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Class Bar Awards 2025

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News

New Edinburgh bar Understory to open in September
New basement cocktail bar, Understory, is to open this September, promising to bring a five-star-dive-bar experience to Edinburgh’s West End.
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by Hamish Smith
24 August, 2026

Sponsored Content

New product: Botivo Winter
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by Sponsored Content
24 August, 2026

News

The bestselling mixers at the UK's Best Bars
Hamish Smith provides the commentry on changes to the mixers the UK's best bars stock.
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by Hamish Smith
24 August, 2026

News

The bestselling mezcals at the UK's best bars
We polled the UK's best bars on the mezcals they buy most. Hamish Smith reports.
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by Hamish Smith
24 August, 2026

News

Tom Kerridge to open hotel bar
Tom Kerridge is to open Georgie’s Bar at Corinthia London on September 5,  as part of a revamp of his restaurant Kerridge’s at Corinthia London.
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by Hamish Smith
20 August, 2026

News

Paper Plane to launch in Leeds
The team behind Roland’s, The Domino Club and The Woods is to open Paper Plane in Leeds’ Grand Arcade this October.
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by Hamish Smith
20 August, 2026

News

Sergio Leanza takes on new GM role
Nine Lives, the tropical dive bar in a Victorian basement in London Bridge, has appointed Sergio Leanza as general manager.
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by Hamish Smith
21 August, 2026

News

Lab 22's Hospitality vs 10K Challenge returns this September
The Lab 22 Hospitality vs 10K Challenge returns this September with a target of raising £10,000 for local children’s charity Dreams & Wishes.
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by Hamish Smith
20 August, 2026

News

The Original Rum Bum launches Rising Stars bartender challenge
The Original Rum Bum has launched its first Rising Stars Challenge in partnership with Berkshire restaurant and cocktail bar The Braywood, targeting bartenders aged 18-28 to identify emerging industry talent.
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by Eleanor Yates
13 August, 2026

News

The CLASS Report: Brandy
Cognac dominates the conversation when it comes to brandy. Oli Dodd tells us why.
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by Oli Dodd
11 August, 2026

News

Archive & Myth appoints Pedro Montero as bar manager
Archive & Myth, the cocktail bar located within London’s Hippodrome Casino, has appointed Pedro Montero as its new bar manager.
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by Eleanor Yates
11 August, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: Liqueurs
Oli Dodd interprets the data from the liqueurs category in the UK's Best Bars. 
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by Oli Dodd
10 August, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: Scotch
Which scotch whiskies do best at the UK's Best Bars? Hamish Smith investigates.
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by Hamish Smith
07 August, 2026

News

Equal Measures UK expands Board
L-R: Iain McPhershon, Sandrae Lawrence and Silvana Kill
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by Eleanor Yates
06 August, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: vodka
Oli Dodd reveals the vodkas that do best in the UK's Best Bars. 
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by Oli Dodd
31 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: tequila
The bestselling spirit in the UK's Best Bars is tequila - Hamish Smith lets us in on which ones made the top 10.
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by Hamish Smith
30 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: gin
The second bestselling category in the UK's Best Bars is gin - and here are the top ten brands. Oli Dodd reports
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by Oli Dodd
29 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: Bartenders' Favourites
Before we dive into the categories, we have a new list to unveil – and it’s probably the most important of the entire report.
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by Hamish Smith
27 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026: Spirits
In the first of our serialised CLASS Report articles, we zoom out to the most used spirit categories in the UK's Best Bars.
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by Hamish Smith
15 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report: How it works
The Class Report provides an insight into what brands are most coveted by the best bars across the nation. Hamish Smith explains how the results are achieved. 
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by Hamish Smith
15 July, 2026

News

The CLASS Report 2026 launches
CLASS has launched The CLASS Report 2026, our annual guide to the brands the UK's Best Bars cherish most. 
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by Hamish Smith
14 July, 2026

News

Class Summer 2026 edition 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
14 July, 2026

News

Monica Berg and Alex Kratena open new temporary bar Casual by Tayer
Tayēr + Elementary founders Monica Berg and Alex Kratena have announced the opening of Casual in the basement of London’s Cato for a six-week residency.
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by Shay Waterworth
09 July, 2026

News

The Milk Thistle Distillery opens for bookings
The Milk Thistle Distillery has officially opened for bookings for a programme of immersive tasting experiences, cocktail masterclasses and hands-on gin blending sessions inside one of Bristol's best bars.
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by Hamish Smith
09 July, 2026

News

VAT's the Problem campaign gathers momentum
The #VATsTheProblem campaign is gathering momentum with the 250,000 supporters now able to order campaign assets and have them delivered direct to their venue.
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by Hamish Smith
09 July, 2026

News

Thomas Henry returns to the UK
Thomas Henry is returning to the UK market, where its namesake helped pioneer the commercial production of soda more than 250 years ago.
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by Hamish Smith
09 July, 2026

News

Line crowned winner of inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars as London named Cocktail Capital

Line from Athens has tonight (June 30) been named Europe’s Best Bar at the inaugural Europe’s 50 Best Bars ceremony, held at De Kromhouthal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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by Hamish Smith
30 June, 2026

News

Jean Trinh named industry's Most Influential in Bar World 100
Jean Trinh of Alquímico in Cartagena, Colombia, has been named the most influential bar industry figure, according to Drinks International’s Bar World 100.
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by Hamish Smith
29 June, 2026

News

Q&A with Dave Marsland ahead of Manchester Rum Festival
Hamish Smith chats to Dave Marsland ahead of Manchester Rum Festival.
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by Hamish Smith
28 June, 2026

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Q&A with Disaronno's Daryl Beare

CLASS speaks to Daryl Beare, Brand Ambassador at Disaronno International UK 
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by Sponsored Content
02 July, 2026