldy
Olivia Wong, Stravaigin, Glasgow
Hotel Scotland Family Business of The Year 2024
The Ball Room Sports Bars |
Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort |
Vittoria Group |
The Waterside Bistro |
Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering
The Allison Arms | Glasgow |
Killiecrankie House | Killiecrankie |
Malo – Wine & Negroni Bar | Glasgow |
Teuchters Landing | Edinburgh |
Jameson Best Irish Bar
Kitty O’Shea’s | Glasgow |
Malones Aberdeen | Aberdeen |
O’Marley’s | Dundee |
Waxy O’Connors | Glasgow |
Kopparberg New Bar of The Year
Brunswick Book Club | Edinburgh |
Encore | Edinburgh |
The Physician | St Andrews |
The Stravaig | Ayr |
Media World Best Outdoor Area 2024
Black Ivy | Edinburgh |
Cold Town House | Edinburgh |
The Fox & Willow | Ayr |
Outboard by Scotts | South Queensferry |
Molinari Hotel Bar of The Year
Cask and Clyde (DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central) | Glasgow |
Chop Grill & Bar (Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel) | Aberdeen |
Hazel (AC Hotel Glasgow) | Glasgow |
Lochrin Rooftop Bar (Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge) | Edinburgh |
W Lounge (W Edinburgh) | Edinburgh |
Schweppes Bartender of The Year
Joseph Clancy – The Laurieston Bar | Glasgow |
Hayden Fenton – Tarragon by Graham Mitchell | Aberdeen |
Lucy George – Lucky Liquor Co. | Edinburgh |
Marquis Smith – Stravaigin | Glasgow |
Sims Automatic Sports Bar of The Year
Fullbacks Sports & Pizza Bar | Milngavie, Glasgow |
Hope & Vincent | Glasgow |
Muligans Ayr | Ayr |
The Tap Yard | Glasgow |
Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality
Brewhemia | Edinburgh |
The Guildford Arms | Edinburgh |
Hugo’s Bar & Pavilion | Dalgety Bay |
The Raeburn | Edinburgh |
Sunday Mail Pub of The Year
The Allison Arms Glasgow
Macgregor’s, Inverness
The Newton Bar, Millport
The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow