Scottish Bar & Pub Awards celebrate excellence amidst sector challenges

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Scotland’s vibrant hospitality sector gathered last night in Glasgow to celebrate its achievements, as the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards 2026 honoured the nation’s finest venues and individuals. The gala, marking the awards’ 31st year as Scotland’s longest-established trade accolades, unfolded with a Glam Rock theme, drawing over 600 guests to the Doubletree by Hilton. The event, now under the ownership of Hero Media & Entertainment, spotlighted excellence across a sector facing both robust growth and persistent challenges.

The Scottish hospitality industry is a cornerstone of the nation’s economy, employing approximately 290,000 people and contributing an estimated £15 billion in economic activity, generating £5 billion in tax receipts. Recent data from Q2 2025 indicates the sector supported £1.9 billion in economic activity and 243,000 jobs, showing stronger growth than the wider Scottish economy since 2022 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, Scotland’s beer and pub industry alone generated £2.472 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2025, supporting 64,200 jobs and £1.290 billion in wages. The sector is also a significant employer of young people, with over half of its workforce aged between 16 and 24.

Despite this significant contribution, the industry continues to navigate a complex landscape of rising operational costs, taxation, and evolving regulatory pressures. Businesses are grappling with increased business rates, high food prices, volatile energy costs, and growing employment expenses. Projections suggest the average Scottish pub could see an £36,523 increase in business rates between 2026 and 2029. Consumer spending habits have also shifted, with a survey revealing 58% of Scots are cutting back on dining and drinking out due to the cost-of-living crisis. This environment has contributed to the closure of 293 Scottish pubs over the past five years, a rate 50% higher than in England. Industry bodies, such as the Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA), have called for governmental support through a fairer business rates system and a comprehensive assessment of cumulative regulatory impacts.

Industry Titans Recognised

The evening’s most esteemed accolade, the Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to Don Lawson of Johnny Foxes in Inverness, recognising his profound influence on Scotland’s hospitality landscape. Lawson, an industry veteran who opened Johnny Foxes in 1997, also owns The Den nightclub and Jimmy Badgers. His career, spanning over 28 years at Johnny Foxes following stints at Stakis Hotels and Aviemore Mountain Resort, has been marked by active involvement in lobbying and campaigning on key trade issues, including the smoking ban. Lawson has also advocated for the establishment of “hospitality academies” to address staff shortages within the sector. Johnny Foxes also secured the Hero Media & Entertainment Best Bar Team Award.

Glasgow venues demonstrated a strong performance, with The Lismore in Partick earning the coveted Sunday Mail Pub of the Year award. Other notable Glasgow winners included The Tap Yard for Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year, Margo for Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year, and Slouch for SBPA Best Late Night Venue. The Pot Still’s Assistant Manager, Sally Law, was celebrated with the Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award, while Michael Bergson, owner of Bucks Bar, received The Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution to the Industry Award. Kostas Simos of Atlantic Bar & Brasserie in Glasgow was also honoured with the Hero Brands Hospitality Hero Award for his individual contribution.

Uddingston’s Lisini Pub Company, a family-run business established in 1969 by former Celtic footballer Harry Hood and his wife Kathleen, garnered significant recognition. Company Director Siobhan Edwards, daughter of the founders, was named Hotel Scotland Inspirational Woman of the Year. Lisini Pub Company, which operates several hotels, bars, and restaurants in Lanarkshire, including Angels Hotel, was also acknowledged with the Hospitality Health Employer of the Year accolade. The company, which employs 335 people and reported a turnover of £14M in its latest financial filings, was recently listed among The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 and awarded the Wellness Charter for its commitment to employee well-being. Danny Stewart of Angels Hotel also won HOSPO Manager of the Year.

Further afield, The Pawn Lounge in Alexandria was crowned DRAM Community Pub of the Year, while Ruby’s in East Kilbride was named SBPA New Bar of the Year, with its owner Struan Barclay receiving the Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneur award. Edinburgh venues also enjoyed success, including Black Ivy as Annandale Distillery Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, Bittersweet Leith as Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year, and the Boston Bar New Town for the Jameson Best Irish Bar award. Michael Maclean of The Dome in Edinburgh was recognised as Schweppes Mixologist of the Year.

The Highlands and Islands saw success with MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults in Oban winning Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year. Rocks Leisure Group, which operates multiple venues across the region and in Glasgow, including Ben Nevis Bar and Macgochans in Tobermory, took home the Scottishnews.com Independent Multiple Operator of the Year award.

Susan Young, Publisher of the Scottish Bar & Pub Awards, commented on the evening’s success: “It was fantastic to see so many deserving winners this year. These awards are a celebration of the people who make the Scottish hospitality industry the success it is, and this year’s entries were truly outstanding. The standard was so high it made the judging incredibly difficult. Every one of our finalists should be immensely proud of their achievement, and I’d like to congratulate all of our winners on their success. The Glam Rock theme was the perfect fit for an industry where the venues, teams and people really do rock!”.

The awards underscore the resilience and entrepreneurial spirit of Scotland’s hospitality sector, which continues to innovate and excel despite ongoing economic pressures and a dynamic regulatory environment.

Full List of Winners:

Lifetime Achievement: Don Lawson, Emerald Inns (Inverness)
Annandale Distillery Dog Friendly Pub of the Year: Black Ivy – Edinburgh
Inverarity Morton Family Business of the Year: The Fort Hotel & The Royal Arch – Broughty Ferry
Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year: MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults – Oban
Hero Media & Entertainment Best Bar Team: Johnny Foxes – Inverness
Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award: Sally Law – The Pot Still, Glasgow
Bar Personality of the Year: Tracey Hunter – The Tavern Bar, Millport
Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution To The Industry Award: Michael Bergson – Bucks Bar
Hospitality Health Employer of the Year: Lisini Pub Company – Uddingston
DRAM Community Pub of the Year: The Pawn Lounge – Alexandria
Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year: Bittersweet Leith – Leith, Edinburgh
Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneur: Struan Barclay, Ruby’s – East Kilbride
HOSPO Manager of the Year: Danny Stewart – Angels Hotel, Uddingston
Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year: The Tap Yard – Glasgow
Jamesons Best Irish Bar 2026: Boston Bar New Town – Edinburgh
Jump Ship Brewing Best Lo and No Destination: SOBR – Aberdeen
Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area: The Birds and Bees – Stirling
Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year: Margo – Glasgow
SBPA New Bar of the Year: Ruby’s – East Kilbride
Schweppes Mixologist of the Year: Michael Maclean – The Dome, Edinburgh
Scottishnews.com Independent Multiple Operator of the Year: Rocks Leisure Group
SBPA Best Late Night Venue: Slouch – Glasgow
Hotel Scotland Inspirational Woman of the Year: Siobhan Edwards – Lisini Pub Company
Hero Brands Hospitality Hero Award: Kostas Simos – Atlantic Bar & Brasserie
The Drum Social Media Champion: Tempura – Ayr
Sunday Mail Pub of the Year: The Lismore – Partick, Glasgow