Hedonist and Watermark come out as top contenders
A number of bars and bartenders in Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester have been nominated - and several more commended - in the shortlist for the CLASS magazine Bar Awards 2020. An announcement about finalists and commended entrants was made last week.
CLASS is a stylish and influential magazine that aims to provide a straight-talking and independent source of knowledge and comment
The cutting edge bar industry magazine was first born in 1997 and built a reputation as ‘the most influential UK bar industry magazine’. In 2016, CLASS relaunched with the team behind Drinks International - the founders of The World’s 50 Best Bars - at the helm. In short, it's a respected authority on all things booze and bartending.
Aimed at UK bartenders, buyers and influential bar owners and with a focus on the craft bar scene, CLASS is a stylish and influential print magazine that aims to provide a straight-talking and independent source of knowledge and comment.
While the awards are still fairly London-centric - with almost two thirds of the nominees from the capital - the magazine takes pains to ensure the panel of judges are from all over the UK and have travelled extensively around the county to gain a broad experience of how things are moving and shaking all over the UK. Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester were all well represented.
Here’s the lowdown on the nominees and commendations:
Leeds
Finalists:
Bar Manager of the Year - Daniel Crowther, The Hedonist
Emerging Bartender, sponsored by Patrón - Joe Brooke, The Hedonist
Commended:
Sustainable Practices Award, sponsored by Ramsbury Vodka - The Watermark Bar, Leeds
Social Media Presence of the Year - The Watermark Bar, Leeds
Emerging Bartender, sponsored by Patrón - Kieran Anthony Walker, The Watermark Bar, Leeds
Bartender of the Year, sponsored by Grand Marnier - Manachain Monaghan, Below Stairs, Leeds
Liverpool
Finalists:
New Bar of the Year, sponsored by Scapegrace Gin - Present Company
Commended:
Sustainable Practices Award, sponsored by Ramsbury Vodka - Aether Bar and Duke Street Food and Drink Market
Cocktail of the Year - Death at the party, Present Company
Bar Food Menu of the Year - Volpi
Bartender of the Year, sponsored by Grand Marnier - Jake O'Brien Murphy, Present Company
Manchester
Finalists:
Bar Innovator(s) of the Year - Lyndon Higginson, The Liars Group
Restaurant Bar of the Year, sponsored by Real - Hawksmoor
Commended:
Front of House Star of the Year - Georgi May, Science and Industry
Bar Food Menu of the Year - Crazy Pedro's
New Bar of the Year, sponsored by Scapegrace Gin - Wolf At The Door
Public in Sheffield has also been nominated as a finalist for bar food menu of the year and in the commended list for bar of the year.
We wish all nominees the best of luck at the awards ceremony at EartH in Dalston on February 18th 2020, where the winners and Lifetime Achievement award will be announced.
