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

Hamish Smith

The bestselling tequilas at the UK's best bars

Next up in The CLASS Report we visit the tequila category in the UK's Best Bars.

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08 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling gins at the UK's best bars

Our first category under the microscope at the UK's Best Bars is gin.

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08 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The bestselling spirits in the UK's best bars

In the first instalment of The CLASS Report 2025, Hamish Smith looks at the spirits that sell best in the UK's Best Bars.

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01 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report - how it works

Hamish Smith details the thinking behind The Class Report and how the poll was created.

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01 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

Extra CLASS Bar Awards tickets released

CLASS is releasing a limited batch of tickets for the CLASS Bar Awards 2025.

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01 May, 2025

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report 2025

Read Now - Register/Log In

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30 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

The CLASS Report 2025 launches

CLASS has launched the The CLASS Report 2025. Download the magazine here.

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30 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

Jake Burger: How to name a cocktail

A cocktail's name can be instrumental to its success. Who better than pioneer of cocktail puns Jake Burger to guide us through the nomenclature?

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24 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

The best-scoring products at the BBAs 2025

Of all the products entered into the Bartenders' Brand Awards 2025, these were the top five-scoring products?

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17 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

Katie Rouse on why bartenders shouldn't gatekeep their creativity

Couch owner Katie Rouse urges bartenders to share their creative processes for the good of the whole community.

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17 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

Business rates reform moves a step closer

New legislation enabling an overhaul of the business rates system, has been heralded as a "landmark moment" by UKHospitality.

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17 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

Five UK bars receive Pins in Pinnacle Guide's latest list

The Pinnacle Guide - the global 1, 2 and 3 Pin recognition system for cocktail bars - has announced the latest additions to its list, now taking the total to 85 pinned bars around the world.

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16 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

The top mixers and softs from the BBAs 2025

Today's Bartenders' Brand Awards instalment sees our Mixers & Softs products go under the microscope.

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15 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

The pick of the liqueurs from the BBAs 2025

In today's instalment of the Bartenders' Brand Awards is the results of the liqueurs session.

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10 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

The standout rums from the BBAs

Today we turn our attention to the rum brands that scored best in the Bartenders' Brand Awards.

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09 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

Q&A: Aidy Smith on Inclusivity Mentorship & Incubator Program, Drinklusive

Hamish Smith chats to Aidy Smith of The Three Drinkers about his Inclusivity Mentorship & Incubator Program, Drinklusive.

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08 April, 2025

Hamish Smith

UK licensing to be relaxed amid new review

The Government has announced plans to improve the licensing system, with the aim of cutting red tape and boosting hospitality’s competitiveness.

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04 April, 2025