Diageo World Class GB has chosen its top 10 finalists for 2026.
Selected from entries across Great Britain, this year's finalist group is drawn from hotels, internationally acclaimed destination bars and independent venues from Edinburgh, Birmingham, Liverpool and London.
The prevailing finalists were part of an entry process that took in more than 400 bartenders from up and down the country.
The top 50 were invited to take part in the inaugural Palomarama Festival, creating a two-cocktail menu inspired by the Paloma, one making use of Seedlip to create a non-alcoholic serve. These were showcased in each bartender’s own bar as a specials menu during the two weeks of the festival in April.
The World Class × Schweppes Judging Roadshow 2026, stopped at four cities across the country, namely Edinburgh, London, Manchester and Bristol, with the top 50 invited to present their serves for a panel of top industry experts, for a chance to win a place in the World Class GB Final in London.
The World Class GB Final takes place at The Ned, London from 1 to 3 June 2026, where the ten finalists will face a series of challenges over three days designed to test every dimension of their bartending skill: from technical precision and menu development to performance under pressure and the depth of their drinks knowledge.
The winner will go on to represent Great Britain at the Diageo World Class Global Finals, held in Scotland - competing against national champions from across the world for the title of World Class Bartender of the Year.
The top 10 finalists
Top row: L-R: Alex Goacher; Carrie Smith; Chelsie Bailey; David Alexander Riera; Laurie Howells. Bottom row: L-R: Luke O'Toole; Matt Arnold; Oscar Perry; Rory Sorrell; Yen-Cheng Chen
1/ Alex Goacher @alex_on_the_fly
Sister Ray, Liverpool
2/ Carrie Smith @carriesmith97
Hawksmoor Edinburgh, Edinburgh
3/ Chelsie Bailey @chelsiebailey_bartender
Stonegate, London
4/ David Alexander Riera @__davidriera
The Rivoli Bar, The Ritz London, London
5/ Laurie Howells @laurie_mixes
Archive & Myth, London
6/ Luke O'Toole @luuk__ot
Lyaness, London
7/ Matt Arnold @matt_bhx
Passing Fancies, Birmingham
8/ Oscar Perry @oscarperry_
Murder Inc., London
9/ Rory Sorrell @martini_rozza
The Royal Cocktail Exchange, London
10/ Yen-Cheng Chen @dc_yencheng
Tayēr + Elementary, London