Hamish Smith

CLASS Bar Awards 2025 finalists revealed

CLASS is delighted to announce the finalists of the CLASS Bar Awards, ahead of the 2025 ceremony at Battersea Arts Centre in London on May 21st.

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26 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Which vodkas did best at the BBAs 2025?

The Bartenders' Brand Awards covers all of the major cateogories and in this edition of our highlights we narrow in on vodka.

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26 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Dalston Mexican restaurant Corrochio's launches agave bar

Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie of Corrochio's have launched a subterranean agave bar called Cinco.

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21 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Nottingham’s 400 Rabbits to open new city centre venue

JRA Bars, the owners of Nottingham’s tequila and cocktail den 400 Rabbits and Café Bar & Bistro Le Petit Vert in Farnsfield, is to open new city centre venue, Loose Ends.

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21 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

How the BBAs works

Hamish Smith talks us through the three-pronged assessment of the Bartenders’ Brand Awards.

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20 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

The Bartenders' Brand Awards 2025 results go live

The results of the Bartenders' Brand Awards 2025 - CLASS magazine's drinks competition, which is judged by bartenders for bartenders - are now live on the Awards' dedicated website.

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20 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Review: Bloodsports - a sports bar with a sideline in blood, guts and cocktails

Hamish Smith waves the flag for sports bars at Meatliquor’s new Bloodsports.

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20 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 location and date announced

The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, will take place at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong on 8 October.

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20 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Flying the flag - why Lab 22 is now a showcase of Wales

Lab 22 is not only the best-known bar in Wales, its fame has spread far and wide. And with its focus on regional sourcing, it has become a community hub. Hamish Smith sits down at the bar of this forward-thinking venue.

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17 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

CLASS Spring 2025

Read Now - Register/Log In - Class Magazine

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13 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

CLASS Spring 2025 launches

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

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13 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Simon Thompson to open Café Baggio

Liverpool’s Present Company is to be transformed into Café Baggio, a “café-bar for football romantics by football romantics”.

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12 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Matthew Dakers launches Melville & Sons

Norwich bar operator Matthew Dakers has launched Melville & Sons, a sequel to his Class Bar Awards-shortlisted 11th & Social.

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11 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Kwãnt alumnus Gento Torigata opens Japanese bar Waltz

Gento Torigata, formerly of Erik Lorincz’s Kwãnt, has opened a Japanese cocktail bar in Shoreditch.

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11 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

International spotlight: Inside Röda Huset in Stockholm

Röda Huset in Stockholm is a cocktail showcase of Scandinavia’s best produce. Hamish Smith speaks to cofounder Hampus Thunholm about the lengths to which he goes to make his drinks speak Swedish.

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06 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Salt Dog Slims Manchester to host Northern Bar Olympics

Salt Dog Slims Manchester, in partnership with Brown Forman, is putting the North’s best bartenders to the test with the first-ever Northern Bar Olympics.

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05 March, 2025

Hamish Smith

Aberdeen's Orchid closes permanently

Orchid – the bar that put Aberdeen on the cocktail map - permanently closed last week, after 15 years in business.

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05 March, 2025

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.

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06 January, 2025

Hamish Smith

Review: Muse at RSA House

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

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06 January, 2025

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.

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03 January, 2025

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.

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02 January, 2025

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.

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19 December, 2024

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.

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12 December, 2024

Hamish Smith

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

Fruity, spiced, sweet

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12 December, 2024

Hamish Smith

How to make Royal Cocktail Exchange's Newport Sour

Savoury, raisin, spice

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12 December, 2024

Hamish Smith

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

Tropical, sweet and herbaceous

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06 December, 2024

Hamish Smith

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

Intense, full bodied, savoury

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05 December, 2024

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.

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02 December, 2024

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.

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27 November, 2024

Hamish Smith

Mr Lyan launches cocktail seasoning range

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

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25 November, 2024