Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith

American Bar to return with midweek opening hours

The Savoy’s American Bar will reopen on Monday 4 October 2021, after a long period of closure.

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29 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

Government urged to consult industry over tipping legislation

UKhospitality has urged the government to consult the hospitality industry before drawing up tipping legislation.

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27 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

Pernod launches chili-infused bourbon distillate

Pernod Ricard UK has launched Horse with No Name, a bourbon and habanero chili distillate, created by Monkey 47 founder Alexander Stein.

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27 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

CLASS Autumn 2021 - The Hard Reset – launches

CLASS Autumn 2021 - The Hard Reset – has launched and is now available to subscribers to download here. If you're not receiving Class, it's free (to bartenders) – sign up for a digital or hard copy here.

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22 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

Giuseppe Gallo launches Savoia

The founder of Italicus Giuseppe Gallo has turned his attention to the Americano category with the launch of wine-based aperitivo Savoia Americano, which is billed as a mid-point between a bitters liquor and red vermouth.

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22 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

Pernod agrees to buy The Whisky Exchange and LCW

Pernod Ricard has agreed to buy UK-based e-commerce platform The Whisky Exchange and London Cocktail Week for an undisclosed fee.

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21 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

New baijiu-scotch hybrid spirit readies for launch

Kylin Spirits Group is to launch a new hybrid spirit made from scotch whisky and Chinese baijiu.

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16 September, 2021

Hamish Smith

London bartenders star in Drinks International's Bar World 100 list

Monica Berg of Tayēr + Elementary in London has been voted the most influential international bar industry figure in Drinks International’s Bar World 100 2021.

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22 July, 2021

Hamish Smith

Floreria Atlantico's Tato Giovannoni on his new London bar

Tato Giovannoni is one of South America’s most decorated bar operators. Hamish Smith caught up with the Florería Atlántico owner in London at the site of his new Soho bar, which opens July 26.

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21 July, 2021

Hamish Smith

American Bar appoints first female head bartender in a century

The Savoy has appointed Shannon Tebay as head bartender of the American Bar and senior mixologist at the hotel.

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21 July, 2021

Hamish Smith

CLASS Summer edition launches

Editor Hamish Smith introduces this latest edition of CLASS, which is now available to download for digital subscribers, and offers some analysis of the backdrop to which the magazine launches.

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13 July, 2021

Hamish Smith

Canada’s James Grant wins World Class 2021

Canada’s James Grant was named the world’s best bartender for 2021 on Thursday at Diageo’s World Class Global Final.

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09 July, 2021

Hamish Smith

Leading Scottish bar owners support easing delay

Two of Edinburgh's best-known bar operators have supported the postponement of restriction easing in Scotland, arguing that the delay is "understandable" if it prevents further lockdowns.

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23 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

Anna Sebastian on leaving Artesian and her new drinks role

Anna Sebastian has joined hard seltzer company Served as head of brand, following her departure from Artesian at the Langham last month, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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17 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

Anna Sebastian on leaving Artesian and her new role

Anna Sebastian has joined hard seltzer company Served as head of brand, following her departure from Artesian at the Langham last month, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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17 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

Debt arbitration set to follow lease forfeiture moratorium extension

The government is to extend the lease forfeiture moratorium, preventing landlords from evicting commercial tenants until March 2022, the treasury has confirmed.

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16 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

New Ardgowan Distillery to make 1m litres of single malt

Ardgowan Distillery has announced work will begin this year on its new distillery following an £8.4 million equity investment.

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14 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

Ellie Goulding acquires stake in seltzer brand Served

Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding has acquired a “significant stake” in the British hard seltzer brand Served.

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08 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

A quarter of Britain's licensed premises still to reopen

One in four (23.7%) of Britain’s restaurants, pubs, bars and other licensed premises have yet to reopen despite the return of inside service, new research from CGA and AlixPartners reveals.

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03 June, 2021

Hamish Smith

The Nomad's first international outpost opens in London

The Nomad – the US’ pre-eminent food and beverage hotel - has opened in London, four years after taking the keys to its Covent Garden site.

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27 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

Ron de Jeremy rebranded as Hell Or High Water rum

One Eyed Spirits has replaced ex-porn star Ron Jeremy as the face of its rum, rebranding to Hell or High Water.

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20 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

CLASS Spring Edition launches

CLASS magazine returns this spring to coincide with the indoor opening of bars in the UK

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18 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

The reopening and recovery of England's bar industry

It’s been six long months since we last saw bars open indoors in England. Hamish Smith looks back – and forward.

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17 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

Lyndon 3 Pandemic 0

Hamish Smith talks to Lyndon Higginson about launching hospitality venues in the most inhospitable of climates.

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12 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

Simon Thompson to open World Heritage site (sports) bar

Present Company owner Simon Thompson will launch a bar in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Albert Docks in Liverpool this summer, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

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04 May, 2021

Hamish Smith

In-venue testing holds the key, says leading doctor

Rapid testing in hospitality venues could avoid the introduction of vaccine passports, while still allaying a potential rise in Covid infections when indoor service returns, according to a leading doctor.

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29 April, 2021

Hamish Smith

Cocktails in the City returns to London

Cocktails in the City will return to London this summer, with a series of three weekend events across June, July and August.

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28 April, 2021

Hamish Smith

Tequila trailblazer Tomas Estes passes

Tomas Estes, one of the drinks industry's most loved and respected figures, has passed away peacefully at his home in Oregan.

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27 April, 2021

Hamish Smith

The best of the best from the BBAs 2021

The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is our annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. We finish this series with the best of the best, including the BBA's 2021 Supreme Champion.

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27 April, 2021

Hamish Smith

The best of the rest from the BBAs

The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Our penultimate article of the series rounds up the highlights of the smaller categories in this year's BBAs.

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27 April, 2021