Cocktail awards season starts a little earlier across the pond. On Tuesday (2.18.20), CLASS magazine crowned England’s drinks royalty at their annual awards ceremony. This year’s results notably featured an all female sweep of the major individual categories.
Pippa Guy (formerly American Bar at the Savoy, currently Crown Shy NYC) took home Bartender of the Year. Anna Sebastian (Artesian at the Langham) bagged Bar Manager of the Year.
Also notable, London’s Swift (Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston) won Bar of the Year went to Swift in London, owned by Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston. Monica Berg and Alex Kratena (Tayēr + Elementary) finished atop the new Bar Innovator(s) of the Year category.
Erik Lorincz’ high profile solo project, Kwānt notched the honor for Best New Bar of the Year.
The process of determine the winners depends on the specific awards. Eleven categories (all the Bar Awards, Bartender of the Year, Innovator(s) of the Year, Lifetime Achievement and Cocktail of the Year) were determined by a vote of the Class Collective. According to press materials, the Collective is comprised of “70 of the UK’s top bar industry experts drawn from 20 UK towns and cities.”
The remaining categories or Special Recognition Awards were picked by a second, smaller committee. Hannah Lanfear (spirits educator); Hannah Sharman-Cox (London Cocktail Week); Mal Evans (Mojo Group); Blythe Robertson (CLASS reviewer Scotland); Daniel Schofield (consultant), Hamish Smith (editor of CLASS) made up this group.
Check out the full list of winners below.
Bar of the Year sponsored
Swift, London
Bartender of the Year
Pippa Guy, ex-American Bar, London, now Crown Shy NYC
Bar Innovator(s) of the Year
Monica Berg & Alex Kratena, Tayēr + Elementary, London
New Bar of the Year
Kwānt, London
Hotel Bar of the Year
American Bar, The Savoy, London
Restaurant Bar of the Year
Hawksmoor Spitalfields, London
Specialist Bar of the Year
Black Rock, London
Bar Food Menu
Tayēr + Elementary, London
Drinks Menu of the Year
Artesian, London
Cocktail of the Year
Mirror Margarita, Hacha, London
Lifetime Achievement
Tomas Estes, Agave Ambassador, Portland, US
Emerging Bartender of the Year
Sam Boevey, London Cocktail Club, London
Bar Manager of the Year
Anna Sebastian, Artesian, London
Back Bar Star of the Year sponsored
Geovanni Marenco Rodríguez, Sexy Fish, London
Front of House Star of the Year
Georgi Radev, Laki Kane, London
Social Media Presence of the Year
Cahoots, London
Sustainable Practices Award
Terroir Tapas, Bournemouth
