There’s no keeping a good industry down as Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2020 finalists revealed
The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards finalists represent Scottish Hospitality Industry excellence across the board as well as being beacons of its fighting spirit as pubs, bars and restaurants face the single worst crisis in living memory because of COVID-19.
With finalists from as far north as The Station Hotel in Aberlour, via Haddington’s Tyneside Tavern in the east and Macgochan’s on the Isle of Mull in the west, to The Townhead Hotel in Lockerbie in the south, this year’s extra-special ceremony will stream virtually for the first time in its 25-year history into Scotland’s pubs, bars and restaurants all being well on Tuesday 10th November.
There’s a full list of all the finalists below and as in previous years, 1000s of you nominated in the longest-running awards of its kind in Scotland.
The categories are as diverse as Antos Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year, BII Customer Service Award, Carling Community Pub of the Year, and Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Whisky Bar of the Year.
Then there’s the Cellar Trends Independent Pub Group of the Year gong and an award for Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area too. Our Sea Change Evolution Award winner will be recognised for its green credentials.
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year is a brand new category this year, likewise COVID-19 Best Practice award, 2020 Licensed Trade Hero, and Employer of the Year –and these finalists will be revealed shortly.
Montpeliers and Buzzworks are on the hunt for Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year, the finalists for which are still being considered. The William Grant & Sons finalists Bar Apprentice of the Year are also yet to be announced and they’ll receive a mentoring programme in January 2021.
And not forgetting the coveted Sunday Mail Pub of the Year accolade too of course.
Recognising these shining stars has never been as crucial because as well as standards improving year on year sending out a clear message that these businesses continually strive for excellence, they also underline how much heart and soul the owners have invested in their businesses and how this is a career choice for the many thousands of highly skilled individuals they employ.
Said organiser and DRAM publisher Susan Young, “The Scottish public and sales reps and others have been voting for bars, pubs, restaurants, and hotels that they think deserve recognition. Mystery shoppers managed to get out and about before the current restrictions came about and about and social media channels are being scrutinised for positive reviews.
“It may be challenging circumstances but those in the trade who are operating to the best standards and practices deserve a huge pat on the back and our awards aim to recognise the endeavours that they have all made.”
Ends
18th October 2020
For more information email susan@mediaworldltd.com
List of Finalists
Antos Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year
Barras Art & Design , Glasgow
Brewhemia , Edinburgh
The Brig and the Barrel, Dunbar
Church on the Hill, Glasgow
The Douglas Arms, Dumfries
The Eagle Tavern, Prestwick
BII Customer Service award
The Auldhouse , East Kilbride
The Bank Cafe Bar, Glasgow
Buck’s Bar , Glasgow
The Corner House, Kilwinning
Roebank hotel, Beith
Siberia Bar & Grill, Aberdeen
Carling Community Pub of the Year
The Adamson Hotel, Public Bar, Crossford
Finsbay, Milngavie
The Hillend Tavern, Hillend
Hugo’s Cafe Bar, Dalgety Bay
The Townhead Hotel, Lockerbie
The West End Bar, Blantyre
Cellar Trends Independent Group of the Year
Buzzworks, Ayrshire
Caledonian Heritable, Edinburgh
The Corte Leisure Group, Edinburgh
Kilderkin Group , Edinburgh
Signature Pubs, Edinburgh
Cocktail Bar/Initiative of the Year
House of Gods, Edinburgh
The Cocktail Collective, Glasgow
Decanter, Edinburgh
The Gate, Glasgow
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year
Rob Beaton, The Malt Room, Inverness
Emma Dunbar, The Station Hotel Bar, Aberlour
David Howie, Buzzworks, Ayrshire
Gillian Kirkland, The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
Flora Grant/Marion Mckinnon, The Ardshiel Hotel, Campbeltown
Frank/Geraldine Murphy, The Pot Still, Glasgow
Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Whisky Bar of the Year
The Ardshiel Hotel, Campbeltown
The Craigellachie Hotel, Craigellachie
The Pot Still, Glasgow
The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Glasgow
Scotch, Edinburgh
Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area
Angels, Uddingston
Cranside, Glasgow
The Fort, Broughty Ferry
The Brig & Barrel, Dunbar
Smiths, Ayr
Word up, Greenock
The Sea Change Evolution Award
Applecross Inn, Applecross
Buzzworks, Ayrshire
Du vin Bouchers, Linlithgow
Flatiron, Glasgow
Macgochan’s, Isle of Mull
Vesta, Edinburgh
Wee Guide Restaurant of the Year
Cafe St Honore, Edinburgh
The Cairn Lodge, Auchterarder
The Kirkton Inn Dalrymple
Two Fat Ladies, Glasgow
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
The Black Bull, Moffat
The Brig & Barrel, Dunbar
The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
The Pot Still, Glasgow
The Railway Tavern, Motherwell
The Smoking Goat, Ayr
The Swan, Eaglesham
The Thornwood, Glasgow
The Townhead Hotel, Lockerbie
The Tyneside Tavern, Haddington
Voting now open for the 2020 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards
The 2020 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards are pencilled in for the 20th October and it will be a real celebration of the last six months.
