Roho, the first Kenyan agave spirit, is now available in the UK.

El Siete, which was launched by Harts Group earlier this year, is Soho's latest agave bar, taking over a basement space under restaurant El Pastor. 

Two former All My Gods bartenders, Bréagha Wolfgang and Jess Hellicar, have joined forces with Kelly Danischewsky, formerly of 21st Amendment, to open The Third House Collective in the dive bar’s former Paradise Row site.

A group of whisky entrepreneurs have combined forces to launch MBH Holding, an independent Scottish spirits group operating across scotch whisky, independent bottling, branded products, travel, cask ownership and rare spirits. The Edinburgh based group has been founded by Charlie MacLean, Vikki Bruce, Jamie Burke, Liam Hughes and Mike Hayward, who over 20 years have collectively founded and operated Maclean & Bruce, Strathearn Distillery and The Glasgow Distillery Company amongst other businesses. MBH controls a substantial portfolio of casks, including stock that has been maturing for over 40 years, and is in active discussions regarding the capital investment to support acquisitions of "substantially more whisky assets". Future capital investment will support further acquisitions, expand the cask asset base, develop a branded premium product range and accelerate international expansion.  MBH Holding claims its annual turnover is estimated to be £16 million, with an estimated £5 million market value in casks and bottles. Co-founder Hughes said: “Our intention is to build a substantial independent Scottish spirits group of scale – headquartered in Scotland, creating jobs in Scotland, and exporting premium Scottish products globally. “We have the operational team, the assets and the infrastructure – we will now deploy that selectively.” Co-founder Bruce added: “This is a Scottish growth story. We have combined established businesses with real heritage, and through M&B Whisky and M&B Travel, we have a direct link between Scotland’s whisky story and consumers from around the world.”

UKHospitality has welcomed today's Budget, but warned work still has to be done to secure the future of the industry.

Photo courtesy of Wilhelmnia Twiggles

Jack Wallis, Roxy Velvet, Chris Tanner and Simo Simpson. Shot for Class by Sean Ware.

Max and Noel Venning will open Berryman’s, a new Martini, wine and oyster bar in Dalston this November.

The team behind Belfast favourite The Garrick will open new venue The Side Bar in the city tomorrow (Friday 23 October).

The team behind cocktail bar Stray has opened Bar Dos, a new 70-cover, music-focused late-night bar in Ancoats, Manchester.

 

Image courtesy of Fernet-Branca

The team behind Japanese izakaya-inspired restaurant MOI on Wardour Street in Soho, has opened adjoining basement bar Room86. 

The Covent Garden site that houses Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, has been gifted to the National Trust, ensuring the establishment’s long-term future.

The #VATsTheProblem campaign – which is calling for 10% hospitality VAT - now has 401,250 signatures on its petition.

Snake Oil, a new bar from Matt Wilden, chef-owner of Mexican restaurant Perro, will open in Birmingham on Friday.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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. 

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