Edinburgh celebrates success as finalists announced for Scottish Bar and Pub Awards

Hospitality venues across Edinburgh are celebrating as they are named as finalists in the 2023 Scottish Bar and Pub awards, formerly the DRAM Awards.

Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar is a finalist for Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year with owner Colin Hinds joining The Balmoral’s Cameron Ewen for the Deanston Whisky Guru title.

Stramash and Dropkick Murphys are both named in the Pernod Ricard Late Night Venue category, Panda and Sons and Hey Palu for Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year, and Indigo Yard and Brewhemia for the Molson Coors Bar of the Year gong!

Black Ivy Bar and Hotel have a double nomination for Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year & Drinks Express Best Outside Area. Melanie Cranston, owner of Scotts of Rose Street, makes the top 4 for Buzzworks/Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur and the Boozy Cow lands a spot for Drum Digital Innovator of the Year!

Outside the city centre, Edinburgh is also represented by The Torfin for the Media World Casual Dining Award and by Thirty Knots in South Queensferry for Kopparberg New Bar of the Year.

A special mention also goes to The Original Rosslyn Inn and the Harris family who celebrate their 50th year of ownership with nominations for the Edrington ‘Giving More’ Award & Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year!

The awards are celebrating their 28th year, making them Scotland’s longest-established hospitality awards. They were established to recognise excellence in the Scottish licensed trade by industry magazine DRAM.

Over the last three decades the event has garnered a reputation as being one of the most prestigious events in Scotland’s licensed trade calendar and have been referred to, year in and year out, as the “Oscars of the industry.” The winners will be revealed at a glitzy awards dinner on Tuesday 29th August at The Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Glasgow.

Organiser Susan Young said: “This year, a record number of votes were received from the public across a multitude of categories.

“The best of the best have now been named ranging from pubs that are Dog Friendly to cocktail bars that serve up fabulous drinks, from community pubs with stars behind the bars, to late night venues.

“Customers voted and then mystery shoppers visited, with the last word going to the awards judges. It was certainly not an easy task due to the quality of all the finalists and many miles have been travelled.”

More than 600 people will gather at the event to find out what pubs are taking the top accolade.

You can see the full list of the award categories and finalists below:-

ARO Procurement Customer Service Award

The Boudingait – Cupar

Coia’s Café – Glasgow

Mini Grill – Glasgow

Prime Steak & Seafood – Inverness

Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year

Ardshiel Hotel – Campbeltown

The Piper Whisky Bar – Glasgow

The Pot Still – Glasgow

Tipsie Midgie – Edinburgh

Buzzworks & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year

Brandon Van Rensburg – Tempura, Ayr

Craig Scott – Bartenders Lounge, Aberdeen

Melanie Cranston – Scotts of Rose Street, Edinburgh

Sandy McGregor – The Foresters Arms, Cambusbarron

Campari Mixologist of the Year

Adrian Gomes – The Tippling House, Aberdeen

Scott Keith – Siberia, Aberdeen

John Mcintosh – Chop Grill & Bar, Aberdeen

David Howie – Buzzworks

Vlad Valentin – Banca di Roma, Glasgow

Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year

Adam Norquoy – Dundonald Links,

Cameron Ewen – The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Colin Hinds – Tipsy Midgie, Edinburgh

Thomas McDonagh – The Bon Accord, Glasgow

Drinks Express Best Outdoor Area

Black Ivy – Edinburgh

The Fox and Willow – Ayr

Hugos Bar & Pavilion – Dalgety Bay

The Ivy Lodge – Aberdeen

THE DRUM Digital Innovator of the Year

Boozy Cow – Edinburgh

Bucks Bar – Glasgow/Edinburgh

Radisson RED Sky Bar – Glasgow

Siberia Bar & Hotel – Aberdeen

Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award

Lisini Pub Company

SWG3 – Glasgow

The Old Workshop – Aberdeen

Buzzworks Holdings

‘Giving More’ Award in partnership with Edrington UK

Bartenders Lounge – Aberdeen

Graham Chalmers – Radisson RED, Glasgow

The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin

Zach Sapato – Mikaku, Glasgow

HI-SPIRITS Best Live Music Venue

King Cons – Stirling

King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – Glasgow

St Lukes – Glasgow

The Keg – Paisley

Venue 38 – Ayr

Hospitality Employer of the Year

Auchrannie Hotel

Buzzworks

Cru Holdings

Manorview

Hospo Manager of the Year

Stephen Adams – Vienna’s, Paisley

Carys McGhee – The Tree House/T-Bar, Ayr

Rory McGinley – Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Glasgow

Olivia Wong – Stravaigin, Glasgow 

Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year

Black Ivy – Edinburgh

The Oak Tree Inn – Balmaha

The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin

The Woodside Hotel – Doune

Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering

Malo – Glasgow

Scotch and Rye – Inverness

The Criterion – St Andrews

The Fox and Willow – Ayr

Kopparberg New Bar of the Year

Bartenders Lounge – Aberdeen

King Cons – Stirling

The East End Fox – Baillieston

Thirty Knots – South Queensferry

Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year

The Absent Ear – Glasgow

Hey Palu – Edinburgh

Panda and Sons – Edinburgh

T-Bar – Ayr

Mediaworld Casual Dining Award

The Balerno Inn – Edinburgh

Crown & Anchor – Findhorn

The Greenside – Maybole

Our Place – Annan

The Torfin – Edinburgh

Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year

Cromlix House Bar – By Dunblane

Great Scots’ Bar – Cameron House

Smiths at Gretna Green

Titan Sky Bar – Meldrum House, Inverurie

Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the Year

Behind The Wall – Falkirk

Brewhemia – Edinburgh

Indigo Yard – Edinburgh

The Record Factory – Glasgow

Pernod Ricard Best Late-Night Venue

Cathouse Rock Club – Glasgow

Dropkick Murphys – Edinburgh

Radisson RED Sky Bar – Glasgow

Stramash – Edinburgh

Premier Card Services Independent Operator of the Year

Behind The Wall

Boteco Group

R4 Group

The Rocks Leisure Group

WORQ Group

Sheep Dog Whisky Dog Friendly Pub of the Year

The Forth Inn – Aberfoyle

Hillend Tavern – Hillend

The Mercat Bar & Grill – Nr Musselburgh

The Old Smiddy – Glasgow

William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentices

Helina Adams – Bonnie & Wild, Edinburgh

Bex Allan – Bonnie & Wild, Edinburgh

Paton Allan – The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow

Bryony Baxter – Meraki Bar & Restaurant, Bridge of Don

Christina Davidson – The Smokin’ Fox, Glasgow

Emily Eason – King Cons, Stirling

Logan Eason – Oscar’s Wine Bar, Stirling

Marcus Gordon – Orchid Cocktails, Aberdeen

Jamie Hadden – The Fox, Troon

Alex McQueen – Bartenders Lounge, Aberdeen

James Piper – Gleneagles Townhouse House, Edinburgh

Sunday Mail Pub of the Year

Camphill Vaults – Bothwell

The Four Marys – Linlithgow

Malones – Aberdeen

The Old Smiddy – Glasgow

Sportsterz – Glasgow

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Published by

davepickering

Edinburgh reporter and photographer