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
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
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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