News

New Ukrainian bar in London to serve cocktails made with 1200°C iron poker

Ukrainian operators Artem Skapenko and Alex Kostenyuk are to open a new two-level cocktail venue promising inventive techniques and visual flare on Old Street this March, with Igor Brovko – formerly of Tayēr + Elementary – joining as their head bartender.

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by Hamish Smith
08 January, 2026

News

Head bartender Angelo Sparvoli to leave American Bar at The Savoy

Angelo Sparvoli will leave his role as head bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy next week, CLASS can reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
07 January, 2026

News

Hannah Lanfear returns to The Mixing Class to launch creative arm

Spirits educators The Mixing Class have announced the launch of The Mixing Class Studios, a multidisciplinary creative consultancy.

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by Eleanor Yates
08 January, 2026

News

Rachel Orange to depart Schofield’s after five years

Rachel Orange, who led Schofield’s Bar in Manchester alongside Joe and Daniel Schofield, is to leave the bar later this month.

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by Hamish Smith
08 January, 2026

News

Josh Linfitt to leave Schweppes role

Josh Linfitt will leave his role as Schweppes prestige ambassador GB at the end of this month, he has announced.

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by Hamish Smith
07 January, 2026

News

The 10 most-read stories on CLASS in 2025

From major bar launches in Liverpool to cocktail culture debates and high-profile closures, these were the stories that captured the attention of the UK bar industry on Classbarmag.com this year.

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by Hamish Smith
07 January, 2026

News

Wild, Meehan, Whitlow and Murphy to launch Picante in Liverpool

Joe Wild and Kate Meehan have teamed up with Sally Jo Whitlow and Danny Murphy to launch a Mexican cantina-inspired pop-up for Spring-Summer 2025.

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by Hamish Smith
03 February, 2025

News

CLASS Winter 2025 launches

Editor Hamish Smith introduces the latest magazine. Access the digital magazine here. Not subscribed? Bartenders can sign up for a digital or hard copy here.

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by Hamish Smith
15 December, 2025

News

Rhum Tavern to host Christmas for bartenders

Rhum Tavern will host Christmas Day for bartenders based in London, living away from friends and family.

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by Hamish Smith
16 December, 2025

News

Funkidory in Peckam Rye to close

Neighbourhood bar Funkidory in Peckham Rye is to close, after its owners Sergio Leanza and Anna Fairhead-Benitez announced it was London’s latest hospitality casualty.

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by Hamish Smith
11 December, 2025

News

Champagne bar opens in Manchester

Manchester saw the launch of Portfolio yesterday, a ‘champagne boutique’ built around a collection of more than 250 champagnes, including rare grower bottles and vintage prestige cuvées.

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by Hamish Smith
10 December, 2025

Sponsored Content

Why premium glassware makes a difference

Darren McGinn, sales manager at Glencairn Crystal, explains why upgrading your glassware is one of the smartest investments a venue can make.

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by Sponsored Content
08 December, 2025

News

Edinburgh agaveria Chancho to close

Alex Palumbo and Rachel Bailey Palumbo have annouced they are calling time on their Leith agaveria Chancho, which opened in May 2024.

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by Hamish Smith
08 December, 2025

News

William Reed to launch Europe's 50 Best Bars

William Reed will launch the inaugural list of Europe’s 50 Best Bars next year.

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by Hamish Smith
04 December, 2025

News

The Bon Vivant in Edinburgh closes

Restaurant-bar The Bon Vivant on Thistle Street in Edinburgh has announced it has closed.

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by Hamish Smith
02 December, 2025

Sponsored Content

120 years of botanical brewing – why Fentimans Ginger Beer is still setting the standard

For over a century, Fentimans famous Ginger Beer has been a firm favourite among consumers across the world thanks to its bold flavour and fiery kick.

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by Sponsored Content
04 December, 2025

News

Pippa Guy and Sebastiano Fileccia to open Bristol bar

Pippa Guy and Sebastiano Fileccia will launch their debut bar in Bristol this winter, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
28 November, 2025

News

UKHospitality responds to hospitality's "costly budget"

Additional cost and tax increases are putting further pressure on businesses and reducing job opportunities, particularly for young people, according to UKHospitality.

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by Hamish Smith
26 November, 2025

News

Courtney Francis to step back from full-time bartending

Award-winning bartender Courtney Francis has announced she is leaving Couch in Birmingham and stepping away from full-time bar operations.

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by Hamish Smith
17 November, 2025

News

Marcis Dzelzainis launches Kazimo Mixers

Marcis Dzelzainis of Idyll Drinks and Andy Sweerts have launched Kazimo Mixers, a bartender-made range of canned cocktail mixers, that aims to bring bar-quality drinks to the home occasion.

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by Hamish Smith
21 November, 2025

News

Scott McKenzie passes away unexpectedly aged 53

Scott McKenzie, The GM for Scotland for Cask Liquid Marketing, has passed away, his family has announced.

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by Hamish Smith
19 November, 2025

News

Passing Fancies breaks ground on new site as opening nears

Birmingham’s Passing Fancies has begun work on its new Jewellery Quarter bar after closing its Digbeth site this summer.

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by Hamish Smith
13 November, 2025

News

Richard Wynne takes interim lead at Silk Stockings

Richard Wynne of Callooh Callay has taken over the running of Silk Stockings in Dalston.

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by Hamish Smith
11 November, 2025

News

Theme magazine and London Bar Show founder Andy Bishop passes

Drinks publisher and event organiser Andy Bishop has passed away, his family has revealed.

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by Hamish Smith
31 October, 2025

News

Smokey Kudu opens above Kudu in Marylebone

Following its move from South London to Marylebone earlier this year, Kudu has opened a new cocktail bar this week, Smokey Kudu, above its restaurant on Moxon Street.

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by Hamish Smith
06 November, 2025

Sponsored Content

Avallen's Stephanie Jordan on harvest time in Calvados

CLASS talks to Avallen founder Stephanie Jordan on the busiest period in the Calvados calendar - harvest time.

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by Sponsored Content
29 September, 2025

News

The Prince opens on Old Street

Aaron Wall and Will Hawes have opened The Prince, reviving the former site of Marian Beke’s The Gibson on Old Street.

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by Hamish Smith
27 October, 2025

News

Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne to buy LCW

Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne are to acquire London Cocktail Week and London Wine Week from Speciality Drinks, owned by Pernod Ricard.

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by Hamish Smith
20 October, 2025

Sponsored Content

Barcelona Cocktail Fest to take place in spring 2026

The new cocktail festival unveils a broader vision from Barcelona to the global drinks industry.

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by Sponsored Content
21 October, 2025

News

Sign up to our Glasgow CLASSROOM on carbonation with Crossroads Consulting and Schweppes

Bartenders can sign up free to the latest CLASSROOM event - Carbonation, sponsored by Schweppes - hosted by Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto, authors of Bubbles and founders of Crossroads Consulting.

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by Hamish Smith
15 October, 2025