We are delighted to launch the 2016 Scottish Bar and Pub Awards in this issue. All the categories appear here, and in the next few issues, and the website is now open for entries. Over the next few months there will be a full PR and social media campaign for the event and of course our media sponsor the Sunday Mail will launch its hunt for Pub of the Year next month.
We are inviting nominations for the various categories from the trade and from customers too. If you are a rep and have trade customers who you feel deserve to be nominated please put them forward. We will also be asking for nominations from members of the public. Licensees – if you think you deserve an accolade encourage your staff, sales rep or customers to put you forward.
We have a Brazilian theme inspired of course by the upcoming Olympics which take place at the same time as the awards. Our pubs will be winning their own trophies courtesy of Glencairn Crystal. The venue is The Glasgow Hilton who did a tremendous job last year.
This year I am delighted to welcome back sponsors, BII, Diageo, Gordon & MacPhail (formerly Benromach), Kopparberg, Mixxit, Molson Coors, Tennent’s, the Sunday Mail and Glencairn Crystal. We have a few new sponsors too they include Arran Distillery, Bright Signals, Caledonian Brewery, Flow and Inverarity Morton.
The licensed trade depends on good suppliers therefore this year’s awards will also include Drinks Wholesaler of the year, Food Wholesaler of the year, Spirit Brand Owner/ Distributor of the year and Beer Brand Owner/Distributor of the year. This will be decided by a telephone survey.
Good luck!
Customer Service Award
Customer service is paramount when it comes to running a successful business. BII Scotland is on the lookout for a pub, restaurant or hotel which fully embraces the customer service ethos. Do you know a business that does this? If so, they could be eligible for this award. Judges will look at the measures that are in place to ensure staff are well trained in customer service. Short listing will be done by Mystery Shoppers followed by interviews at a later date by a team of judges. If you want to put a nomination in, do so now.
Social Media Award
Bright Signals one of Scotland’s foremost creative content agencies is on the look-out for pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels that excel in their use of social media. We’re looking for examples of great content, interaction and results. Do you know a venue that does it well, or do you think you are one? If so enter now at scottishbarandpubawards.com
Award for Innovative Business of the year
Caledonian Brewery, one of Scotland’s most innovative breweries, is on the lookout for a licensed trade business that is also innovative. Do you know a business that has developed by using innovative business practices? Do they think outside of the box when it comes to attracting customers? Perhaps they have developed an innovative idea that is proving a success with customers and staff whether it be an innovative loyalty scheme, upcycling practices, creative menus or special events. If so they could be eligible for this award. So why not put them forward now.
Gastro Pub of the Year
It has never been more important to offer your customers good food. It doesn’t have to be fine dining, but quality, freshly prepared pub grub is what we are looking for. It’s not the size of the menu that counts, but the quality of the food and the efficiency of the service. If you think you know a venue that has a great food offer, let us know at www.scottishbarandpubawards.com
Social Responsibility and Community Award
Diageo is on the look-out for pubs, bars and people that embrace social responsibility and who also put something back into the community. Do you know a pub or bar that has developed good relationships with local police, community safety partnerships, community groups, licensing boards and/or licensing forums to help minimise alcohol-related crime and disorder? Do they go the extra mile to promote responsible drinking; what do they do differently from other bars in the area? Do they interact with the local community. Let us know and they could be the proud recipients of this award.
Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards are hunting for a pub that provides a welcome for pet dogs. Do you know a pub or bar that allow customers to bring their friendly pooches inside? Do they provide a water bowl, and the occasional treat? If so, they could be in the running for this accolade. Judges will be bringing their own dogs on mystery visits (volunteers are queuing up!!) If you think you know a pub or hotel that fits the bill – enter it now.
Entrepreneur of the Year
Do you know someone, or are you someone, who has the entrepreneurial spirit? Do you know a man or woman who took a risk when they started their business, and who has grown it by providing customers what they want and by investing in their staff. A good entrepreneur is a good leader that has strong communication skills and the ability to lead a team of people toward a common goal in a way that keeps the entire team motivated. Are you that person or do you know one? If so why not put them forward for this award now?
Best New Venue
New bars, restaurants and hotels have been opening at a great rate of knots over the last 12 months and this year there is an award for Best New Venue. What bar, restaurant or hotel has made a real impression on you since it opened. (September 2015 – May 31 2016). We are looking for well designed venues, which have invested in their staff as well as their premises, and which deliver. It’s not enough to look good, it has to have been a success with customers too.
