Top 15 Bars Longlisted for the Edinburgh Bar Awards

Nominations close for the Edinburgh Bar Awards on August 28th, so vote for your favourite and raise a glass to Edinburgh's finest!

Article Source: Backs Hospitality
Last Updated: 20 August 2024 12:43

ISSUE DATE: 20th Aug 2024 With less than a month to go, the countdown has begun for the first-ever Edinburgh Bartenders Ball, which is set to dazzle the city’s hospitality scene with the launch of the Edinburgh Bar Awards. Celebrating the very best of Auld Reekie’s vibrant bar culture, the awards are now in full swing with the announcement of the top 15 long-listed bars vying for the title of Edinburgh’s finest.

Every vote counts! Nominations close on August 28th, vote for your favourite and raise a glass to Edinburgh's finest.

The first ever The Top 15 list as voted by bartenders in the Best Bar category is a diverse mix, featuring a stellar lineup of venues known for their innovation, ambiance, and exceptional service. These include secret speakeasy, Panda & Sons, the sophisticated Spence at Gleneagles Townhouse, maritime-inspired bar at Port of Leith Distillery and the iconic cocktail haunt, Bramble.

In the Best Pub category, the Top 15 includes the classic Edinburgh Pub The Diggers (The Athletic Arms), independent whisky bars The Black Cat, Mother Superior, Leith’s Nauticus and the historic The Guildford Arms.

Best Bar team sees votes for the lively Three Sisters, specialist rum bar Ruma, the ever-changing Cocktail Geeks and the romantic Commons Club at Virgin Hotel Edinburgh to name a few!

The awards ceremony will take place during a lavish bash for bartenders known as the Bartenders Ball - a first for Edinburgh, on Monday, 16 September at the atmospheric Caves. This inaugural event will celebrate the exceptional talent within Edinburgh’s vibrant hospitality scene, spotlighting the city's top bars, cocktails, and industry professionals from hotels, bars, and restaurants.

The Edinburgh Bartenders Ball will support anyone working in the trade, offering a night to come together and unwind after a busy Fringe season. With high-energy entertainment, eclectic performers, and guaranteed fun, previous balls in the West have featured a bucking bronco shaped like a wine bottle, a Sailor Jerry arm wrestling competition, DJ sets from Shaka Loves You, and live performances from a nine-piece New Orleans brass band, and Al and the Bad Decisions.

Sure to sell out, tickets to the Bartenders Ball cost £30 with tickets on sale now. The ticket includes drinks from premium brands, delicious street food, smoked barbecue classics, live music, entertainment, the Edinburgh Bar Awards, and many high-octane surprises.

David Smilie, co-founder and organiser of the Bar Awards and Bartender’s Ball said: “We’ve had thousands of votes cast for the first ever Edinburgh Bar Awards. There’s still time left to vote for your favourite before August 28th. The competition is fierce and we wait to see who comes out top!”

Organised by Backs! Hospitality - a community interest company created by David Smillie and Alex Riches, anyone who works across the hospitality industry is invited to attend - from brand ambassadors to bartenders. Funds raised from the £30 ticket sales go towards nurturing the next wave of bartending talent and frontline hospitality staff through various initiatives like events, networking, mentoring, and training.

How to VOTE!

The Edinburgh Bar Awards invites nominations from any licensed premises within the EH postcode. Winners will be selected after a comprehensive judging process involving industry votes and an esteemed panel of judges. Make your voice heard and vote online here (or printable URL) - https://backshospitality.com

The 2024 Long List for Top 3 categories

TOP 15 x BEST BAR (alphabetical order)
Bramble
Chancho
Cocktail Geeks
Dragonfly
Hey Palu
Hoot the Redeemer
Lucky Liquor
Old Pal
Panda & Sons
Paradise Palms
Port of Leith Distillery
Raging Bull
Smith & Gertrude Stockbridge
Star Bar
The Spence @ Gleneagles Townhouse

TOP 15 x BEST PUB (alphabetical order)
Bowlers Rest
Diggers (The Athletic Arms)
Kays Bar
Malones - Haymarket
Meadows Tap
Nauticus
Polwarth Tavern
Teuchters Landing - Leith
The Barony
The Black Cat
The Blue Blazer
The Bow Bar
The Desert Island @ The Lost Close
The Guildford Arms
The Mother Superior

TOP 15 x BEST BAR TEAM (alphabetical order)
Bramble
Diggers (The Athletic Arms)
Cocktail Geeks
Commons Club - Virgin Hotel
Dragonfly
Hey Palu
Hoot the Redeemer
Nauticus
Panda & Sons
Raging Bull
Ruma
Scotch @ The Balmoral
Spry
Star Bar
Three Sisters

For more information, stay updated:

The Edinburgh Bar Awards take place at The Edinburgh Bartender’s Ball at The Caves on Monday, 16th September 2024. Tickets include complimentary food and drink, entertainment and cost £30. Buy tickets from https://backshospitality.com

Instagram.com/theedinburghbartendersball

Image: Cocktail Geeks

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