Pub owners and hospitality workers around the country have gone above and beyond and they deserve to be recognised. Not only that but we can use the intervening time for some positive PR for the trade. So our social media guru will be on the case on your behalf.
As usual, we will be asking customers, sales reps and yourself to get nominating and we, as well as our media partners the Sunday Mail, will be publicising our nominees, finalists and of course the winners.
For us, the awards have always been about celebrating and promoting the licensed trade. Publisher Susan Young personally takes an interest in the judging – as you all know.
We have mystery shoppers, and then the sponsors and then Susan herself drops in – mostly unannounced. And if you are in the running – you’ll be open and there won’t be a problem paying you a visit.
Susan is as passionate about the industry as she have ever been. Possibly even more so after the last few months having seen how resilient, innovative and caring you have all been. Susan takes her hat off to you all and the drinks companies too. It’s been the worst of times and in a funny way the best of times – because people have rallied round.
This year’s categories are:
Antos dog-friendly Pub of the Year
BII Customer Service Award
Buzzworks and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Carling Community Pub of the Year
Cellar Trends Independent Pub Group of the Year
Deanston Highland Single Malt Whisky Guru of the Year
Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseur Choice Whisky Bar of the Year
Inverarity Morton Sea Change Evolution Award
Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area
Wee Guide Restaurant of the Year
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice 2020
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
Our other sponsors are: Antos, The Balvenie, Brockmans, Distell, Finest Call, Glenfiddich Single Malt Whisky, Hendrick’s Gin, Kopparberg, Luxardo, Molson Coors, Monkey Shoulder, and Stolichnaya.
If you fancy going on the Wm Grant & Sons Apprentice programme send us a wee video and tell us why you think your employer should put you forward – whether you are currently working, on furlough or waiting for your next role.
Enquiries and videos to production@mediaworldltd.com
Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2019 Photo Gallery
Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2018 Photo Gallery
2018 Winners Announced!
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards.
Congratulations to our winners and a massive thank you to everyone who took part!
Antos Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Forth Inn, Aberfoyle
BII Award for Customer Service
The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry
Buzzworks/Flow Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Rachel Carpenter & Linden Wilkinson, Pop Up Geeks
Critics' Choice Casual Dining Award
Montpeliers, Edinburgh
Diageo Award for Social Responsibility and Community
Buzzworks, Prestwick
Disaronno Cocktail Bar
Sygn, Edinburgh
DRAM Manager of the Year
Caroline Wright, Jinty McGinty's, Glasgow
Gordon & MacPhail Award for Success
The Dowans Hotel, Aberlour
Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year
Black Ivy, Edinburgh
Inverarity Morton Wine by the Glass Award
Kylesku Hotel, Skye
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
T-Bar, Ayrshire
Molson Coors Beer Bar of the Year
Brewhemia, Edinburgh
Open Ear Country Pub of the Year
The Swan Inn, Eaglesham
The Pub Spy Award
The Citizen, Glasgow
The DRUM Social Media Award
John Carrigan's, Hamilton
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice 2018
Ellie Raeside, Candy Bar, Edinburgh
A Wee DRAM Whisky Bar of the Year
Usquabae Whiskey Bar and Larder, Edinburgh
The Wee Guide Best Outside Area
Brel, Glasgow
2018 Finalists Announced!
It's been a top scoring year for the 2018 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards with more than 3,000 nominations for bars and pubs received for the awards. This has made it a record year.
The public, and drinks company representatives, have been voting in their droves on the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards website and the finalists are revealed below.
