People

Anna Sebastian on creating a new hospitality culture

Anna Sebastian was one of many to leave operations this year. She reflects on what needs to change, if not for the current generation of hospitality workers, for those of the future.

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22 September, 2021

People

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

People

Hacha to open its doors to Brixton and underprivileged communities

Aiming to ensure employment opportunities for underprivileged members of BAME communities, Hacha’s new Brixton outlet is a project with a social conscience, finds Hamish Smith

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13 July, 2021

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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07 December, 2019

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