Hamish Smith

Review: Waltz may be London's most authentic Japanese cocktail bar

Reviewer Hamish Smith didn't realise something was missing from London's bar scene until a new venue waltzed in.

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03 July, 2025

Hamish Smith

Ojo Rojo to close ahead of relocation

Agave bar Ojo Rojo in Bournemouth is to close at the end of summer, it has been annouced.

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03 July, 2025

Hamish Smith

Sign up to the CLASSROOM on Carbonation with Schweppes and Bart Miedeksza

Bartenders can sign up free to the latest CLASSROOM event - Carbonation, sponsored by Schweppes - hosted by Bart Miedeksza, author of Bubbles and founder of Crossroads.

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03 July, 2025

Hamish Smith

Speak in Code's Nathan Larkin on the bar experience

The vibe, atmosphere, ambience – these are not bar experience accidents. They’re created and curated - and few do it better than at Speak in Code in Manchester. Hamish Smith speaks to owner Nathan Larkin about how it’s done. Photos by Sean Ware.

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01 July, 2025

Hamish Smith

CLASS Summer 2025

Read Now - Register/Log In

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30 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

CLASS Summer 2025 launches

Access the digital magazine here. Not subscribed? Bartenders can sign up for a digital or hard copy here.

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26 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Iain McPherson named industry's most influential in Bar World 100 2025

Edinburgh’s Iain McPherson has been voted the most influential figure in the global bar industry, with 17 other UK bar personalities making it into Drinks International’s Bar World 100.

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26 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Nightjar announces series of events to celebrate 15th anniversary

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26 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Al fresco 'Summer Streets' announced to boost hospitality

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced new al fresco dining and drinking hotspots that will allow Londoners and visitors to make the most of the capital’s summer months.

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19 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Callooh Callay launches latest menu

Callooh Callay in Shoreditch has launched its latest menu: The Cocktail Thesaurus.

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19 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Sorry Not Sorry Collective announces UK activations

The international tour of the Sorry Not Sorry Collective sees the female-led Australian hospitality collective land in the UK next week, ahead of three activations.

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19 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Analysis: what are bar brands?

Off the back of the CLASS Report 2025, Hamish Smith looks at what makes a brand do well among's the UK's best bars.

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18 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Ugly Butterfly to close

Adam Handling's Ugly Butterfly restaurant and bar in Saint Ives will close later this month, the chef and owner has announced.

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17 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling mixers at the UK's Best Bars

Hamish Smith comes with the data that provides the narrative behind the bestselling mixers at the UK's Best Bars.

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11 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling non-alc spirits at the UK's best bars

Hamish Smith assesses the non-alc spirits market, highlighting the brands that do best in the UK's best bars.

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09 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Alex Taylor to open Low Key in Cardiff

Cardiff bar operator Alex Taylor is to open a new bar in the city: Low Key.

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04 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

The Spy Bar creates Martini No.52 in tribute to Forest Collins

The Spy Bar at Raffles London at The OWO has launched Martini No. 52, a cocktail created in tribute to the late drinks writer Forest Collins.

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04 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Michter's Classroom in Manchester and London open for sign ups

The Classroom X Michter's events, taking place in London on June 16 and Manchester June 17, are open for registration.

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04 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Sophie Bratt takes on new bars manager role

Former Class Bar Awards Bar Manager of the Year, Sophie Bratt, has joined The Roof Gardens in London as bars manager.

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04 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Dive bar All My Gods to launch in Bethnal Green

All My Gods, a “modern London dive bar” from burlesque artist, painter and tattooist Roxy Velvet and the team behind Soho's Dram, will launch on Bethnal Green’s Paradise Row in mid-to-late July.

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03 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling rums at the UK's best bars

Today in The Class Report, we look at the rum brands most likely to feature in the UK's best bars.

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02 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

International spotlight: CLASS explores Bar Les Ambassadeurs in Paris

Hamish Smith finds himself stopped in his tracks by a Parisian hotel bar that has challenged his preconceptions.

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29 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

Manchester's Ego Death to close within a week

Ego Death has been forced into closure, with its last service coming this Sunday, six months after it opened in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

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27 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

Bars from across the UK star at the CLASS Bar Awards 2025

On Wednesday 21st May 2025 CLASS magazine announced its highly anticipated CLASS Bar Awards 2024. Having debuted in 2003, the CLASS Bar Awards is the longest-running UK bar industry celebration.

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21 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

Passing Fancies to close (and reopen in new site)

Passing Fancies, the CLASS Bar Awards' Best Bar in the Midlands 2024, has announced it will close on July 31st, ahead of a move to a new Birmingham city-centre site.

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20 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling vodkas at the UK's best bars

Hamish Smith talks us through the best-performing brands in the vodka category at the UK's Best Bars.

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20 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling scotch whiskies at the UK's best bars

Scotch is the latest category under the spotlight in our serialisation of The Class Report.

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16 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The Savoy to welcome Hanky Panky during CLASS Week

The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy will welcome Hanky Panky from Mexico City for a masterclass and party on World Paloma Day on Thursday 22nd May, the day after the CLASS Bar Awards 2025.

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15 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling American whiskies at the UK's best bars

Today in The CLASS Report, we disect the American whiskey category at the UK's best bars.

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15 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling brandies in the UK's best bars

Today's instalment of the CLASS Report takes us to the brandy category at the UK's best bars.

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14 May, 2025