Tag: pubs

Last Orders! Nominate your favourite in Scottish Bar & Pub Awards

Does your favourite bar go above and beyond for the community? Does it have a gin-credible drinks selection? Or has it shaken up an innovative cocktail? Well, you only have until the end of TODAY to share their successes and help crown them top of the Scots. 

It is your last chance to enter Scotland’s longest running licensed trade awards – dubbed the ‘hospitality Oscars’ – the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2022.

Back bigger and better this year, the prestigious annual event is looking for establishments from John O’Groats to the Mull of Galloway who deserve to be recognised for their offerings.  

Have you been wowed by the views from a special rooftop bar? Has a brand-new chic lounge caressed your tastebuds with a cocktail offering? Or have the charming surroundings of your local welcomed both you and your pooch through the door? Well now is your chance to shout about it!

At the 27th annual event, category sponsors are looking to hear from staff, customers and community members who would like to see their much-loved establishment take home a coveted accolade across one of the nineteen specialised categories.

Nominations are open until 30 June and establishments have the chance to be shortlisted for recognition as Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year, the Molinari Casual Dining Award or the Pernod Ricard Best Late Night Venue. 

Stolichnaya are on the hunt for a bar, restaurant or hotel that operates with a sustainable business model – from recycled bottles to reducing plastic waste. If that is you, they want to hear from you.

Meanwhile, Hungrrr are looking for an establishment that is forward-thinking and has embraced technology to keep their business driving forward.

Antos are also looking to find the best Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, The Busker is seeking out the Innovative Cocktail Bar of the Year and Hi-Spirits want to find the Best Live Music Venue.

The prestigious awards also look to celebrate rising stars in the industry, community-minded establishments and overall give a much-needed boost to those championing the late-night economy. 

New for 2022, The Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the year award will look to recognise operators that offer something special for their locals or are full of exceptional teams that make the industry so vibrant and fresh. 

Organiser, Susan Young said: “Scotland has the best people and our awards are here to commend those charismatic individuals and their incredible venues that make up Scotland’s unparalleled hospitality landscape.  But they need your help to vote for them. Reward the efforts of your favourite pub or bar and vote now on The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards website.”

To enter your local bar into this year’s awards, simply vote online to cast your nomination. Every vote counts as the ten competitors with the most votes from each category will receive a visit from ‘mystery shoppers’ before the finalists are revealed.

Following a judging process, the winners will then be announced at a glittering award ceremony on 30th August 2022 at The Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central.

Nominations are now open across Scotland for The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2022. Voting closes on the 30th June 2022. 

For more information, head to https://scottishbarandpubawards.com

Follow online:

https://www.instagram.com/scottishbarpubawards/
https://twitter.com/scotbarpubaward 

CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA

Antos Dog Friendly Pub of the Year 

Obviously a pub that welcomes dogs… with great facilities and perhaps even treats for their four-legged customers. 

ARO Procurement Customer Service Award
Judges will be looking for a pub, restaurant or hotel which fully embraces the customer service ethos.

Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Gordon & MacPhail, one of Scotland’s premiere whisky companies, is looking for a whisky bar that excels and has a great range.

Buzzworks and Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Buzzworks and Montpeliers, two of Scotland’s premiere hospitality businesses, are seeking an up and coming entrepreneur. The prize is a year’s mentoring…

Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year
This category is for people who not only have a great knowledge of whisky.

DRAM Community Pub of the Year
Judges here will be looking for a special pub, which is not only part of the community but supports it too.

DRAM Independent Pub Group of the Year
The DRAM is on the look-out for Scotland’s top Independent Pub Group.

Hi-Spirits Best Live Music Venue 2022
Live music is very much part of a vibrant night life, aand judes are looking for Scotland’s best.

Hungrrr Technology Adopter of The Year
Hospitality operators that embrace technology to keep their business on track and driving them forward.

Inverarity Morton Restaurant of the Year
A memorable meal in a memorable restaurant – where have you been that has impressed?

