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Class Bar Awards 2025

News

News

World Class Cocktail Festival to take place at The Ned
Diageo has announced that a World Class Cocktail Festival will take place at The Ned in London from 27 May - 7 June, sandwiching the World Class GB final on June 1-3.
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by Hamish Smith
20 May, 2026

News

Rachel Orange takes on new head of operations role
Rachel Orange has joined Liverpool group Glory Days Hospitality as head of operations.
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by Hamish Smith
19 May, 2026

News

The top-ranked non-abv spirits from the BBAs
Hamish Smith reveals the workings of the no-low category at the BBA 2026.
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by Hamish Smith
21 May, 2026

News

Sotiris Konomi receives Raffles London promotion
Just weeks after taking the coveted crown of Bar Manager of the Year at the CLASS Bar Awards, Sotiris Konomi has been promoted to Beverage Manager of Raffles London at the OWO.
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by Hamish Smith
20 May, 2026

News

Bar Arriba to launch at Olympia London
Bar Arriba, a new venue set under the rooftop of Olympia London, is to launch in West London on June 15th.
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by Hamish Smith
18 May, 2026

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The highest ranked mixers in the BBAs 2026
Hamish Smith took the notes during the mixers session and reveals what happened.
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by Hamish Smith
18 May, 2026

News

A first look at Nancy’s in London Bridge
On 1 June, Nancy’s is set to open its doors in the heart of London Bridge. 
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by Oli Dodd
13 May, 2026

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The bartender-approved liqueurs from this year's BBAs
Hamish Smith gives us the run down on the best-scoring liqueurs from the BBAs 2026.
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by Hamish Smith
11 May, 2026

News

The World's 50 Best Bars announces 2026 host city
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2026, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled in Milan, Italy in early October.
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by Hamish Smith
11 May, 2026

News

Diageo World Class GB's top 10 finalists announced
Diageo World Class GB has chosen its top 10 finalists for 2026.
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by Hamish Smith
04 May, 2026

News

The best tonic waters from the BBAs
Hamish Smith rounds up the results from our tonic water assessments.
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by Hamish Smith
11 May, 2026

Sponsored Content

Schweppes welcomes Davide Leanza as London Prestige Brand Ambassador
Schweppes has appointed Davide Leanza as its London Prestige Brand Ambassador, an award-winning bartender whose career has been built on a genuine love of the guest experience and a deep respect for the craft of the drink. 
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by Sponsored Content
06 May, 2026

News

The best of the gins from the BBAs
Continuing our highlights of the BBAs, next up is the top five gins. 
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by Oli Dodd
05 May, 2026

News

Join us for the CLASS Cup football tournament
THE CLASS CUP 
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by Hamish Smith
29 April, 2026

News

Register now for The Tuesday Roast comedy night during CLASS Week
THE TUESDAY ROAST WITH JAKE PATRICK, BOATYARD GIN AND CLASS
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by Hamish Smith
29 April, 2026

News

Fortnum & Mason reveals 2026 award winners
The winners of the 14th annual Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards were announced last night at The Royal Exchange in London, with spirits writers prominent among the winners.
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by Hamish Smith
01 May, 2026

News

Coca-Cola launches MIX platform
Coca-Cola today has launched Coca-Cola MIX, a new platform repositioning Coca-Cola as a mixing ingredient.
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by Hamish Smith
30 April, 2026

Sponsored Content

Barcelona Cocktail Fest 2026 sets new benchmark for the international bar industry

Barcelona Cocktail Fest (BCF) closed its 2026 first edition on a high, transforming Palo Alto in Poblenou into a two-day meeting point for the international bar industry on 18–19 April.
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by Sponsored Content
28 April, 2026

News

World Class Global Final moves to Scotland
Diageo World Class has announced the 2026 global final will no longer take place in Dubai as conflict continues to disrupt the region. 
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by Oli Dodd
24 April, 2026

News

Emanuele ‘Lele’ Mensah to launch West African inspired cocktail bar
Emanuele ‘Lele’ Mensah, winner of World Class GB 2025 and former Connaught Bar and Lyaness bartender, is to open his debut bar: Asase.
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by Hamish Smith
24 April, 2026

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The best whiskies from the BBAs 2026
Oli Dodd picks out the best-scoring produts from the whisk(e)y categories.
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by Oli Dodd
21 April, 2026

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CLASS WEEK (May 4-8): WHAT'S ON?
CLASS Week is our new free-to-access bar festival in London for the UK bar industry. The week will see a mix of CLASS-organised events and affiliate industry activations such as talks, masterclasses, tastings and guest shifts.
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by
25 March, 2026

News

The top rums from the BBAs 2026
Next up in our seriisation of the Bartenders' Brand Awards, Oli Dodd tells us what happened in the Rum category.
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by Hamish Smith
16 April, 2026

News

Callooh Callay owner opens new cocktail venue
The team at Callooh Callay will open 'cocktail pub' The March Hare in Chelsea to the public today.
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by Hamish Smith
15 April, 2026

News

The top-scoring Cognacs from the BBAs
An insight into our Cognac tasting at the 2026 Bartenders' Brand Awards. 
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by Oli Dodd
14 April, 2026

Sponsored Content

How to Tap into the Spritz Boom with Disaronno
As the spritz cements its status as the UK on-trade’s number one cocktail, Disaronno is placing the serve firmly at the heart of its latest brand platform, Dolce Side of Life.
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by Sponsored Content
02 April, 2026

News

Nightcap to open Hidden Society
Nightcap is set to launch Hidden Society, a new standalone cocktail bar at the former site of The Cocktail Club Goodge Street, in April.
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by Hamish Smith
01 April, 2026

News

NoMad London sees director of bars change
Davide Segat will leave NoMad London next month, with Maxim Schulte replacing him as director of bars.
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by Hamish Smith
31 March, 2026

News

The standout vodkas from the BBAs 2026
Next up in the serialisation of the BBAs, we look into our judges top five vodkas.
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by Hamish Smith
31 March, 2026

News

The best agave spirits from the BBAs 2026
Agave Spirits always make up a good chunk of our Bartenders' Brand Awards judging sessions - here's the lowdown on the class of 2026.
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by Hamish Smith
31 March, 2026