Scotland’s favourite pubs are ready to raise a glass as the finalists for this year’s Scottish Bar & Pub Awards are revealed and the best go head-to-head for the ultimate industry honours.
Run by leading hospitality magazine DRAM, these awards are Scotland’s longest-running celebration of pubs, bars, and the people who make them great. Celebrating their 30th year, they’ve become the biggest night on the licensed trade calendar, where the country’s hospitality heroes get the recognition they deserve.
This year’s winners will be crowned at a glittering, Oscar-themed gala on Tuesday 26th August in Glasgow, in a night of red carpets, champagne, and high spirits! From cosy locals to cutting-edge cocktail spots, the competition is fierce, and all eyes are on who will take home the industry’s most prestigious titles.
Finalists range from Scotch & Rye in Inverness, nominated for the Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering award, to The Anglers in Annan, competing for the coveted Pub of the Year title – and everything in between!
Some well-known pubs are also in the running, including the Athletic Arms, The Belfry, and Mother Superior in Edinburgh, all nominated for the Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year award. Glasgow’s Berlinkys, The Corset Club, and Slouch are battling it out for the Fireball Best Late Night Venue gong, while Siberia Bar & Hotel in Aberdeen is a contender for the Staropramen Award for Outstanding Quality.
However, with nearly 25 award categories, there are plenty more local legends, rising stars, and incredible venues all hoping for their moment in the spotlight – and guests can expect a few surprises on the night too!
Publisher, Susan Young, said, “We’re delighted to congratulate all our finalists from across Scotland. Thousands of customers have cast their votes to make sure their favourite pubs, bars, restaurants, and bar staff get the recognition they deserve!
“In the midst of the many challenges facing hospitality, these businesses have gone above and beyond to keep their customers happy and that hard work has not gone unnoticed. Our mystery shoppers and judges have been full of praise for the outstanding quality of entries and the exceptional service they experienced on their visits.
Over 600 of Scotland’s hospitality stars will gather for one glittering night to see who takes home the industry’s highest honours. Here’s the full roll call of categories and contenders vying for glory:
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year
Athletic Arms – Edinburgh
The Belfry – Edinburgh
Mother Superior – Edinburgh
The Pot Still – Glasgow
Black Ivy & Montpeliers Rising Entrepreneur of the Year
Ceceley Chambers, The Bowlers Rest – Edinburgh
Edward Fox, Encore Bars – Edinburgh
Allan Low, The Fox & Willow – Ayr
Lauren McIntosh, The Cocktail Joint – Elgin
Connie and James Taberner, Fintry Bay – Millport
Brugal 1888 Cocktail Bar of the Year
The Cocktail Geeks – Edinburgh
Hey Palu – Edinburgh
Jacks Bar, Dakota Hotel – Glasgow
Kelvingrove Café – Glasgow
Lady Libertine – Edinburgh
DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the Year
The Anchorage – Dunure
Bag o’Nails – Glasgow
The Original Rosslyn Inn – Roslin
Weston Tavern – Kilmaurs
Campari Bar Apprentice 2025
Aimee Ashworth, La Jupe – Helensburgh
Lewis Crone, Margo – Glasgow
Cameron Evans, Lynnhurst Hotel – Johnstone
Anya Garrow, Gleneagles – Auchterarder
Callum McCarthy, Encore – Edinburgh
Stuart Robertson, Badger & Co – Edinburgh
Wesley Smith, Di Maggios – East Kilbride
Finn Truter, Brewhemia – Edinburgh
Louise Turner, Rabble – Edinburgh
De Kuyper Award For Cocktail Excellence In Neighbourhood Venues
The Corner House – Kilwinning
Draffens – Dundee
McLarens On The Corner – Edinburgh
The Torfin – Edinburgh
Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award
Ross Barr, Scotch at the Balmoral – Edinburgh
Chris Chambers, Cask & Vine – Edinburgh
Lucy Connor, Tipsy Midgie – Edinburgh
Jane Ross, Mother Superior – Edinburgh
Favela Independent Multiple Operator of the Year
Bucks Bar Group
Cru Hospitality
Eden Group
Rocks Leisure Group
Fireball Best Late Night Venue
Berlinkys – Glasgow
The Corset Club – Glasgow
Freddy’s – Edinburgh
Slouch – Glasgow
Vic’s – Prestwick
Hospitality Health Employer of the Year
Apex Hotels
Cru Hospitality
Lisini Pub Co.
Manorview
HOSPO Manager of the Year
Michael Eaton, Café Royal – Edinburgh
Lorraine Ferguson, Billy Bridges – Ayr
Pete Harvey, Aboukir – Carnoustie
Fiona Joyce, Solway Lodge – Gretna
Stewart Kilpatrick, Hope & Vincent – Glasgow
Gavin Ruthven, The Dome – Edinburgh
Hotel Scotland Hotel Bar of the Year
Bar 1819, Apex Waterloo Place – Edinburgh
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
Nor’ Loft – Edinburgh
Red Sky Bar – Glasgow
Inverarity Morton Best Drinks Offering
Brewhemia – Edinburgh
The Criterion – St Andrews
The Keys Bar – St Andrews
Scotch & Rye – Inverness
Teuchters Landing – Edinburgh
DRAM Best Beer Garden
Black Ivy – Edinburgh
The Fox & Willow – Ayr
Hugos Bar & Pavilion – Dalgety Bay
Weavers – Paisley
Jameson Best Irish Bar
Boston Bar – Edinburgh
Kitty O’Shea’s – Glasgow
Malones – Edinburgh
O’Connor’s – Edinburgh
Seamus’s – Edinburgh
Jump Ship Brewing Gastropub of the Year
The Birds and The Bees – Stirling
The Crown & Anchor – Findhorn
The Bridge Inn – Ratho
Stravaigin – Glasgow
DRAM Community Pub of the Year
Aboukir – Carnoustie
The Bowlers Rest – Edinburgh
Montagues – Kirkcaldy
The Newton Bar – Millport
The Pawn Lounge – Alexandria
New Bar of the Year 2025
Boston Bar – Edinburgh
Berlinkys – Glasgow
Cask & Vine – Edinburgh
The Marlborough – Glasgow
Sebbs – Glasgow
Schweppes Mixologist of the Year
Branford Edgar, Kelvingrove Café – Glasgow
Jake Harris, Old Pal – Edinburgh
Poppy Kerr, Bartenders Lounge – Aberdeen
Chris Mullen, Mar Hall – Bishopton
Toby Peters, The Cocktail Geeks – Edinburgh
Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year
Houston’s Sports Bar – Johnstone
Hope & Vincent – Glasgow
Lochy’s – Barrhead
The Tap Yard – Glasgow
Staropramen Award For Outstanding Quality
Brewhemia – Edinburgh
Boston Bar – Edinburgh
Louie Brown’s – Dalgety Bay
The Phoenix – Dundee
Siberia – Aberdeen
Pub of the Year
The Anglers – Annan
Athletic Arms – Edinburgh
Four Marys – Linlithgow
MacSorley’s – Glasgow
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Enquiries to: Nicola Walker –nicolawalker@mediaworldltd.com
