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Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith

The Busker launches small-batch release

The Busker Irish Whiskey has launched its first small batch expression, The Busker Small Batch Single Pot Still.

Hamish Smith

International spotlight: Class explores Jewel of the South in New Orleans

Opened in 2019, this creole cottage-set bar has quickly become a must-visit for any cocktail aficionado. Hamish Smith gets the lowdown on the offering 

Hamish Smith

Callooh Callay celebrates 15th birthday with alumni guest shift

Shoreditch bar Callooh Callay is to celebrate its 15th birthday, bringing back some of the bar's best-known bartenders for a one-night-only guest shift.

Hamish Smith

Schofields and Vennings to unite in December

Bar industry brothers Daniel & Joe Schofield from Schofield’s Bar in Manchester and Noel & Max Venning from Three Sheets in London will bartend together for the first time this December.

Hamish Smith

ECC's Lorenzo Di Cola joins Altamura

Lorenzo Di Cola, formerly of the Experimental Cocktail Club Group, has joined Altamura Distilleries as international head of brand across its key global markets, including Italy, the USA, the UK, and India.

Hamish Smith

Review: Rum Ex Machina, Manchester

Reviewer for the north, Dave Marsland stops by a bar of one of the biggest venues to launch this year - Diecast. 

Hamish Smith

Drinks One launches e-commerce arm

Agency Drinks One has launched an e-commerce arm aimed at providing a platform for smaller scale, “innovative” drinks brands to sell directly to consumers and trade.

Hamish Smith

Angel's Treasure - the spirit world's lesser-known phenomenon of divine evaporation

Hamish Smith explores the distilling world in search of Angel’s Treasure.

Hamish Smith

Sips takes The World's 50 Best Bars crown as London named cocktail capital

Sips from Barcelona has taken top spot at The World’s 50 Best Bars sponsored by Perrier – announced in Singapore tonight - while London became the cocktail capital 2023, contributing more bars to the list than any other city.

Hamish Smith

Review: Lucky 7, Birmingham

Ellen Manning passes by Rob Wood and Kyndra Vorster’s latest Birmingham creation.

Hamish Smith

Veronica Di Pietrantonio and Pietro Collina on the reboot of Viajante 87

Veronica Di Pietrantonio, formerly of Dandelyan/ Lyaness, and Pietro Collina, ex-Eleven Maddison Park/ Nomad, have  relaunched Viajante 87 in Notting Hill. Hamish Smith caught up with them.

Hamish Smith

Nico de Soto readies Wacky Wombat for launch

Nico de Soto of Mace in New York and Danico in Paris is days from opening Wacky Wombat, a new bar in London’s Soho.

Hamish Smith

Review: Mama Funki and the rise of the neighbourhood bar

Are neighbourhood bars now as good as their inner city contemporaries? Hamish Smith hasn't got far to go to find out.

Hamish Smith

What's on at London Cocktail Week? CLASS speaks to its organisers

Hamish Smith chats to London Cocktail Week’s Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhan Payne about this year’s festival.

Hamish Smith

The Class Bar Awards 2024 opens for entries

The Class Bar Awards - which aims to recognise the bars and bartenders who set the standard for hospitality and innovation across the UK - is now open for entries. 

Hamish Smith

Five UK bars make 50 Best's 51-100 list

The UK has once again had a strong showing in The World's 50 Best Bars 51-100 list, with London's Lyaness leading the quintette of English bars. 

Hamish Smith

Fine drinks and high jinks - the making of Passing Fancies

Hamish Smith is at the New Bar of the Year, Passing Fancies. He chats to owners Matt Arnold, Eve Green and Tommy Matthews about what increasingly feels like Birmingham's flagship bar.

Hamish Smith

CTC owners open The Royal Cocktail Exchange

The owners of Cocktail Trading Co and Murder Inc, Elliot Ball, Andy Mil and Olly Brading, have opened the doors to The Royal Cocktail Exchange near Goodge Street in London. 

Hamish Smith

Atelier Coupette to launch in Soho

Atelier Coupette, the sequel to the famed Bethnal Green bar Coupette, is launching in mid October in Soho, London.

Hamish Smith

Jack Wakelin and Tom Aronica open The Pearl

Jack Wakelin and Tom ‘Ronnie’ Aronica of Bench have launched The Pearl at Park Hill in Sheffield.

Hamish Smith

Paolo Scialpi joins Altamura from Connaught Bar

Paolo Scialpi – formerly of Connaught Bar - has joined Altamura vodka as brand advocate for luxury hospitality.

Hamish Smith

CLASS Autumn 2023 magazine launches

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

Hamish Smith

Are you a spirits specialist? Become a BBAs judge

If you're a bartender working in a UK bar and you have a specialsm in a particular drinks category, we'd love to hear from you.

Hamish Smith

Sly Augustin and Maiko Neill to launch Notting Hill venue

Trailer Happiness’ Sly Augustin and hospitality consultant Maiko Neill are to launch restaurant Portobello 177 in Notting Hill on October 4th.

Hamish Smith

Canadian Martin takes World Class Crown

Jacob Martin from Canada has been named the 2023 World Class Global Bartender of the Year.

Hamish Smith

Alex Kratena and Simone Caporale to reunite

Alex Kratena of Tayēr + Elementary and Simone Caporale of Sips & Boadas will work under the same roof again this autumn - it's the first time they have bartended as a pair since 2015.

Hamish Smith

Century Bar launches menu inspired by Scottish countryside

The Gleneagles Hotel’s Century Bar has launched The Great Adventure Book, drawing on the Scottish countryside as inspiration.

Hamish Smith

How to make The Dark Horse's Infinite Daiquiri

Photo: Amanda Wan Winchester

Hamish Smith

Five UK hotels make first World's 50 Best Hotels list

Five UK hotels - each boasting leading hospitality venues - have made the inaugural World's 50 Best Best Hotels list, which was unveiled at London's Guildhall last night. 

Hamish Smith

International spotlight: Class explores Sastrería Martinez in Lima

Bars in Peru have discovered a new frontier of native flavour. Hamish Smith visits Diego Macedo's Sastrería Martinez in Lima to find out more.