FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Edinburgh’s pubs, bars, restaurants and hospitality heroes are celebrating after a host of the capital’s best businesses and individuals were named finalists in the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2026.
Now in its 31st year, the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards are Scotland’s longest running celebration of pubs, bars, restaurants and the people who make them great. The awards have become one of the biggest nights on the licensed trade calendar, recognising the businesses, teams and individuals who go above and beyond across Scotland.
This year, the awards are taking a walk on the wild side, with a spectacular Glam Rock theme set to bring some serious rock ‘n’ roll glamour to the celebrations on Tuesday 1 September.
Edinburgh is strongly represented among this year’s finalists, with local pubs, bars, restaurants, hospitality teams and individuals making their mark across a wide range of categories.
Among the capital’s finalists are The Bowlers Rest, Black Ivy, Bittersweet Leith, Barry Fish, The Dome, Boston Bar New Town, Boston Bar Old Town, Nectar, Seamus’s Pub, Bonnie & Wild, Teuchters Landing, The Pear Tree and The Tynecastle Arms, alongside a host of talented Edinburgh hospitality professionals.
The city’s individual talent is also making its mark, with Cullen Hutchison of The Mother Superior and Chris Sloan of The Black Bull shortlisted for the Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award, while Daniel Cutting of Brewhemia and Mirin McLintock of Why Not are both in contention for HOSPO Manager of the Year.
Edinburgh’s cocktail and restaurant scene is also well represented, with Bittersweet Leith competing for the Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year title, while Barry Fish and The Dome are finalists for Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year.
There is plenty of recognition for the capital’s pub scene too, with Edinburgh venues competing across categories including Community Pub of the Year, DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, Jameson Best Irish Bar, Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area, New Bar of the Year and Sunday Mail Pub of the Year.
Publisher, Susan Young, said: “It is fantastic to see such a strong showing from Edinburgh’s hospitality businesses and individuals this year.
“What I love about these nominations is the sheer variety. We have brilliant bar teams, cocktail destinations, late night venues, community pubs, restaurants, emerging talent and established Edinburgh favourites. It really demonstrates just how diverse and vibrant the city’s hospitality scene is.
“The people working in hospitality are the real stars of these awards, and it is wonderful to see so many from Edinburgh getting the recognition they deserve.”
More than 600 of Scotland’s hospitality stars will gather on 1 September for the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards, with the industry embracing this year’s Glam Rock theme and finding out who will take home Scotland’s highest hospitality honours.
Here’s the full roll call of Edinburgh contenders vying for glory:
Community Pub of the Year
The Bowlers Rest
Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award
Cullen Hutchison – The Mother Superior
Chris Sloan – The Black Bull
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
Black Ivy
Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year
Bittersweet Leith
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Daniel Cutting – Brewhemia
Mirin McLintock – Why Not
Jamesons Best Irish Bar 2026
Boston Bar New Town
Seamus’s Pub
Jump Ship Brewing Best Lo and No Destination
Bonnie & Wild
Teuchters Landing
Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area
Black Ivy
The Pear Tree
Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year
Barry Fish
The Dome
New Bar of the Year
Boston Bar Old Town
Nectar
Schweppes Mixologist of the Year
Cairo McKeown- Badger & Co
Michael Maclean – The Dome
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
The Tynecastle Arms
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