London sweeps the board at the Class bar awards

Elsewhere, the American Bar at the Savoy – supposedly the world’s best bar – managed to save some face when it was named the hotel bar of the year.

Tony Conigliaro, the man behind 69 Colebrook Row, Untitled and Bar Termini, was honoured with the lifetime achievement award.

Other London winners included Matt Whiley’s experimental Scout, deservedly earning the title for best bar food menu, while the charming Martin Siska had both his charm and work ethic recognised and claimed bar manager of the year.

The three winners outside the M25 were Thomas Matthews from the Edgbaston in Birmingham, who was crowned emerging bartender of the year; their Brummie neighbour Smultronstalle who picked up the sustainable practices award, and Edinburgh’s Bon Vivant, named restaurant bar of the year.

The Class bar awards, named for the bartending magazine who present them, have proved popular with those on the drinks scene since launching last year. Though purportedly representing bars across the UK, the shortlist itself was heavily skewed toward the capital with 37 out of the 44 shortlisted nominees coming from London, which may explain the dramatic results. They are backed by Drinks International, who also founded the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

classbarmag.co.uk