Diageo’s bartending competition, World Class GB, has revealed the top 50 finalists for 2026, with successful applicants chosen from hundreds of entries. 

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Alongside the Judging Roadshow, the finalists have been asked to create two reimaginings of the Paloma for the Palomarama Festival, which will be held in April.

The World Class GB Top 50 2026 in full

Aaron Lewis-Grey, Dos Dedos

Alex Goacher, Sister Ray

Alexander Taylor, Lowkey

Benedetta Paris, Happiness Forgets

Bruno Fidone, Rivoli Bar, The Ritz

Carrie Smith, Hawksmoor Edinburgh

Chelsie Bailey, Stonegate

Chloe Southam, The Royal Cocktail Exchange

Chun Yung Tseng, Waltz

Daniel Bate, Thomas Brasserie

Daragh Ó Dálaigh, Bar Coupette

David Fisher, Lyaness

David Antunes, Orion By Alex Webb

David Alexander Riera Sosa, Rivoli Bar, The Ritz

Dominic Royle, Sprout

Emily Pip Knight, Lucky Cat By Gordon Ramsay, Mayfair

Ethan Baker, The Sun Tavern

Henry Joyce, Gleneagles Townhouse

James Brown, Mother Mercy

Jasmine Bouyer, Equal Parts

Jay Mcaleer, Double Down

Juan Jose Orellano, St James Bar, Sofitel Hotel

Juni Guthrie, Sexy Fish London

Karol Bobinski, Balthazar

Kelly Danischewsky, The Cocktail Trading Co

Kielan Davidson, Old Pal

Lauren McIntosh, The Cocktail Joint

Laurie Howells, Archive & Myth

Liam Scott, Six By Nico Glasgow

Luca Mackenna, Corner Shop

Luke O’Toole, Lyaness

Matt Arnold, Passing Fancies

Maxwell Bowker, Waltz

Mikolaj Kwasniewski, Bao Restaurants London

Oscar Perry, Murder Inc

Peiqi Li, Bar Lotus

Rinato Fakhrutdinov, Bar Kinky

Robin Bruce-Gardyne, Mother Mercy

Rory Sorrell, The Royal Cocktail Exchange

Ryan Maughan, Kuckoo

Sam Chatterji, Bittersweet

Sam Key, The Spiritualist

Samuel Page, Sexy Fish London

Scott Stevenson, Gaga Bar And Kitchen

Sean Cavanagh, Hawksmoor Edinburgh

Steve Gleeson, The Hideout

Tommy Clyne, Bar Nightjar

William Amphlett, TBC Bar Chester

Yen-Cheng Chen, Tayēr + Elementary

Zidan Azad, Passing Fancies