News

London Cocktail Week becomes not-for-profit

In its 15th year, London Cocktail Week has become a not-for-profit business following a successful soft launch of the initiative in 2023.

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by Oli Dodd
12 July, 2024

News

Non-abv agave spirit Almave Blanco launches in the UK

Mangrove Global has launched Almave Blanco, an alcohol-free alternative to tequila co-created by Formula 1’s Lewis Hamilton and Mexican Spirits Group, Casa Lumbre.

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by Hamish Smith
12 July, 2024

Sponsored Content

What to expect from Manchester Rum Festival 2024

Manchester Rum Festival takes place next month - the event's organiser Dave Marsland fills us in on what he has planned.

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by Hamish Smith
12 July, 2024

News

The UK bar industry shines in Bar World 100 list

The UK bar industry has shone in Drinks International’s recently published Bar World 100 in association with Perrier, contributing 17 names to the list of influential figures, including Monica Berg who polled in first place.

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by Hamish Smith
04 July, 2024

News

Imbibe Live to make way for BCB London

Imbibe Live takes place for the last time this week, with organiser RX announcing plans to relaunch the on-trade show under the banner of BCB.

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by Hamish Smith
01 July, 2024

News

Wacky Wombat temporarily closes

Nico de Soto's Wacky Wombat in Soho has been forced to close after its team resigned, CLASS understands.

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by Hamish Smith
01 July, 2024

News

Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston depart Swift as Coral Anderson steps up

Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston, who co-founded Swift with Roisin Stimpson and Edmund Weil, are to leave the London bar group this summer, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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by Hamish Smith
01 July, 2024

News

50 Best menu award applications open

Applications are now open for the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024.

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by Hamish Smith
28 June, 2024

News

Avallen founders launch sustainability consultancy

The founders of Avallen Spirits, the owner of Avallen Calvados, Stephanie Jordan-Balmforth and Tim Etherington-Judge, have announced a new consultancy company.

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by Eleanor Yates
28 June, 2024

News

Viajante87 to stage three international takeovers at the same time

West London’s Viajante87, the bar led by Pietro Collina and Veronica Di Pietrantonio, has announced a takeover event across three bars in three different countries on the same night.

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by Oli Dodd
26 June, 2024

News

Hoot the Redeemer to close

Edinburgh bar Hoot the Redeemer will close its doors for the final time on January 1st 2025.

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by Hamish Smith
26 June, 2024

News

UK spirits sales down, says IWSR

Spirits volumes declined by 5% in the UK last year amid excise duty changes, the cost-of-living crisis, and a trend towards moderation according to a new report from IWSR.

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by Oli Dodd
20 June, 2024

News

UKHospitality backs Labour's hospitality plan

UKHospitality has backed Labour's plans to replace the business rates system and cut energy bills should the party be elected into government in July.

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by Hamish Smith
20 June, 2024

News

Cressida Lawlor launches The Quest for Queer docu-series

Sexy Fish’s Cressida Lawlor has collaborated with Monkey Shoulder to produce a documentary that explores the experiences of LGBTQIA+ bartenders in the UK cocktail bar industry.

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by Hamish Smith
19 June, 2024

News

UK bars and bartenders among Spirited Awards' finalists

A slew of UK bars and bartenders have been nominated as finalists in Tales of the Cocktail's Spirited Awards 2024, with Kevin Armstrong's Satan's Whiskers and Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat's A Bar with Shapes for a Name both competing for Best International Bar.

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by Hamish Smith
18 June, 2024

News

PJ Jaurre joins DrinksOne

PJ Jaurre has joined the DrinksOne team as the head of Luxury Brands working on Porte Noire Brands, the soon to be launched Papa Salt Gin and Onikishi Japanese Whisky.

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by Hamish Smith
14 June, 2024

News

Chockie Tom takes ambassadorial role

Mr Black Coffee Liqueur has appointed Chockie Tom its new UK brand ambassador.

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by Hamish Smith
14 June, 2024

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Franklin & Sons' Paloma Showdown

Franklin & Sons reports back from its Paloma Showdown.

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by Sponsored Content
12 June, 2024

Sponsored Content

What's on at Imbibe Live 2024?

Imbibe Live, the UK's premier event for the drinks industry, promises to captivate and educate attendees with an array of newly curated content.

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by Sponsored Content
07 June, 2024

News

Gaucho's Latin-inspired drinks “finest of any restaurant group in the UK"

Gaucho has revealed its new menu, The Spirit of Argentina, claiming it to be among the best cocktail lists by a UK restaurant group.

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by Hamish Smith
07 June, 2024

News

Kiki Lounge unveils new modernist tropical cocktail menu

Tropical bar Kiki Lounge on the Isle of Man has unveiled its latest cocktail list, Menu Zine Issue 3.

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by Hamish Smith
07 June, 2024

Sponsored Content

Master of Malt Trade announces Clubman Trophy winner

Nick Collier, bar supervisor at Brighton Rocks, has taken Master of Malt's inaugural Clubman Trophy, after receiving several nominations.

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by Sponsored Content
06 June, 2024

News

Danilo Frigulti wins World Class GB

Danilo Frigulti from Viajante87 bar in London has won the World Class GB finals, and will go on to represent Great Britain at the global finals in Shanghai in September.

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by Eleanor Yates
05 June, 2024

News

The Donovan Bar launches fairy tale inspired menu

The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair has unveiled a new menu inspired by traditional fairy tales and stories, CLASS can reveal.

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by Eleanor Yates
28 May, 2024

News

Jack Sotti to launch hidden Hippodrome bar

Bar consultant Jack Sotti is to launch hidden bar Archive & Myth beneath the Hippodrome Casino in June.

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by Hamish Smith
28 May, 2024

News

Sign up to our CLASSROOM on the history of drinks with Anistatia Miller, Jared Brown & Schweppes

Bartenders can sign up free to the latest CLASSROOM event - Born Social - hosted by Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown, sponsored by Schweppes.

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by Hamish Smith
23 May, 2024

News

The Ada Coleman Project goes live

The Ada Coleman Project, a dedicated digital space for women, has launched.

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by Hamish Smith
20 May, 2024

News

The World's 50 Best Bars announces ceremony location and date

The World’s 50 Best Bars is headed to Madrid in Spain to reveal this year’s list on Tuesday 22nd October.

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by Hamish Smith
16 May, 2024

News

Inside Liverpool's Sister Ray

We take a look inside Chris Edwards' new bar Sister Ray, a “laid back European cafe culture” with “New York bar scene vibes”.

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by Hamish Smith
14 May, 2024

News

Mike Aikman and Jason Scott relaunch Lucky Liqueurs range

Mike Aikman, Jason Scott and the team behind Edinburgh bars Bramble, Lucky Liquor and The Last Word, have relaunched their Lucky Liqueurs range.

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by Hamish Smith
13 May, 2024