People
People
Phil Bayly & Julio Bermejo's tribute to Tomas Estes
What you know of tequila, of Mexican food and hospitality, is in some part down to the work and passion of the late Tomas Estes. Many in the industry saw him as a friend, but his partner in crime, Phil Bayly, knew him best. His tribute is followed by the words of another tequila legend, Julio Bermejo.
—18 May, 2021
People
Birth of a classic: the story behind the long-awaited Schofield’s Bar
Schofield's Bar was the world-famous venue that didn't exist - until now. Hamish Smith takes the two-hour train from London to Manchester to finally take up a seat at Joe and Daniel Schofield's much anticpated debut bar.
—18 May, 2021
People
The extraordinary life and times of Tomas Estes
An amateur wrestler, school teacher, restauranteur, tequila writer and pioneer, Tomas Estes lived a rich and varied life. Here is his life story, written by Hamish Smith, published in CLASS' sister title Drinks International in May 2017.
—28 April, 2021
People
Q&A: New UKBG president Claudia Carrozzi on revolutionary change
Claudia Carrozzi, new president of the UKBG speaks to CLASS about her ideas for transforming the Guild.
—25 March, 2021
People
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.
—11 March, 2021
People
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.
—17 February, 2021
People
Dre Masso returns to London with new bar The Last Talisman
Bartending globetrotter Dre Masso is back. Back with a bar, he tells Hamish Smith
—12 January, 2021
People
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.
—03 September, 2020
People
Simone Caporale: books, bars and Flavour Blasters
Simone Caporale is never just working on one thing. Hamish Smith caught up with the bar consultant and wasn’t short of lines of enquiry.
—10 April, 2020
People
Don Javier: farewell to a legend
Jake Burger pays tribute to Don Javier Delgado Corona, famed for his church to hospitality, La Capilla, and his way with a Batanga
—01 April, 2020
People
Neil Donachie on the fast-developing Newcastle bar scene
Hamish Smith speaks to proud Geordie Neil Donachie about the emerging Newcastle scene and his new bar Mother Mercy
—13 February, 2020
People
A tribute to Gary 'Gaz' Regan
Hamish Smith pays tribute to one of the true legends of the bar industry, who sadly passed away.
—07 December, 2019