The Scottish licensed trade was out in force on Monday night (24th June) at a glittering awards ceremony at Glasgow’s Grand Central Hotel, as they gathered to hear who had picked up the top accolades at this year’s DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards.
This year Glasgow edged ahead of Edinburgh for the gongs – with Glasgow’s Gamba picking up the BII Award for Customer Service, The Fish People Cafe the Critics’ Choice Award, Glasgow University Union picking up the Diageo Award for Social Responsibility and Rhoderick Dhu Manager James Brown picking up the award Strongbow Manager of the year. The new 2013 Whisky Bar of the year was The Lismore.
Scotland’s young Mixxit bar apprentice of the year also came from the West with Steven McLeish of Strata taking home this award.
Edinburgh saw awards to Colinton’s Blue Goose – now the 2013 Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, Angels’ Share – Scotland’s top new bar, and Nic Wood of Signature Pubs winning Forth Wines Passion for wine award. The Paper Mill in Lasswade was recognised as Kopparberg Independent Bar of the year and Saltire Taverns Sales Rep of the year went to Edinburgh’s Julia Bone who works for Molson Coors.
It wasn’t just Glasgow and Edinburgh licensees that fared well. Stephen McLeod of Stirling based Aurora Hotels won the Benromach Award for Success trophy while Arran’s Auchrannie House Hotel picked up the Vicast Independent Hotel of the year award. Fraserburgh bar Cheers won the Tennent’s Quality Award and Molson Coors Champion Beer pub of Scotland 2013 is now the Trades House Bar in Dundee while you will get Scotland’s best cocktail at Scotts in Troon – the new Kraken Cocktail Bar of the year.
The Sunday Mail Centenary Fund Family pub of the year was picked up by Inverary hotel, The George while the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year Mirror went to the Tartan Arms in Bannockburn.
One of the main accolades of the night, the DRAM Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Scottish Licensed Trade went to Glasgow publican Colin Barr, the man behind the Republic Bier Halle and Cocktail and Burger.
Susan Young the event’s organiser and Editor of the DRAM commented, “Colin has been a leading light when it comes to introducing innovative ideas to the trade, and with 35 years under his belt, he is one of the stalwarts of the trade.” She continued, ‘The quality of entry was the best yet, and it wasn’t easy choosing the winners. But they all had a stand out quality that set them apart. Congratulations to them all.”
Photographs are available of all the winners.
2013 Award Winners
Benromach Award for Success 2013
Steven McLeod
Aurora Hotel Collection
BII Scotland Customer Service Award 2013
Gamba
Glasgow
Critics’ Choice Award 2013
The Fish People Cafe
Glasgow
Diageo Award for Social Responsibility 2013
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year 2013
Blue Goose
Edinburgh
Forth Wines Passion for Wine Award 2013
Nic Wood
Signature Pub Group
Kopparberg Independent Bar of the Year 2013
The Paper Mill
Lasswade
Kraken Black Spiced Rum Cocktail Bar of the Year 2013
Scotts
Troon
Mixxit Bar Apprentice 2013
Steven McLeish
Strata
Molson Coors Champion Beer pub of Scotland 2013
Trades House Bar
Dundee
Repertoire New Bar of the Year 2013
Angels Share
Edinburgh
Saltire Taverns Sales Rep of the year 2013
Julia Bone
Molson Coors
Strongbow Manager of the Year 2013
James Brown
Rhoderick Dhu
Sunday Mail Centenary Fund Family Pub of the Year
The George Hotel
Inverary
Tennent’s Quality Award 2013
Cheers Cafe Bar
Fraserburgh
Vicast Independent Hotel of the Year
Auchrannie House Hotel
Isle of Arran
Wee DRAM Whisky Bar of the Year 2013
The Lismore
DRAM Award
Outstanding Contribution to the Scottish Licensed Trade
Colin Barr