Kopparberg New Bar of the Year
Is there a great new bar near you that deserves an award?  

Molinari Casual Dining Award 2022
Recongised relaxed atmosphere venues that  serve good value quality food.

Molson Coors Scottish Bar Of The Year
This inaugural award is seeking out Scotland’s best bars that have been around for more than a year.

Old Tom Gin 1821 Hotel Bar of the Year
Do you have a hotel that you love to go to relax and enjoy the great outdoors that also has a great bar?

Pernod Ricard Best Late Night Venue
Pernod Ricard, the brand owners with Havana Club, Beefeater, and Chivas in its portfolio, is looking for a late night venue that exemplifies what is good and great about late night socialising.

Sunday Mail Pub of the Year
This year the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year Award will go to the most voted for pub in Scotland at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.

Stolichnaya Award for Sustainability

This award is aimed at bars, restaurants or hotels that operate with an effective and sustainability agenda, from reducing plastic waste to conserving energy – it all matters. 

The Busker Innovative Cocktail Bar of the Year
The Busker is an innovative ‘new to the world’ Irish Whiskey which is seeking out Scotland’s most innovative Cocktail Bar. It is looking for a bar which marries traditions with a contemporary look and which empowers bartenders to go beyond their limitations and create flavour-curious (great) cocktails.

William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentice of the Year 2022
The Bar Apprentice is back for with a bespoke programme for this year’s apprentices – an experience you can’t buy!

Same Again? CAMRA to present awards to Leith’s Dreadnought

MAKE IT A DOUBLE: TWO AWARDS FOR NORTH FORT STREET PUB

It will be a proud moment for licensee Toby Saltonstall on Monday 23rd May (7.30pm) when he will be presented with the CAMRA local branch (Edinburgh and SE Scotland) Edinburgh Pub of the Year 2022 award.

Not only that, the Dreadnought has also been adjudged Overall Branch Pub of the Year 2022.

CAMRA Branch Chair Pat Hanson, who will be be handing over the two framed certificates, said: “In a few short years Toby and Roisin at the Dreadnought have won numerous CAMRA awards with their top quality real ale and banter and it’s now fitting that they should add the coveted Overall Branch Pub of the Year award to their collection.”

In a Facebook post, the popular North Fort Street pub announced: “The Dread is CAMRA Edinburgh Pub of the Year for the fourth consecutive time. There was no winner in 2021 but we can call it five years straight, right? Not too shabby for a single-room battlecruiser out in the sticks.

“This one is for the team, who have been nothing short of sensational over the past two years.”

The multi-award winning Dreadnought is branching out. They have just bought The Wee Leith Shop – the Dread Shed cometh!

Sizzling Pubs team up with Make-A-Wish UK to make dreams come true

Sizzling pubs, including The Robin’s Nest in Edinburgh, are teaming up with Make-A-Wish UK to help make dreams come true for seriously ill children across the UK. 

As part of the ‘Sizzling Community Change’ campaign, the pub chain has set themselves the goal of collectively raising one million pennies for their charity partner Make-A-Wish UK, and other local community good causes, through a series of fundraising activities.

With over 243 pubs across the UK, Sizzling prides themselves on their sense of community spirit – and this partnership with Make-A-Wish UK will help make a real difference to the lives of children in the local communities that their pubs are at the heart of.

Currently, around 63,000 children across the UK are eligible for a wish because they have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition. And Make-A-Wish UK aims to create hope, happiness and memories for the whole family to cherish by empowering children with the chance to choose a wish that’s unique to them.

The pub chain’s fundraising activity is set to kick off with the introduction of Sizzling’s ‘Light Nights’ menu, which will feature a charity dessert. The special Eton Mess Sundae will help raise money for Make-A-Wish UK, with 25p from each pudding being donated to the charity.

Tom Redwood, Operations Director at Sizzling Pubs, said: “Supporting local charities is part of what gives us our Sizzling spirit, and we hope this new partnership will help make a big difference to the lives of children and their families across the UK.

