THE DIGGERS IS WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR
The winners of the 2025 Scottish Bar & Pub Awards were unveiled at a glittering Oscars-themed ceremony held at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow on Tuesday. Celebrating its 30th year, the prestigious event welcomed hundreds of hospitality professionals from across Scotland, with over 100 venues shortlisted as finalists.
Top industry honours went to some of Scotland’s most iconic names. Michele Pagliocca, owner of Monteleone Ltd (The Marlborough, The Butterfly and the Pig,
The Buff Club and Singl-End) in Glasgow, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Donald MacLeod MBE was recognised with the SHG Contribution to the Industry Award and Buzzworks’ Alison Blair was named Inspirational Woman of the Year.
There were big celebrations in Edinburgh as local venues scooped some of the night’s most coveted titles.
Black Ivy was named Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year, Hey Palu claimed the Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year, and The Athletic Arms (above) took home the title of Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year.
I’m sure my old pal Frank Russell would have raised a glass to THAT award! – Ed.
It was a double win for Encore Bars, with Freddy’s picking up Fireball Best Late Night Venue, and owner Edward Fox receiving the Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneur Award.
The night even saw individual successes celebrated, with Jane Ross (The Mother Superior) awarded the Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award, Gavin Ruthven (The Dome) named HOSPO Manager of the Year, and Toby Peters (The Cocktail Geeks) shaking things up to win Schweppes Mixologist of the Year.
In Midlothian, The Original Rosslyn Inn was recognised as the DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, celebrating its warm welcome to both guests and their four-legged friends.
The celebrations continued in Glasgow, where Berlinkys was awarded the DRAM New Bar of the Year, Kitty O’Shea’s took home the Jameson Best Irish Bar title, and MacSorley’s proudly received the highly sought-after Pub of the Year award.
Dundee enjoyed a successful night, with Draffens honoured with the De Kuyper Award for Cocktail Excellence in Neighbourhood Venues, and The Phoenix receiving the Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality.
In Fife, Hugos Bar and Pavilion celebrated a second consecutive win, this time taking home the DRAM Best Beer Garden award, while The Criterion in St Andrews received the Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering trophy.
Elsewhere across Scotland, The Newton Bar in Millport was named DRAM Community Pub of the Year, The Birds and Bees in Stirling earned the Jump Ship Brewing Gastropub of the Year title, Lochy’s in Barrhead took the Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year award, and Aimee Ashworth from Dishoom was honoured with the Campari Bar Apprentice 2025 accolade.
Two industry giants also made their mark on the night. Apex Hotels showcased their commitment to staff wellbeing by winning the Hospitality Health Employer of the Year award, while the formidable Bucks Bar Group took home the Favela Independent Multiple Operator Award.
Special recognition was given to Fiona Joyce of the Solway Lodge in Gretna, who received the Unsung Hero award, and Lorraine Ferguson from Billy Bridges in Ayr, who was named Bar Personality of the Year.
Both women have dedicated over 20 years to their venues, embodying the passion and loyalty at the heart of Scotland’s hospitality industry.
Susan Young, organiser and Editor of industry publication DRAM, said, “It was fantastic to see so many deserving winners this year.
“These awards are a celebration of the people who make the Scottish hospitality industry the success it is, and this year’s entries were truly outstanding.
“Over the past 30 years, we’ve hosted some incredible events, and this was certainly one of the best. Every finalist deserves recognition for the exceptional venues they operate and should be immensely proud of their achievements.
“Congratulations to each and every one of them!”
The full list of winners is below:
Michele Pagliocca
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Athletic Arms – Edinburgh
Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneurial Award
Edward Fox – Encore Bars, Edinburgh
Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year
Hey Palu – Edinburgh
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin
Highly Commended – The Anchorage, Dunure
Campari Bar Apprentice 2025
Aimee Ashworth – Dishoom, Glasgow (Formerly La Jupe, Helensburgh)
Highly Commended – Cameron Evans, Lynnhurst Hotel
De Kuyper Cocktail Excellence in Neighbourhood Venues
Draffens – Dundee
Highly Commended – The Corner House, Kilwinning
Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star
Jane Ross – The Mother Superior, Edinburgh
Favela Independent Multiple Operator
Winner – Buck’s Bar Group
Highly Commended – Rocks Leisure Group
Fireball Best Late Night Venue
Freddy’s – Edinburgh
Hospitality Health Employer of the Year
Apex Hotels
Highly Commended – Lisini Pub Co.
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Gavin Ruthven – The Dome, Edinburgh
Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
Unsung Hero
Fiona Joyce – Solway Lodge Hotel
Bar Personality of the Year
Lorraine Ferguson – Billy Bridges/Southern Ayr
Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering
The Criterion – St Andrews
SPBA Best Beer Garden
Hugos Bar & Pavilion – Dalgety Bay
Jameson Best Irish Bar
Kitty O’Shea’s – Glasgow
Jump Ship Brewing Gastro Pub of the Year
The Birds and Bees – Stirling
Highly Commended – Crown and Anchor Inn – Findhorn
DRAM Community Pub of the Year
The Newton Bar – Millport
SBPA New Bar of the Year
Berlinkys – Glasgow
Schweppes Mixologist of the Year
Toby Peters – The Cocktail Geeks, Edinburgh
Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year
Lochy’s – Barrhead
Scottish Hospitality Group Special Recognition Award
Donald MacLeod MBE
Inspirational Woman of the Year
Alison Blair
Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality
The Phoenix – Dundee
Pub of the Year
MacSorley’s – Glasgow
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