Award for Success
Success stories deserve to be recognised and celebrated. Do you know a licensee/proprietor that has grown their business over the past few years. Perhaps they have successfully continued a family company, or expanded over the past few years, adopted innovation to develop their business, or have grown turnover? This year’s Scottish Bar & Pub Award judges would love to know of any hoteliers, restaurateurs or licensees, who fit the bill. Why not put them forward now to www.scottishbarandpubawards.com
Wine by the Glass
Do you have a great range of wine by the glass or do you know a bar, pub or restaurant that does? If so it could be eligible for this inaugural award. A choice of wine range and the opportunity to buy it by the glass has a great appeal to the modern consumer. Judges will be looking for staff with good wine knowledge, a range of wine by the glass which offers a good balance of Old and New World wines, and which includes wine that you can drink on its own or with food. Do you, or does your favourite bar or restaurant seek to improve the customer experience by offering a step up in the quality of wine in its wine by the glass range, and has the wine on offer helped to improve the reputation of the outlet? If so enter your favourite wine by the glass venue now.
Island Pub/Bar of the Year
Isle of Arran Distillers, the only distillers on the Isle of Arran, are on the look-out for the best bar and pub located on a Scottish island. Do you know a bar or pub that goes the extra mile to attract customers to its island location? Does the pub or bar offer great food, excellent service and a very warm welcome? If so why not nominate it for this award? Whether the bars are on Arran or or Mull, Islay or Bute, the judges will be eager to see what makes them special. So be sure and enter your nominee now.
Independent Bar of the Year
Kopparberg is on the lookout for Scotland’s top independent bar. The Kopparberg team is looking for a bar that has proved to be a success with customers – it doesn’t have to be the most stylish or the biggest, but owners should demonstrate creative forward-thinking and be inclined to think outside of the box when it comes to developing their business. It goes without saying but good customer service and an excellent range of products behind the bar is essential. Do you know a bar that deserves the title? If so put them forward for the accolade now.
Bar Apprentice 2016
Maxxium UK’s training and education programme, mixxit, is now in its tenth year of looking for Scotland’s best new bartender. The mixxit Bar Apprentice competition will take 10 bartenders with experience of one year or less on an intensive training programme which will cover all aspects of professional bartending, including mixology, drinks knowledge and service excellence. In July the bar apprentices will face a panel of judges and the best performing bartender will win the accolade mixxit Bar Apprentice of the Year, which will be announced at the SB&P Awards.
Craft Beer Bar of the Year
The judges of this category will be looking for a bar that has an excellent range of quality beer and Craft beers. The bar has to serve and market its beer range well, employ staff who are interested and knowledgeable about beer. An ability to understand beer styles, taste profile and matching beer with food is also fundamental. If you are a bar or know a bar who loves their beer and always looking for the next innovation or new experience of beer enter it now.
Cocktail Bar of the Year
Do you think you know the best cocktail bar in Scotland? Do the bartenders provide good service, and offer good, imaginative cocktails? Are they well trained with a customer focus? Does the ambience reflect the quality of the drinks? If so enter the bar that you think deserves the accolade Cocktail Bar of the Year. Expertly made cocktails, a willingness to experiment and a good knowledge of spirits are essential. www.scottishbarandpubawards.com.
Quality Award
A dedication to quality has helped to make Tennent’s the No 1 Scottish Lager brand – and Tennent’s is looking for a pub that shows a similar commitment to quality. Excellent customer service, great beer, a good range of products behind the bar, fine food and a great ambience are all part of the quality experience. If you would like to nominate a pub or bar, do so now.
Whisky Bar of the Year
Whisky is Scotland’s national drink and we know that there are some great whisky bars out there. The Wee DRAM is looking for licensees who go to extraordinary lengths to promote Scotch whisky within their own establishment. An excellent range of whisky on the back bar is a necessity and staff should also be well trained and enthusiastic when it comes to recommending whisky to their customers. A good Scottish welcome is also important. Do you know a bar worth nominating?
Pub of the Year
Scotland’s leading Sunday newspaper is looking for the best pub in the country. Do you have a welcoming atmosphere? Do your customers come back, and come back again? Get your customers to fill in the entry form when it appears in the Sunday Mail or online at www.scottishbarandpubawards.co.uk and tell us why you think you are eligible for ‘Pub of the Year’.
Lifetime Achievement
This honour is bestowed upon the person who during their career, have made significent contributions to the licensed trade. Previous winners include John Gilligan, David Urquhart, Billy Dunn, Bob Taylor, Lord MacFarlane and Angus Meldrum.
16th August 2016
The Hilton Hotel, Glasgow
Tables of 10 £ 1100
To reserve your table
contact Cheryl:
cheryl@mediaworldltd.com
Get your customers to vote for you at