Hamish Smith

Inside Hoax and The Devil You Know

Simone and Lidia Crepaldi are set to open restaurant Hoax and cocktail bar The Devil You Know this Saturday December 13.

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11 December, 2025

Hamish Smith

Business rates to be reformed

The Government has published an interim report on business rates reform that sets out a number of proposals to improve the system.

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18 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

Sheffield’s Abbeydale Ballroom nears completion

Sheffield’s Abbeydale Ballroom opens its doors Thursday 2nd October in the basement of the historic Abbeydale Picture House.

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18 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

Mr Lyan to launch Seed Library New York

Ryan Chetiyawardana, aka Mr Lyan, is set to open his first New York bar this autumn when he rolls out Seed Library to the Big Apple.

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17 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

UK Hospitality calls for lower business rates, fixed NICs and cuts to VAT amid 111k job losses

UK Hospitality has voiced concerns that an estimated 111,000 jobs will have been lost in hospitality by the Budget on November 26.

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17 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

UK RumFest announces dates and exhibitors

The UK’s first and biggest rum show celebrates its 19th year this October.

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12 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

Graffiti Spirit Group’s MDNT readies for autumn launch

Graffiti Spirit Group’s John Ennis, Nick Thomas and Adam Taylor are weeks from opening new Manchester Bar MDNT.

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12 September, 2025

Hamish Smith

Dates and venue for BCB London 2026 announced

BCB organiser RX has announced its London show will return to Tobacco Dock next year, taking place Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th June 2026.

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08 July, 2025

Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith on the ancient (and current) world of awards

Fresh off the back of the Class Bar Awards, Hamish Smith pontificates about why peer recognition has always mattered.

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07 July, 2025

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

Martini Icons: a photographic homage by Ago Perrone

CLASS brings you highlights from Ago Perrone's photography exhibition Martini Icons, in collobration with Belvedere Vodka and Maison Assouline.

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27 June, 2025

Hamish Smith

Nightjar announces series of events to celebrate 15th anniversary

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26 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

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