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News

CLASS Summer edition launches

Editor Hamish Smith introduces this latest edition of CLASS, which is now available to download for digital subscribers, and offers some analysis of the backdrop to which the magazine launches.

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by Hamish Smith
13 July, 2021

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Canada’s James Grant wins World Class 2021

Canada’s James Grant was named the world’s best bartender for 2021 on Thursday at Diageo’s World Class Global Final.

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by Hamish Smith
09 July, 2021

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The World's 50 Best Bars returns to London this December

William Reed Business Media has announced that The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony on Tuesday, 7 December 2021, at London’s Roundhouse.

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by Hamish Smith
08 July, 2021

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WSTA calls for the lifting of US whiskey tariffs

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has called for the “swift” removal of tariffs on US whiskies in a return to the historic ‘zero for zero’ agreement between the US and EU that began in the mid-90s.

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by Hamish Smith
07 July, 2021

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The Drinks Trust announces support for National Hospitality Day

The Drinks Trust has urged the nation to visit their favourite venue on 18 September in celebration of National Hospitality Day.

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by Oli Dodd
06 July, 2021

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Freedom Day a “major milestone” for hospitality in England

UKHospitality has said the lifting of Covid restrictions on July 19 will be a “major milestone” and a “critical move that will unleash” the hospitality industry.

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by Hamish Smith
06 July, 2021

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MJMK to launch new London bar this summer

Hospitality group, MJMK has announced the upcoming launch of Bar La Rampa, a central London venue designed to celebrate the heritage and culture of 1950’s Havana.

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by Oli Dodd
01 July, 2021

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Praphakorn Konglee wins the 2021 Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition

Praphakorn Konglee from Thailand has been crowned the winner of the 2021 Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition by a panel of judges in London.

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by Oli Dodd
01 July, 2021

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Kricket founders to open debut bar in Soho

Will Bowlby and Rik Campbell, the duo behind the Indian-inspired restaurant group Kricket, have announced the launch of their first bar, SOMA, due to open in Soho this September.

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by Oli Dodd
30 June, 2021

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Double Dutch extend entry deadline for bartending scholarship programme

Tonic and mixers brand Double Dutch have announced a deadline extension and mentors for their inaugural bartending scholarship programme.

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by Oli Dodd
30 June, 2021

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Legendary bartender Salim Khoury passes

Legendary bartender Salim Khoury passed on 23 June aged 76, following a short battle with illness.

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by Oli Dodd
29 June, 2021

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UKHospitality calls for action on cost of delay to 'Hospitality Freedom Day’

UKHospitality has called for the government to to consider the mounting costs hospitality has faced during the pandemic as it reviews evidence to inform the lifting of social distancing earlier than 19 July.

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by Hamish Smith
28 June, 2021

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Edinburgh Whisky Academy announces Covid recovery package for UK and Irish hospitality workers

The Edinburgh Whisky Academy has launched a six-month Covid recovery package for the UK and Irish hospitality industries.

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by Oli Dodd
28 June, 2021

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Leading Scottish bar owners support easing delay

Two of Edinburgh's best-known bar operators have supported the postponement of restriction easing in Scotland, arguing that the delay is "understandable" if it prevents further lockdowns.

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by Hamish Smith
23 June, 2021

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Scottish hospitality bosses call for mass vaccinations

Scotland’s leading hospitality operators are calling for mass vaccinations for all over-18s to speed up the move through Scotland’s Covid levels, according to Scottish Hospitality Group.

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by Hamish Smith
22 June, 2021

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Filippos Filippopoulos' Tabula Rasa to bring aperitivo culture to Leeds

Filippos Filippopoulos aims to bring aperitivo culture to Leeds with the launch of an all-day café and cocktail bar, CLASS can reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
22 June, 2021

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New Callooh sibling The Duchess of Dalston to launch in July

The founder-owner of Callooh Callay, Richard Wynne, is to launch The Duchess of Dalston, a “banging neighbourhood cocktail bar with great music and good vibes”.

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by Hamish Smith
21 June, 2021

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Anna Sebastian on leaving Artesian and her new drinks role

Anna Sebastian has joined hard seltzer company Served as head of brand, following her departure from Artesian at the Langham last month, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
17 June, 2021

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Anna Sebastian on leaving Artesian and her new role

Anna Sebastian has joined hard seltzer company Served as head of brand, following her departure from Artesian at the Langham last month, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
17 June, 2021

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Debt arbitration set to follow lease forfeiture moratorium extension

The government is to extend the lease forfeiture moratorium, preventing landlords from evicting commercial tenants until March 2022, the treasury has confirmed.

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by Hamish Smith
16 June, 2021

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The trade reacts to restriction easing delay

Yesterday's government decision to delay the planned easing of Covid restrictions in England by four weeks (until July 19) has been met with disappointment by the bar trade.

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by Hamish Smith
15 June, 2021

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Delays to easing of restrictions could cost hospitality £3bn

UKHospitality says the expected month-long delay to the easing of restrictions in England (currently scheduled for June 21) could cost the sector as much as £3bn in lost sales and around 300,000 jobs.

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by Hamish Smith
14 June, 2021

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New Ardgowan Distillery to make 1m litres of single malt

Ardgowan Distillery has announced work will begin this year on its new distillery following an £8.4 million equity investment.

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by Hamish Smith
14 June, 2021

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Cheers announces an in-person trade show for September 2021

The Liana Collection and Jim Tonic have announced Cheers a not-for-profit trade show for independent and sustainable drinks producers in support of The Drinks Trust.

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by Oli Dodd
10 June, 2021

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Ellie Goulding acquires stake in seltzer brand Served

Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding has acquired a “significant stake” in the British hard seltzer brand Served.

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by Hamish Smith
08 June, 2021

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This is the best-selling spirit in the world

Jinro has made it 20 years at the top of The Millionaires’ Club, Drinks International’s yearly roundup of the spirits brands that have sold more than a million 9-litre cases worldwide.

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by Oli Dodd
03 June, 2021

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Business leaders voice post-furlough productivity concerns

Business leaders are concerned about drops in staff productivity, according to the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA and Fourth.

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by Hamish Smith
03 June, 2021

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A quarter of Britain's licensed premises still to reopen

One in four (23.7%) of Britain’s restaurants, pubs, bars and other licensed premises have yet to reopen despite the return of inside service, new research from CGA and AlixPartners reveals.

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by Hamish Smith
03 June, 2021

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Chamber of Commerce calls for staffing support

The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is calling for further support for the hospitality industry following the impact of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic, which has left the sector short on skilled staff.

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by Hamish Smith
03 June, 2021

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LCW announces July 'warm-up festival'

London Cocktail Week has announced a one-off 'warm-up festival', taking place 5-11 July 2021.

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by Hamish Smith
27 May, 2021