“We’re so proud to be supporting Make-A-Wish UK as part of our Sizzling Community Change campaign, and our charity dessert is just the beginning when it comes to the exciting fundraising activities we have planned for this year.”

Jason Suckley, Chief Executive at Make-A-Wish UK, said: “The power of a wish can revive a childhood stolen by critical illness. We are very grateful for the generous support of Sizzling Pubs, which will help Make-A-Wish UK be a light in the darkness for more children and their loves ones, granting wishes that leave a profound and lasting impact on all their lives.”

Discover which seriously ill children need help in your area and help make a wish come true using the Make-A-Wish UK ‘Wish Map’:

https://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/wishes/wish-map/

Village Trust launches appeal to complete Pub purchase

Port Bannatyne residents will launch a community share offer next week, in what will be the last piece of the jigsaw that allows the village to complete the purchase of the Anchor Tavern and the former off-licence at 34 Marine Road which will become a flexible community hub space.

An information drop-in was held in the Port Hall last night.

Residents and supporters will be invited to buy shares in Port Bannatyne Development Trust, the Community Benefit Society (CBS) that will own the Anchor.

The Scottish Land Fund announced last month that they would provide the funds to purchase the building, subject to a successful community share offer to raise funds to cover renovations and working capital.

The shareholders will then control the CBS, on a one member one vote basis. The CBS’s rules have been designed to comply with Scottish Land Fund requirements, which include a majority of shareholders being resident in the village and a £25 minimum shareholding.

The majority of the funds raised will be spent on refurbishment. In particular the parts of the building which customers don’t normally see are in urgent need of attention, with vegetation now growing inside the building. The share offer aims to raise between £50K and £105K, with the extent of the renovations carried out dependent on the total raised, and priorities to be decided by the new CBS.

Jon Sear, Vice-chair of Port Bannatyne Development Trust said “We know £105,000 is a lot of money to try to raise for a small village like Port Bannatyne, but we are encouraged by the success of other communities, in particular Knoydart, whose pub Share Offer just raised twice this amount and had to be closed early, despite their smaller population.

“Our biggest challenge is that we can’t accept more shareholders from outside the Port Bannatyne area than live locally, so unless the number of applications from Port residents exceeds our expectations, we have no choice but to prioritise higher value applications from non-residents”.

After shares have been allocated to village residents, the Trust has committed to prioritising applications for £200 or more of shares from other island residents and second home owners, and applications for £1000 or more of shares from supporters wherever they are.

The society aims to pay investors 2% interest after year three and is applying to register for HMRC’s Social Investment Tax Relief scheme which offers attractive tax incentives for larger investors.

All tips to go to staff under UK government plans to enhance rights of 2 million workers

Government unveils plans to overhaul tipping practices, helping around 2 million people top up their income

  • UK Government to tackle shameful tipping practices and ensure all tips go to workers
  • plans will help around 2 million UK workers retain their tips, which can make up a large proportion of income for many hospitality workers
  • customers will know tips are going to the worker for a fair day’s work

All tips will go to staff under new plans to overhaul tipping practices set out by the UK Government today (Friday 24 September), providing a financial boost to hospitality workers across the country.

Most hospitality workers – many of whom are earning the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage – rely on tipping to top up their income. But research shows that many businesses that add a discretionary service charge onto customer’s bills are keeping part or all of these service charges, instead of passing them onto staff.

The government will make it illegal for employers to withhold tips from workers. The move is set to help around 2 million people working in one of the 190,000 businesses across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors, where tipping is common place and can make up a large part of their income.

This will ensure customers know tips are going in full to workers and not businesses, ensuring workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

Tipping legislation will build on a range of government measures to protect and enhance workers’ rights. In the past 18 months alone, the government has introduced parental bereavement leave, protected new parents on furlough, and given millions a pay rise through a higher minimum wage.

Labour Markets Minister Paul Scully said: “Unfortunately, some companies choose to withhold cash from hardworking staff who have been tipped by customers as a reward for good service.

