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:

1B1604CE-C210-43EC-81F0-8DC466A51EE7Lifetime Achievement Award

David & Ruth Wither

 

 

 

BENOROMACH

Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year

 The Piper Whisky Bar – Glasgow

 

6960F7F8-6C2A-40E0-920A-D607BB88373E 4 5005 c

Black Ivy and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

Alex & Rachel Palumbo – Hey Palu & Chancho, Edinburgh

 

 

552C55F8-D40F-4F4A-A191-A6E23D64D471 4 5005 cBrugal Best Cocktail Bar of the Year

The Absent Ear – Glasgow

 

 

82DE312D-B6DF-42E4-8F2F-FE711317B6FF 4 5005 cCampari Bar Apprentice 2024

Finlay Paterson – Scotts South Queensferry

 

 

78D7308E-EB89-49BE-9704-8A3D3A173401 4 5005 cCold Town Craft Beer Bar of the Year 

Shilling Brewing Company – Glasgow

 

 

3C3E214E-3DB8-4961-926B-DD4B91FD2F6A 4 5005 cDeanston Whisky Guru 2024

Gillian Kirkland – The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow

 

 

324EC394-ECC4-4082-8129-F2A561834FD6 4 5005 cDRAM Casual Dining Award 2024

Tempura – Ayr

 

 

Drinks Express Logo

Drinks Express Independent Operator of the Year

Cru Hospitality – Inverness

 

 

8620F805-7E3F-4998-BB17-5979C5742F53 4 5005 cDe Kuyper Liqueurs Mixologist of the Year

Fowwaz Ansari – Bittersweet, Edinburgh

 

 

CDD79B24-8D10-440B-82FA-78F13D99B26B 4 5005 cFavela Latin American Venue of the Year

Boteco Do Brasil – Glasgow

 

 

DDC31CA9-476C-43F6-B588-8DBA57BCB5AF 4 5005 c

DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year

The Ship – Irvine

 

 

56A9353A-DC21-495C-B0DC-60E654CA0E5F 4 5005 cHospitality Health Employer of the Year

Manorview Hotels – Howwood

 

 

 

254E90B0-803B-4EF0-A519-13C7A208F9D7 4 5005 cHOSPO Manager of the Year

Olivia Wong – Stravaigin, Glasgow

 

 

 

506BD911-EB66-438D-A34C-1F4840B9FF1F 4 5005 cHotel Scotland Family Business of the Year

Forbes of Kingennie – Dundee

 

 

Unsung Hero Award

Jules Clark – Montpeliers

 

 

66813C4F-488F-483D-A149-E55CB2619CA0Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering

Teuchters Landing – Edinburgh

 

 

 

 

3375301D-69B9-4AF0-90D2-8FB082B60BA9 4 5005 cJameson Best Irish Bar

Malones – Aberdeen

 

 

 

6C0650E3-6906-4DEB-97FF-DDD238CB1F13 4 5005 cKopparberg New Bar of the Year

The Stravaig – Ayr

 

 

 

DAA81D14-0583-40BC-9466-881514AB949E 4 5005 cMedia World Best Outdoor Area

Black Ivy – Edinburgh

 

 

 

9EC650C7-E90D-4C12-AA7D-8F34A12AA9B9 4 5005 cMolinari Hotel Bar of the Year

Lochrin Rooftop Bar – Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge

 

 

Schweppes Bartender of the Year

Marquis Smith – Stravaigin, Glasgow

 

 

 

 

4ED0F3E4-B042-432A-AA3E-330F896FAAB5Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution To the Industry Award

Gordon McIntyre

 

 

 

5163A4A5-CEB0-432C-98D8-8A59C71371ED 4 5005 cSims 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

 

 

17FF1495-1F2B-43F3-AB71-1CAD00BEE01C 4 5005 cStaropramen Award for Outstanding Quality 

Hugo’s Bar and Pavilion – Dalgety Bay

 

 

 

BB4CE754-83DD-4DE1-AB46-A70EB725F870 4 5005 cScottish Bar and Pub Awards Community Pub of the Year

