While the world’s busy googling the line-up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, dubbed the Z-list year for celebrities, the A-list of the Scottish licensed trade turned out in Glasgow last night (21st August, 2018) for the ‘Strictly Fabulous’ 23rd annual Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.
Industry movers and shakers gathered at Glasgow’s Hilton hotel for a Strictly Come Dancing-themed evening of entertainment from the Strictly Scottish Professional Dance Team and a three-course dinner followed by the awards, hosted by Tamsin Littlewood.
The awards are run by the publishers of industry magazine, DRAM.
Among the winners were Harry and Kathleen Hood of the Lisini Pub Company, who became the first joint recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Caroline Wright from Glasgow’s Jinty McGuinty’s walked away with DRAM Manager of the Year, and Kopparberg New Bar of the Year went to T-Bar in Ayr.
Said organiser Susan Young, publisher of DRAM, “We had a record number of customers who voted for their favourite bars and pubs, over 3000, and mystery shoppers were out in their droves. It was amazing to see to many excellent places.”
The full list of winners is as follows:
Antos Dog Friendly Pub of the Year: The Forth Inn, Aberfoyle
BII Customer Service Award: The Old Mill, Pitlochry
Buzzworks and Flow Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Rachael Carpenter and Linden Wilkinson
The Critics’ Choice Casual Dining Award: Montpeliers, Edinburgh
Diageo Award for Social Responsibility & Community: Buzzworks, Prestwick
Disaronno Cocktail Bar of the Year: Sygn, Edinburgh
DRAM Manager of the Year: Caroline Wright, Jinty McGuinty’s, Glasgow
Gordon & MacPhail Award for Success: The Dowans Hotel, Aberlour
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice of the Year: Ellie Raeside, Candy Bar, Edinburgh
Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year: Black Ivy, Edinburgh
The Inverarity Morton Wine by the Glass: Kylesku Hotel, Kylesku
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year: T-Bar, Ayr
Molson Coors Beer Bar of the Year: Brewhemia, Edinburgh
Open Ear Community Bar of the Year: The Swan Inn, Eaglesham
Sunday Mail Pub Spy of the Year Award: The Citizen, Glasgow
The DRUM Social Media World: Carrigan’s, Blantyre
Bar Personality of the Year: Nicola Walker, Driftwood, Glasgow
Best Outside Area: Brel, Glasgow
Wee DRAM Whisky Bar of the Year: Usquabae Whisky Bar & Larder, Edinburgh
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year: The Swan Inn, Eaglesham.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Harry and Kathleen Hood, Lisni Pub Company
For more information and images please call 0141 221 6965/email susan@mediaworldltd.com