Edinburgh pub entrepreneur Billy Lowe got an extra birthday present when he scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award at Tuesday’s Scottish Bar and Pub Awards, formerly known as the DRAM Awards, on his actual birthday! The award recognised his 35 years at the top of the licensed trade.
Said DRAM publisher Susan Young, “Billy Lowe is arguably Scotland’s most successful licensed trade entrepreneur. Having created three very successful pub companies and operated more than 30 pubs over the decades, he remains at the helm of Caledonia Inns, which includes the award-winning Black Ivy.”
The latter also won the Drinks Express Best Outdoor Area award.
He received his award in front of more than 600 industry peers at a glittering 80s Film themed awards ceremony at the Doubletree Hilton in Glasgow.
Following his win, Billy said, “It was a complete surprise, and I was delighted that the whole family was there to see it! For me, to be recognised alongside the deserving people who have won this award before, people that I truly admire, was such an honour.”
The event saw 30 awards presented to both venues and individuals from all around Scotland spanning from Our Place in Annan which picked up the Media World Casual Dining Award, to Inverness-based Prime which grabbed the ARO Procurement Customer Service Award.
Organiser Susan Young said: “The Scottish licensed trade is full of successful entrepreneurs and as a result we have some of the best pubs and venues in the UK. These awards recognise and celebrate the efforts of the owners and their employees that give Scotland a hospitality industry that is worth shouting about. I take my hat off to all of them.”
Now in their 28th year, the awards are a highlight in the hospitality industry calendar and this year over 100 finalists attended the ceremony at the Double Tree Hilton Glasgow Central – making it the biggest event yet!
There were celebrations in Aberdeen as Scott Anderson of Siberia Bar & Hotel won THE DRUM Digital Innovator of the Year, Adrian Gomes of The Tippling House won Campari Mixologist of the Year and Bryony Baxter of Meraki Bar and Restaurant was named as William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice of the Year.
In Edinburgh there was a double celebration for the Tipsy Midgie and owner Colin Hinds who took home both Benromach’s Whisky Bar of the Year and the Deanston Whisky Guru gongs!
Hey Palu was named the Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year, Stramash as Pernod Ricard Best Late-Night Venue and Brewhemia as Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the Year!
A special mention went to The Original Rosslyn Inn who were honoured with the Golden Jubilee Award for Hospitality to celebrate their 50th year of business.
Meanwhile, in Glasgow winners included local favourites St Lukes & The Winged Ox for Hi-Spirits Best Live Music Venue, the WORQ Group for Premier Card Services Independent Operator of the Year and Graham Chalmers of Radisson RED who won the inaugural Edrington UK Giving More Award for his amazing charitable contributions.
Gillian Kirkland of The Piper Whisky Bar was deservedly crowned Inspirational Woman of the Year, Rory McGinley of Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery was named HOSPO Manager of the Year and Sportsterz Pete Harvey was stunned to receive his Bar Personality of the Year award!
A special ‘Heart of Hospitality’ award was also given to Bucks Bar owner Michael Bergson for being such a great voice for the licensed trade industry.
The Lisini Pub Company were recognized for their amazing sustainability work, winning the Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award and Baillieston’s The East End Fox snapped up the trophy for Kopparbergs New Bar of the Year.
In Ayrshire, industry giants Buzzworks took home the Hospitality Employer of the Year gong, the Fox and Willow won Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offeringand Brandon Van Rensburg, owner of the Tempura chain, walked away as Buzzworks & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.
Other winners from the west included Great Scots Bar in the Cameron House that were awarded Molinari’s Hotel Bar of the Year, The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha that won Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year, and Aberfoyle’s The Forth Inn that scooped the prize for Sheep Dog Whisky Dog Friendly Pub of the Year.
Falkirk’s Brian Flynn, owner of Behind The Wall, was named Licensee of the Year and The Scottish Hospitality Group awarded its Special Recognition Award to Caroline Louden of TLT LLP.
The full list of winners is below:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Lowe – Caledonia Inns
Heart of Hospitality Award
Michael Bergson – Bucks Bar
ARO Procurement Customer Service Award
Prime Steak & Seafood – Inverness
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Tipsie Midgie – Edinburgh
Buzzworks & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Brandon Van Rensburg – Tempura, Ayr
Campari Mixologist of the Year
Adrian Gomes – The Tippling House, Aberdeen
Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year
Colin Hinds – Tipsy Midgie, Edinburgh
Hospitality Employer of the Year
Buzzworks – Ayrshire
Drinks Express Best Outdoor Area
THE DRUM Digital Innovator of the Year
Siberia Bar & Hotel – Aberdeen
‘Giving More’ Award in partnership with Edrington UK
Graham Chalmers – Radisson RED, Glasgow
Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award
Lisini Pub Company – Uddingston
Golden Jubilee Award for Hospitality Excellence
The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin
HI-SPIRITS Best Live Music Venue
St Lukes & The Winged Ox – Glasgow
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Rory McGinley – Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Glasgow
Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year
The Oak Tree Inn – Balmaha
Inspirational Woman of the Year
Gillian Kirkland – The Piper Whisky Bar,Glasgow
Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering
The Fox and Willow – Ayr
Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
The East End Fox – Baillieston
Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year
Hey Palu – Edinburgh
Mediaworld Casual Dining Award
Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year
Great Scots’ Bar – Cameron House
Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the Year
Brewhemia – Edinburgh
Pernod Ricard Best Late-Night Venue
Premier Card Services Independent Operator of the Year
WORQ Group – Glasgow
Bar Personality of the Year
Pete Harvey – Sportsterz
Sheep Dog Whisky Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Forth Inn – Aberfoyle
Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution to the Industry Award
Caroline Loudon – TLT LLP
DRAM Licensee of the Year 2023
Brian Flynn – Behind the Wall, Falkirk
William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentices
Bryony Baxter – Meraki Bar & Restaurant, Bridge of Don
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