Hamish Smith

UKBG's first female president eyes revolution

The UKBG, the world’s oldest surviving bar guild, has appointed a female president for the first time in its 87-year history.

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25 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Parliament to debate further support for hospitality

Image: Parliamentlive.tvMPs will debate the issue of ‘Support for the Hospitality Industry during Covid-19’ tomorrow (March 24) in the House of Commons.

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23 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Midlands trade calls for staff background checks

The Midlands trade has called for compulsory DBS checks for staff of family-oriented hospitality venues in the wake of the sentencing of a Leicester bar owner for sex offences.

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22 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Sacha Lord to begin legal action over hospitality lockdown

Sacha Lord, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, has started legal action against the Government over the lockdown of hospitality.

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18 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Mentors and sponsors announced for Equal Measures programme

Equal Measures and The Mixing Class have secured funding for the first round of their jointly organised Education and Mentorship Programme.

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16 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Celebrate Her calls for industry safeguarding measures for women

Celebrate Her has called on the hospitality industry to do more to ensure the safety of female staff, following a poll that revealed 91% of women in hospitality feel unsafe travelling home from work.

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15 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Rod Eslamieh on the lockdown gains that funded a new venue

The pandemic was catastrophic for the hospitality industry, but between the cracks, there have been pockets of success. London Bridge’s Chapter 72 was one such triumph, enabling husband-and-wife owners Rod and Ellie Eslamieh to launch a second venue next week. Hamish Smith speaks to Rod Eslamieh about how it all happened.

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11 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

The bottled cocktails that are probably older than you are

The Gibson owner Marian Beke has launched a bottled cocktail range using spirits which date back 50-100 years.

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10 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

UKHospitality welcomes bounce-back grants

UKHospitality has welcomed a £5bn Government package of grants aimed at helping the high street reopen.

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01 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Diageo completes Chase Distillery deal

Diageo has completed the acquisition of Herefordshire-based craft spirits firm Chase Distillery for an undisclosed fee.

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01 March, 2021

Hamish Smith

Hospitality bosses hopeful of long-term growth

Hospitality leaders are optimistic about the long-term future of the on-trade and its role in driving the UK’s economic recovery, if further support is provided ahead of reopening, a survey has found.

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25 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

Take part: New poll on bars reopening in England

Classbarmag.com is undertaking a new poll of the bar industry to gain a clearer idea of when bars in England plan to reopen.

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25 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

Bar owners react to England's 'Hospitality Liberation Day'

Following yesterday’s government announcement that bars could open from May 17 (outdoors from April 12), CLASS gauges industry reaction to the timetable for reopening, the support required to get them there and their outlook for 2021.

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23 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

UKHospitality demands support after Spring reopening announced for England

UKHospitality has called on a “major package of support” for hospitality following the UK government’s roadmap for releasing England from lockdown.

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22 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

PM announces reopening dates for bars in England

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the earliest dates England’s hospitality industry may reopen following its forced closure.

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22 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

The reappearance of Chris Moore

A leading light of London’s bar scene, in a puff Chris Moore disappeared. Hamish Smith finds him in plain sight.

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17 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

Terroir in whisk(e)y: New research reveals compelling evidence

New research has found evidence that the influence of soil, microclimate and topography on barley has an impact on the flavour of whisk(e)y.

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17 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

Scottish trade bodies slam Covid Report

The Scottish Hospitality Group and UKHospitality Scotland have rejected a University of Stirling Report that questioned whether pub and bar operators can “effectively and consistently prevent COVID-19 transmission".

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16 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

These are the wild winter edibles waiting to be foraged

Winter is not the barren landscape you might think - here just some of the edible wild plants growing in Britain this season that could make their way into your repertoire.

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11 February, 2021

Hamish Smith

Mia Johansson & Bobby Hiddleston: launching a cocktail bar in a pandemic

Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston have launched a second branch of Swift. They talk to Hamish Smith about opening and trading in central London during the pandemic.

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03 September, 2020

Hamish Smith

How to make Black Rock's Scotch Egg

Black Rock's Scotch Egg is one of the best about. Here's how to make it at your bar.

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08 August, 2020

Hamish Smith

Bar review: Amazónico

A rainforest-themed bar in Mayfair? The eyes are rolling, but actually, it pays to keep an open mind, says Hamish Smith.

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12 December, 2019

Hamish Smith

Bar review: Rockwell

Few London hotels don't aspire to have 'destination bars'. Hamish Smith reviews one of the latest hospitality venues with grand ambitions.

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10 November, 2019

Hamish Smith

The best gin for the Southside

Hamish Smith took the Cocktail Lab on tour to Leeds - the worldwide imbibing head quarters of the Southside cocktail. The Watermark played host.

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10 September, 2019

Hamish Smith

How to make Callooh Callay's Sausage Roll

Callooh Callay's Sausage Roll is more than a bar snack - it has become a major attraction. Owner Richard Wynne lets us in on his bar's (and mum's) recipe.

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08 August, 2019