“Our plans will make this illegal and ensure tips will go to those who worked for it. This will provide a boost to workers in pubs, cafes and restaurants across the country, while reassuring customers their money is going to those who deserve it.”

Moves towards a cashless society have accelerated dodgy tipping practices, as an increase in card payments has made it easier for businesses to keep the funds.

80% of all UK tipping now happens by card, rather than cash going straight into the pockets of staff. Businesses who receive tips by card currently have the choice of whether to keep it or pass it on to workers.

Today’s plans will create consistency for those being tipped by cash or card, while ensuring that businesses who already pass on tips fairly aren’t penalised.

The legislation will include:

  • a requirement for all employers to pass on tips to workers without any deductions
  • a Statutory Code of Practice setting out how tips should be distributed to ensure fairness and transparency
  • new rights for workers to make a request for information relating to an employer’s tipping record, enabling them to bring forward a credible claim to an employment tribunal

Under the changes, if an employer breaks the rules they can be taken to an Employment Tribunal, where employees can be forced to compensate workers, often in addition to fines.

Tipping legislation will form part of a package of measures which will provide further protections around workers’ rights.

Building on economic support measures, the UK Government recently announced a range of initiatives to support the hospitality sector through its first ever Hospitality Strategy.

This set out ways to help the sector improve its resilience, including by making hospitality a career option of choice, boosting creativity, and developing a greener sector.

Updated guidance for hospitality

Drinking, Dining and Dancing without face masks will be permitted from Monday 9th August.  

There is no requirement to wear a mask while eating or drinking, whether seated or standing. The Government are encouraging the use of table service where possible, but this is not a requirement.

The mandatory collection of customer contact details will remain in place.

A copy of the newly updated guidance is available here.  

CLARITY ON ‘VERTICAL DRINKING’

SCOTLAND’S licensed hospitality trade received confirmation yesterday that “vertical drinking” in licensed premises will be permitted from Monday.

Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), attended a meeting on Wednesday with the Scottish Government and other industry groups at which officials provided clarity following ‘confusing messages’ from Deputy First Minister John Swinney on BBC Radio Scotland.

Mr Wilkinson said: “It is absolutely crucial to have this clarified. Mr Swinney’s comments were both unhelpful and misinformed.”

Hospitality: social distancing guidance clarified

Updated guidance on physical distancing measures has been updated and was confirmed yesterday, says The Scottish Licensed Trade Association. This guidance includes information on calculating physical distancing capacity in public settings.

Some of the new elements of this guidance are effective from 17 May 2021, but operators should read the guidance and take the appropriate steps as soon as possible.

Information on the updated guidance can be found here.

CAMRA: Support your local pub!

Consumer group CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is urging pub goers and beer drinkers to get back down their locals wherever possible to socialise safely at pubs, social clubs and brewery taprooms. 

The Campaign is urging people to support their local pub, whether it has outside space that is opening from today or by supporting take-home beer and cider sales from those that cannot open for another few weeks yet. 

CAMRA has also teamed up with other industry organisations, including the Society of Independent Breweries (SIBA), Cask Marque and the British Institute of Innkeeping, to urge people to opt for a pint of fresh cask beer from a local, independent brewery as part of the ‘Cask is BACK, so back CASK’ campaign, championing our national drink which can only be bought and enjoyed down the pub.  

For those unable to reopen from today, CAMRA’s Pulling Together campaign at www.camra.org.uk/pullingtogether allows people to find and support local businesses by listing local pubs and breweries offering take-home beer and cider for collection or home delivery.  

CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said: “Pubs matter and are a vital part of our communities. We are all looking forward to enjoying the social and wellbeing benefits of being back at the local – and enjoying a pint of delicious local cask beer.  

“It is vital that our pubs and clubs get as much support as possible over the coming weeks and months during this partial reopening. With outside-only alcohol sales and the onerous curfew, many pubs will struggle to make ends meet after an exceptionally difficult 13 months.  

