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Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Bar Awards opens for entries

The Submission Awards of the CLASS Bar Awards 2025 - taking place May 21st 2025 - are now open and can be entered through the new look Class Bar Awards website. 

Hamish Smith

Review: Muse at RSA House

Hamish Smith reviews Muse at Royal Society of Arts House on the Strand.

Hamish Smith

Questions and answers: Ego Death's Cressida Lawlor

Cressida Lawlor, previously of Sexy Fish, is behind one of the big launches of the year in Manchester. Hamish Smith finds out more.

Hamish Smith

The most-read stories of 2024

Home to drinks news, comment pieces, features and all things UK cocktail bars, Class’s digital sidecar, Classbarmag.com, had a stellar year, growing its readership by almost a half. But what were the big bar industry stories last year? Hamish Smith reveals the stories you read most.

Hamish Smith

On the Couch: how a local bar became nationally known

Couch is a local bar that’s become big nationally. Hamish Smith talks to owners Katie Rouse and Jacob Clarke about how to connect with community.

Hamish Smith

Andy Kerr and Tom Gibson to launch Parasol in Dalston

The Sun Tavern's Andy Kerr will team up with Tom Gibson from Ruby's to open Parasol in Dalston in spring 2025.

Hamish Smith

How to make Rhum Tavern's Californian-Style Mulled Saké

Fruity, spiced, sweet

Hamish Smith

How to make Royal Cocktail Exchange's Newport Sour

Savoury, raisin, spice

Hamish Smith

How to make Tierra, winner of Hacha's cocktail competition

Tropical, sweet and herbaceous

Hamish Smith

How to make Gaucho's Wagyu Martini & Burnt Lemon Oil

Intense, full bodied, savoury

Hamish Smith

International spotlight: CLASS explores Byrdi, Melbourne

Hamish Smith goes behind the curtain at Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura's Byrdi in Melbourne - the bar the showcases Australia more than any other. 

Hamish Smith

Groucho Club closes amid police investigation

Legendary London venue The Groucho Club has had its licence removed after police announced they ere investigating whether the venue was the scene of a serious criminal offence.

Hamish Smith

Mr Lyan launches cocktail seasoning range

Ryan Chetiyawardana - aka Mr Lyan - has launched a range of cocktail seasonings called Three Families.

Hamish Smith

Tales of the Cocktail releases 2025 dates

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation has annouced that the 23rd conference will return to The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans from July 20-25, 2025. 

Hamish Smith

Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy named 50 Best’s World’s Best Bar

Handshake Speakeasy from Mexico City has taken top spot in The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, with the UK contributing five bars to the list which was unveiled this evening as part of a live awards ceremony in Madrid, Spain. 

Hamish Smith

Tabula Rasa to host anniversary events

Filippos Filippopoulos’s Leeds bar Tabula Rasa will celebrate its third birthday with a series of events.

Hamish Smith

Lyndon Higginson departs The Liars Group

Lyndon Higginson has parted ways with The Liars Group, the portfolio of bars he co-founded.

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Mixers

Our last category in the CLASS Report is Mixers - Hamish Smith sums up the results.

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Liqueurs

Today we look at the liqueurs that sell best at the UK's best bars, according to our recent CLASS Report. 

Hamish Smith

Iain Mcpherson named Bartenders' Bartender by The World's 50 Best Bars

Iain McPherson of Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, Scotland has been announced as winner of the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award as part of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024, sponsored by Perrier.

Hamish Smith

Marcis Dzelzainis to launch Muse at RSA House

Muse, a new cocktail bar from the mind of Marcis Dzelzainis, will open its doors this November at RSA House in London, serving sustainable British cocktails in collaboration with Idyll Drinks.

Hamish Smith

Schofields and Brandwood to launch second Atomeca

James Brandwood, Joe and Daniel Schofield are set to open a second Atomeca site at the end of October, bringing the wine bar concept to the Avenue in Manchester's Spinningfields.

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Vodka

Today's instalment of the CLASS Report is vodka. These are the bestselling brands in the UK's Best Bars

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Mezcal

Mezcal is not the small and plucky category of the past. Hamish Smith assess which brands are coming to the fore at the UK's Best Bars.

Hamish Smith

Watch: Lyaness releases menu documentary

Sea Containers London's Lyaness has produced a behind-the-scenes documentary to showcase the development process and intricacies of a new menu launch.

Hamish Smith

Silverleaf to launch texture-focused menu

Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London is to launch a new menu in October named Texture Is Everything. 

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Scotch whisky

Scotch is only the seventh largest category in the UK's best bars - Hamish Smith sees which brands are on bartenders' radars. 

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Brandy

Next up in the CLASS Report is the brandy category. These are the bestselling brands in the UK's best bars. 

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: Gin

Hamish Smith looks at the brands that sell best in the bestselling spirits categories in the UK's best bars. 

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report: American Whiskey

Hamish Smith upicks the data from the American whiskey category of the CLASS Report.