Hamish Smith

Chelsie Bailey: London Calling? You don’t have to answer

Chelsie Bailey, a top-3 finalist in World Class GB, says London isn't the no-brainer opportunity it used to be.

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12 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Nine Lives W1 launches

London Bridge basement bar and Class Bar Awards finalist Nine Lives has made its Soho pop-up permanent.

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09 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Ricks restaurant and bar returns to Edinburgh

Ricks is returning to Frederick Street in Edinburgh this October, following a refurbishment under the Montpeliers Group.

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09 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Bar Prince at The Balmoral to launch folklore menu

Bar Prince at The Balmoral is to launch its latest cocktail menu, Mythical Legends, this autumn.

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09 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

The winner, spread, safe zone and bouncebackability - Hamish Smith's 50 Best Bars analysis

Longtime 50 Best Bars collaborator, Hamish Smith, offers his analysis of this year's list.

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09 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Bar Leone retains World’s Best Bar title in The 50 Best Bars 2026

Bar Leone in Hong Kong has been named the World’s Best Bar for the second year running at The 50 Best Bars 2026 sponsored by Perrier in Milan.

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07 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Music and cocktail venue Altar to open in East London

Altar, a cocktail bar, music venue and record shop, is to open in East London’s Leytonstone neighbourhood later this month.

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01 October, 2026

Hamish Smith

Ian Burrell on RumFest's 20th show

Hamish Smith chats to Ian Burrell about plans for RumFest 2026.

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25 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Italian grill room and cocktail bar to open in former library

Italian grill room and cocktail bar, GiGi Gusto Griglia Grill Room, is set to open in Deansgate, Manchester this autumn.

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24 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Honeyshade restaurant-bar to launch in October

Honeyshade, a new all-day restaurant and bar, will open above the Central Park Hotel in Bayswater in mid-October.

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24 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

International: Ajabu readies for November festival

Ajabu Cocktail & Spirits Festival will take place again in Cape Town bringing some of the world’s brightest bar and drinks talent together for eight days of bar takeovers, collaborations, education and celebration from 14–22 November.

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24 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Crawl: Bethnal Green edition

The CLASS Crawl is your insider’s bar tour around the neighbourhood you want to drink in.

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24 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Three UK bars appear on The 50 Best Bars 51-100 list

UK bars Panda & Sons in Edinburgh (72), Three Sheets Soho (73) and Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London (77) have all registered in The 50 Best Bars' 51-100 list, which has been announced today.

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23 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Enrico Perri takes on new role

Enrico Perri has been named beverage director at 45 Park Lane’s Bar 45 in Mayfair.

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18 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Monica Berg and Alex Kratena offer Tayer + Elementary reopening update

The owners of Tayēr + Elementary, Monica Berg and Alex Kratena, have revealed that their Old Street bar will not reopen this year after it was forced into closure by a fire in their building.

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18 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

The tale of the Gin Basil Smash

Clinton Cawood gives us the need-to-know on the neo-classic, the Gin Basil Smash.

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10 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

The bestselling spirits at the UK's best bars

We said it was coming: tequila is now the bestselling spirit in the UK’s Best Bars.

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09 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Dahlia to soft launch in Manchester this week

Dahlia, a new food, drink and music destination, will open in Manchester’s Northern Quarter later this month, bringing open fire cooking, cocktails and "exceptional sound" together under one roof.

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09 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

50 Best rebrands as The 50

The World's 50 Best lists (Restaurants, Bars, Hotels and Vineyards) have rebranded under the name The 50.

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09 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar to become wine destination

The Beaufort Bar – a former member of The World’s 50 Best Bars - is to transition to the Beaufort Wine Bar this October.

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03 September, 2026

Hamish Smith

Sergio Leanza takes on new GM role

Nine Lives, the tropical dive bar in a Victorian basement in London Bridge, has appointed Sergio Leanza as general manager.

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21 August, 2026

Hamish Smith

Paper Plane to launch in Leeds

The team behind Roland’s, The Domino Club and The Woods is to open Paper Plane in Leeds’ Grand Arcade this October.

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20 August, 2026

Hamish Smith

Tom Kerridge to open hotel bar

Tom Kerridge is to open Georgie’s Bar at Corinthia London on September 5, as part of a revamp of his restaurant Kerridge’s at Corinthia London.

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20 August, 2026

Hamish Smith

Lab 22's Hospitality vs 10K Challenge returns this September

The Lab 22 Hospitality vs 10K Challenge returns this September with a target of raising £10,000 for local children’s charity Dreams & Wishes.

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20 August, 2026

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report 2026: Scotch

Which scotch whiskies do best at the UK's Best Bars? Hamish Smith investigates.

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07 August, 2026

Hamish Smith

The top syrups, cordials & purees from the BBAs

Hamish Smith was the insider on the syrups, cordials and purees BBAs tasting - he reports back.

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27 May, 2026

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Commended: shining a light on venues beyond the shortlists - first up New Bar of the Year

For the first time, we look beyond the top four bars of our CLASS Bar Awards categories, to reveal the many other venues that were voted for - and vouched for - by our panel of 180 nationwide voters. They are called The CLASS Commended.

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26 May, 2026

Hamish Smith

The top-ranked non-abv spirits from the BBAs

Hamish Smith reveals the workings of the no-low category at the BBA 2026.

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21 May, 2026

Hamish Smith

World Class Cocktail Festival to take place at The Ned

Diageo has announced that a World Class Cocktail Festival will take place at The Ned in London from 27 May - 7 June, sandwiching the World Class GB final on June 1-3.

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20 May, 2026

Hamish Smith

Sotiris Konomi receives Raffles London promotion

Just weeks after taking the coveted crown of Bar Manager of the Year at the CLASS Bar Awards, Sotiris Konomi has been promoted to Beverage Manager of Raffles London at the OWO.

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20 May, 2026