Says organiser Susan Young, who publishes industry magazine DRAM, “Last year we had nearly 2,000- entries and this year that number has soared. We also had more people telling us why they were voting for their favourite bar or pub which has helped us whittle the entries down.”
She continues, “The standard of entry has been particularly high and in some categories instead of four finalists there are five. Mystery shoppers have been visiting the nominated pubs, and judges, including myself, have been visiting the venues to ensure that the winners of the awards are 'simply the best.'
The Awards list and finalists list are alphabetical.
Antos Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Forth Inn, Aberfoyle
Saint Lukes, Glasgow
The Stable Bar, Edinburgh
Siberia Vodka Bar, Aberdeen
The Wally Dug, Edinburgh
BII Award for Customer Service
John Carrigan's, Blantyre
Lion & The Unicorn, Stirling
No 38, East Kilbride
The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry
Buzzworks/Flow Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Jody Buchan and Sam Baxendale, Kin
Rachel Carpenter & Linden Wilkinson, Pop Up Geeks
Ryan Bowman, The Alpen Loge
Critics' Choice Casual Dining Award
Lord of the Isle, Craobh Haven
Montpeliers, Edinburgh
The Swan Inn, Eaglesham
The West House, Dundee
Diageo Award for Social Responsibility and Community
Akva, Edinburgh
Buzzworks, Prestwick
Driftwood, Glasgow
Manorview, Busby
Disaronno Cocktail Bar
Angels Hotel, Uddingston
The Parlour, Glasgow
Tigerlily, Edinburgh
Sygn, Edinburgh
DRAM Manager of the Year
Amy Maitland, The West House, Dundee
Matthew Ronald, Blue Dog, Glasgow
Caroline Wright, Jinty McGinty's, Glasgow
Gordon & MacPhail Award for Success
Meldrum House Country Hotel, Old Meldrum
The Dowans Hotel, Aberlour
The George Hotel, Inveraray
Under the Stairs, Edinburgh
Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year
Black Ivy, Edinburgh
Dakota Bar & Grill Edinburgh Forth Bridge
Orocco Pier Hotel, South Queensferry
Royal Mackintosh Hotel, Dunbar
Inverarity Morton Wine by the Glass Award
Vroni's Wine Bar, Glasgow,
Seamill Hydro Hotel, Seamill
La Petite Mort, Edinburgh
Kylesku Hotel, Skye
Acid Bar SWG3, Glasgow
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
Black Ivy, Edinburgh
Finsbay Flatiron, Glasgow
Church on the Hill, Glasgow
T-Bar, Ayrshire
The Citizen, Glasgow
Molson Coors Beer Bar of the Year
Brewhemia, Edinburgh
The Angels Hotel, Uddingston
The Raeburn, Edinburgh
The Raven, Glasgow
Open Ear Country Pub of the Year
The Crosskeys, Kippen
The Hillside, Montrose
The Old Mill Inn, Killearn
The Swan Inn, Eaglesham
The Pub Spy Award
Inn on the Loch, Lanark
Outside Inn, Larbert
Souter's Inn, Kirkowald
The Citizen, Glasgow
The Riccarton Inn, Edinburgh
Scottish Bar and Pub Awards Social Media Award
Brewhemia, Edinburgh
John Carrigan's, Hamilton
Haig's, Penicuik
The Torfin, Edinburgh
A Wee DRAM Whisky Bar of the Year
Ballygrant Inn, Islay
The Black Cat, Edinburgh
The Lochside, Islay
Usquabae Whiskey Bar and Larder, Edinburgh
The Wee Guide Best Outside Area
Angels Hotel, Uddingston
Brel, Glasgow
Forbes of Kingennie, Dundee
Indigo Yard, Edinburgh
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice 2018
Anastasia Mourgela, Hutchesons City Grill, Glasgow
Ellie Raeside, Candy Bar, Edinburgh
Frank Donnelly, The Raven, Glasgow
Kris Rose, Scotts, Troon
Liam Kemp, Draffens, Dundee
Luke Bryant, Copper Blossom, Edinburgh
Patrycja Olska, Finsbay Flatirons, Glasgow
Richard Jones, The Pear Tree, Edinburgh
Sanni Fiina Jokinen, Pearce's, Edinburgh
Sarah Nelson, Holyrood 9A, Edinburgh
The awards ceremony takes place on the 21st August 2018 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow's William Street.
Congratulations and good luck to all the finalists!