The winners of the 2024 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards picked up their trophies at a glittering ‘Grand Ole Opry’ themed event held at the Doubletree Hilton in Glasgow on Tuesday 27 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.
There were celebrations in Glasgow as The Piper Whisky Bar won the double for Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year while the Deanston Whisky Guru 2024 went to the Piper’s manager Gillian Kirkland.
The Absent Ear, a Top 50 speakeasy bar in Glasgow’s Merchant City, was named Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year, while Shilling Brewing Company was named as Cold Town Craft Beer Pub of the Year.
Boteco Do Brasil picked up the Favela Latin American Venue of the Year and The Smokin’ Fox took home 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 won 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!”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Black Ivy and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Brugal Best Cocktail Bar of the Year
Campari Bar Apprentice 2024
Cold Town Craft Beer Bar of the Year
Deanston Whisky Guru 2024
DRAM Casual Dining Award 2024
Drinks Express Independent Operator of the Year
De Kuyper Liqueurs Mixologist of the Year
Favela Latin American Venue of the Year
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
Hospitality Health Employer of the Year
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year
Unsung Hero Award
Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering
Jameson Best Irish Bar
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
Media World Best Outdoor Area
Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year
Schweppes Bartender of the Year
Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution To the Industry Award
Sims Automatic Sports Bar of the Year
Inspirational Woman of the Year
Boss of the Year
Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality
Community Pub of the Year
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