“For those going back to the pub today as well as considering BYOB – ‘bring your own blanket’ – we’d like to ask pub goers to be patient and courteous with pub staff who are doing their jobs in difficult circumstances and with a few extra rules than we are used to when we visit our local.  

“For those pubs that can’t reopen yet, please do consider supporting them with take-home beer, cider and food until they can open their doors inside in a few weeks.”  

Tuesday’s lockdown easing measures do nothing for most pubs, says licensed trade body

The relaxation of lockdown measures announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Tuesday will do little to help the vast majority of Scotland’s pubs, the Scottish Licensed Trade Association has said.

In response to the announcement the SLTA reiterated its disappointment that Scotland’s bars, restaurants and cafés will still not be able to serve alcohol indoors until the licensed hospitality industry begins to reopens to some extent later next month.

SLTA managing director Colin Wilkinson said that while his organisation welcomed the announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to lift restrictions on travelling around Scotland and allow people to meet up in larger groups outdoors from Friday, it will do nothing to help the vast majority of licensed trade businesses.

“We appreciate the baby steps and the continuing need for caution but for most opening on April 26 will simply be unviable and that’s without taking into account the unpredictable Scottish weather,” he said. 

“Even many businesses with suitable facilities to serve people customers outdoors have decided to wait until May 17 when the industry will be able to open until 10.30pm indoors with alcohol permitted and, for outdoors, until 10pm.

“We are now urging the Scottish Government to consider loosening these restrictions to give our industry a fighting chance. England has reopened its hospitality industry so let’s fall into line with our colleagues south of the border.”

According to a recent industry report, only 22.9 per cent of licensed premises in Scotland have designated outdoors areas and many of these are small areas with only a few tables.

Mr Wilkinson added: “By our reckoning it will not be viable for about two-thirds of the licensed trade to reopen on April 26.”

He said that while eligible businesses may be entitled to one-off cash “restart grants” from local councils, Covid restrictions will continue into June and beyond, leading businesses further into debt.

Wilkinson added: “The typical small hospitality business has taken on between £60,000 and £90,000 in bank debt and deferred bills as of February this year just to survive Covid – and the debt is rising with every week of low or no income.”

Pubgoers urge MSPs to support new law to protect our pubs

Pub goers and beer drinkers from across the country are urging MSPs to support a new law being debated this week which would help pub licensees earn a decent living – and increase the choice of local and independent beers on offer in our locals. 

The proposed new law – the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill which has been put forward by Labour MSP Neil Bibby – would introduce a Pubs Code to govern the relationship between tied pub tenants and pub-owning businesses, with an Adjudicator to enforce the rules. 

It is designed to prevent national pub-owning businesses from taking more than is fair or sustainable from the profits of their tied tenants who lease pubs from them. 

Tied pubs see licensees rent the premises from a pub-owning company, with landlords required to buy beer and other supplies from that company. 

The Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee is debating Stage 2 of the Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill this week. 

As well as helping publicans earn a decent living, the Bill would also allow them more choice over which beers they stock, instead of having to buy a restricted range of stock at increasingly high prices from the pub-owning company. 

Consumer group CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is backing the new law, with its branches across the country urging MSPs to pass the legislation without delay to help protect and improve community pubs by allowing tied licensees to earn a decent living and increasing choice of local, independent beers on offer at the bar. 

Commenting CAMRA Scotland’s Director Joe Crawford said: “Pub goers and beer drinkers across Scotland are urging MSPs to vote in favour of the Tied Pubs Bill, to make sure that those running tied pubs are treated fairly, can earn a decent living and build back better after the COVID-19 crisis. 

“As well as helping licensees, this new law could also see more beers on offer from small, local and independent breweries which will help increase choice for consumers at our locals. 

“It’s not fair that large pub-owning businesses can restrict landlords to buying certain beers from them at above-market value and prevent them from support small, local breweries by offering these beers on tap.

“That’s why we are urging MSPs to support the interests of consumers, community pubs and hard-working tied pub tenants over the large pub-owning businesses by voting in favour of the Tied Pubs Bill this week.”