The Craw’s Nest – Carnoustie

 

 

 

42F9FE1C-6987-4F21-93E4-7D864AF4A821 4 5005 cSunday 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:

 

88B410D9-7EE0-43D6-8C2F-4F0595331E28 4 5005 cBenromach Whisky Bar of the Year

The Malt Room Inverness
The Piper Whisky Bar Glasgow
The Pot Still Glasgow
Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar Edinburgh

 

 

5B528911-598A-4CD4-AF63-F43DE3135957

Brugal 1888 Best Cocktail Bar of The Year

The Absent Ear Glasgow
Kelvingrove Café Glasgow
Nightcap Edinburgh
The White House Inverness

 

 

ED86210E-B7F6-4454-9DEC-83AF646FC599 4 5005 cBlack 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

 

 

logo (1)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

 

 

8FD630E0-D003-4D31-9810-B8C754571120 4 5005 cDeanston Whisky Guru 2024

Dom Cummings
Colin Hinds
Gillian Kirkland
Jane Ross
Viki Stevenson

 

 

E231CDC6-FBDA-4ADA-B5A3-112EB3D8EC27 4 5005 c

Dram Dog Friendly Pub of The Year

The Blue Blazer Edinburgh
The Craw’s Nest Carnoustie
The Ship Irvine
The Torfin Edinburgh

 

 

5D72A0E1-EC88-4BDD-808B-0CBB8E6BE628

 

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

 

 

DDC31CA9-476C-43F6-B588-8DBA57BCB5AF 4 5005 c

DRAM Casual Dining Awards 2024

The Boathouse Isle of Gigha
Bucks Bar Glasgow
Our Place Annan Annan
Tempura Ayr

 

 

A210B992-5AD8-43AB-B9F4-72EB741EE990Hospitality Health Employer of The Year 2024

Apex Hotels
Buzzworks Holdings
Manorview Hotels
Signature Pub Group

 

 

93B9AAF0-EC7D-4C6E-BB3A-F4F9B0E77CBB 4 5005 c

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

 

 

 

B8276050-FE41-4FF5-80AC-D86AE5152B52 4 5005 cHotel Scotland Family Business of The Year 2024

The Ball Room Sports Bars
Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort
Vittoria Group
The Waterside Bistro

 

 

 

758FE2D7-1D52-40FA-A93F-6FED11A606B7 4 5005 cInverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering

The Allison Arms Glasgow
Killiecrankie House Killiecrankie
Malo – Wine & Negroni Bar Glasgow
Teuchters Landing Edinburgh

 

 

457BF52B-07B4-4204-9A1E-51973F7CA665Jameson Best Irish Bar

Kitty O’Shea’s Glasgow
Malones Aberdeen Aberdeen
O’Marley’s Dundee
Waxy O’Connors Glasgow

 

 

E4C84F4F-C448-4703-B3E1-6E7FBEC642ED 4 5005 cKopparberg 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

 

 

987121EE-911C-4E48-B62E-7B41FAA427EA 4 5005 cMolinari 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

 

 

EA8C9D27-A985-4CDA-9C26-85F70A80767ASchweppes 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

 

 

7D5E8DAD-C17B-4D7E-A073-8C5EC8BF0364 4 5005 cSims Automatic Sports Bar of The Year

Fullbacks Sports & Pizza Bar Milngavie, Glasgow
Hope & Vincent Glasgow
Muligans Ayr Ayr
The Tap Yard Glasgow

 

 

2CDEA355-2DDC-44F9-8FC6-AFE3CB92FB50Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality

Brewhemia Edinburgh
The Guildford Arms Edinburgh
Hugo’s Bar & Pavilion Dalgety Bay
The Raeburn Edinburgh

 

 

B947ABBA-7477-4C61-B79B-D2C871FC3F1ESunday Mail Pub of The Year

 

 

 

The Allison Arms Glasgow

Macgregor’s, Inverness

The Newton Bar, Millport

The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow

 

Important Dates

Voting Voting Opens 2025 tbc
Voting Closes Closed
Judging 2025 tbc
Award Ceremony 2025 tbc