CLASS is thrilled to announce the finalists of the CLASS Bar Awards 2026, ahead of the ceremony at Battersea Arts Centre in London on May 6th.
Of the 21 awards in the CLASS Bar Awards, 14 categories (including Bartender of the Year, Bar Innovator, Regional Bars of the Year and Bar of the Year) are decided by a vote of 180 industry experts across the UK.
Voters are chosen for their on-the-ground knowledge and expertise by the CLASS Bar Awards Regional Chairs.
Prominent drinks journalists, bar reviewers and content creators from around the country, the Regional Chairs for 2026 are: Ellen Manning, Chair for South West; Dave Marsland, Chair for North; Natasha Corfield, Chair for Scotland; Hamish Smith, Chair for the South East; James March, Chair for Midlands; Ronan Collins for Northern Ireland; and Josh Linfitt Chair for Wales & West.
Six of the awards (Drinks Menu of the Year, Bar Business of the Year, Sustainability and Community Impact Award, Front of House Star of the Year, Emerging Bartender of the Year and Bar Manager of the Year) are entered by written submission and judged by the CLASS Bar Awards Regional Chairs and the CLASS Bar Awards hosts Declan McGurk and Anna Sebastian.
The Outstanding Contribution Award meanwhile was chosen by former winners of the award at the Outstanding Contribution Dinner, which took place earlier this month.
This year, the CLASS Bar Awards ceremony (May 6th) will be the flagship event of CLASS Week (May 4th-8th), a new free-to-access cocktail festival in London dedicated to the UK bar industry. More details of CLASS-organised events will follow in the coming days, but if you are taking part in talks, masterclasses, tastings and guest shifts during CLASS Week, you can join our Programme of Events free by completing this form.
Tickets for the CLASS Bar Awards will be available for general admission on April 7th. Finalists will be contacted separately.
The CLASS Bar Awards finalists 2026
Bar Awards
Bar Business of the Year
Couch, Birmingham
GSG Hospitality, Liverpool
Nine Lives, London
Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Sustainability and Community Impact Award sponsored by Avallen
Below Stairs, Leeds
Kiki Lounge, Douglas
Lab 22, Cardiff
Tbc*, Chester
Drinks Menu of the Year sponsored by Schweppes
Couch, Birmingham
Martini Bar at Hawksmoor St Pancras, London
Artesian, The Langham, London
Kiki Lounge, Douglas
Cocktail of the Year
Porridge Colada, Nauticus, Edinburgh
Puntin' Pastries, Daddy Marmalades, Glasgow
Unfiltered Martini, Lyaness, London
Yuzu Margarita, Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Bar Food Menu of the Year
Dogstar, Edinburgh
Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Side Hustle, Nomad, London
Three Sheets Soho, London
Hotel Bar of the Year sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Connaught Bar, The Connaught, London
Lyaness, Sea Containers, London
Scarfes Bar, Rosewood, London
Side Hustle, Nomad, London
New Bar of the Year sponsored by Iichiko
Same Again, Bristol
Slowpour, Liverpool
The Morris, Manchester
Waltz, London
Best Bar in Wales
Lab 22, Cardiff
Lowkey, Cardiff
Nightshade, Cardiff
Penny, Cardiff
Best Bar in the West
Filthy XIII, Bristol
Hideout, Bath
HMSS, Bristol
Same Again, Bristol
Best Bar in the Midlands
Couch, Birmingham
Loose Ends, Nottingham
Lucky 7, Birmingham
400 Rabbits, Nottingham
Best Bar in Scotland sponsored by Royal Mile Whiskies
Daddy Marmalades, Glasgow
Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Nauticus, Edinburgh
Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Best Bar in Northern Ireland
Berts Jazz Bar, The Merchant, Belfast
Rattlebag, Belfast
The Cocktail Bar, The Merchant, Belfast
The Garrick, Belfast
Best Bar in London & the South East sponsored by Sagamore Spirit
Lyaness, London
Satan's Whiskers, London
Three Sheets Soho, London
Waltz, London
Best Bar in the North sponsored by Beesou Honey Aperitif
Bar Glue, Liverpool
Blinker, Manchester
Schofield's, Manchester
Speak in Code, Manchester
Individual Awards
Front of House Star of the Year sponsored by The Reid Vodka
Andy Galloway, Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Benedetta Paris, Happiness Forgets, London
Chloe Yeung, Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Lucy Thomas, Lyaness, Sea Containers, London
Emerging Bartender of the Year sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron
Chloe Southam, The Royal Cocktail Exchange, London
Jelena Bulatovskaja, Sexy Fish, London
Liza Kholodna Schofield's Bar, Manchester
Mathilde Rouge, Side Hustle, Nomad, London
Bartender of the Year sponsored by St Germain
Gento Torigata, Waltz, London
Katie Rouse, Couch, Birmingham
Matt Smith, Brain Jar, Hull
Nathan Price, Bar Glue, Liverpool
Bar Innovator(s) of the Year sponsored by Paragon
Iain McPherson, Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Katie Rouse & Jacob Clarke, Couch, Birmingham
Monica Berg & Alex Kratena, Tayēr + Elementary, London
Ryan Chetiyawardana, Mr Lyan, London
Bar Manager of the Year sponsored by Italicus
Andrea Gardiner, The American Bar, Gleneagles, Auchterarder
Christopher Wareing, Rattlebag, Belfast
Nicky Craig, Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Sotiris Konomi, The Spy Bar at Raffles London at The OWO, London
Bar of The Year sponsored by Savoia and the Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Fords Gin will be announced at the Class Bar Awards ceremony.