A Celebration of the British Bar Industry with the CLASS Bar Awards 2026
Credits: Class Bar
There are moments when you realise that a city has quietly changed you. For me, one of those moments happened inside the CLASS Bar Awards in 2020, only months after moving to London. At the time, I was still discovering the city through museums, restaurants and long walks between neighbourhoods. Yet it was inside that room, surrounded by bartenders, bar owners and drinks writers, that I began to understand the cultural significance of London’s cocktail scene. It was not simply about drinks. It was about people, philosophy, creativity and community.
Perhaps what fascinated me most was the scale of it all. Coming from Brazil, I had never experienced anything quite like it. An entire ecosystem celebrating hospitality with seriousness, artistry and emotional depth. I remember hearing names that would later become central references in my own journey through the industry. Hamish Smith. Monica Berg. Iain McPherson. Ago Perrone. Anna Sebastian. I discovered bars that would go on to shape London’s contemporary cocktail identity, from American Bar at The Savoy to Tayēr + Elementary, Artesian, Kwānt and Swift.
Looking back now, I realise that the 2020 edition was not simply my introduction to the CLASS Bar Awards. It was the beginning of my relationship with the bar industry itself.
Six years later, returning to the Battersea Arts Centre for the 2026 ceremony felt both familiar and profoundly different. This was my fourth time attending the awards, and the third consecutively. Yet the atmosphere carried a new energy. The UK bartender community has grown immensely since 2020, not only in size, but in confidence, diversity and ambition.
Held on 6 May, the 2026 edition gathered more than 600 industry professionals, reaffirming why the CLASS Bar Awards remain one of the most respected and enduring celebrations of British bar culture since their launch in 2003. The venue itself contributed to the atmosphere. Battersea Arts Centre possesses the kind of faded grandeur that London does exceptionally well. Historic without feeling rigid, and elegant without intimidation. It created the perfect backdrop for an industry that increasingly balances refinement with tradition, innovation and accessibility.
What struck me throughout the evening was how much the definition of excellence has evolved. Awards are no longer focused solely on technical precision or luxury aesthetics. Conversations around sustainability, inclusivity, wellbeing and community impact now sit at the centre of the industry’s identity. This shift was reflected clearly in the 2026 winners.
Source: own archive
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet the team behind Kiki Lounge during their collaboration with Bar Kinky in London as part of the Six Handshakes takeover series. Their win for the Sustainability and Community Impact Award felt especially meaningful after experiencing their approach firsthand. Warm, community-driven and deeply personal, they embody a more human and conscious direction for hospitality.
One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the decentralisation of excellence. London remains a dominant force, of course, but the UK’s regional bar scenes have developed remarkable confidence and individuality. Manchester’s Schofield’s, Edinburgh’s Panda & Sons, Belfast’s Rattlebag and Cardiff’s Lab 22 each represent distinct interpretations of hospitality shaped by local culture and identity.
And yet, despite this geographic diversity, there remains a shared language connecting the industry. Hospitality, at its core, is still about care. About creating moments that linger long after the final drink.
Credits: Class Bar
This year’s biggest recognition went to Satan’s Whiskers, which took home both Best Bar in London & the South East and the coveted Bar of the Year title. As someone who considers Satan’s Whiskers one of my favourite bars in East London, I cannot say I was surprised. In an industry often driven by trends and constant reinvention, their success feels almost reassuring. The Bethnal Green institution has long resisted unnecessary theatrics, focusing instead on consistency, warmth and exceptionally executed cocktails. It is a reminder that true longevity in hospitality is rarely built on novelty alone.
One of the evening’s most celebrated venues was Waltz, which received New Bar of the Year, while its bartender Gento Torigata won Bartender of the Year. Although I have not yet visited the Shoreditch bar itself, I had the opportunity to meet Gento during a takeover at Hide Below in Mayfair, where he collaborated with Renais Gin on a special evening pairing inventive cocktails with Michelin-starred canapés. Even in that brief encounter, his precision and calm confidence stood out. The recognition felt entirely deserved.
Source: own archive
Meanwhile, Iain McPherson’s recognition as Bar Innovator of the Year reinforced his continued influence on the global cocktail conversation. For years, Panda & Sons has challenged assumptions around flavour, temperature and technique, proving that innovation and playfulness can coexist with serious craft.
Yet beyond the awards themselves, what continues to define the CLASS Bar Awards is the sense of community they create. There is something deeply moving about watching an industry celebrate itself with such sincerity. Behind every nomination lies years of labour invisible to most guests. Long nights. Physical exhaustion. Creative uncertainty. Emotional resilience. Hospitality is beautiful, but it is also demanding. Perhaps that is why the atmosphere at CLASS feels so genuine. People in this industry understand what it costs to create experiences that appear effortless.
Throughout the evening, conversations flowed between old friends and new encounters. Bartenders exchanged ideas across cities and generations. Established names stood beside emerging talent. The hierarchy often associated with luxury spaces seemed momentarily suspended, replaced by a collective recognition that everyone present contributes to the culture in some way. This, ultimately, is what keeps drawing me back. Not simply the awards, but the people. It feels good to be part of this community.
Source: own archive
The CLASS Bar Awards are, of course, about recognising excellence. But they are also about documenting the evolution of an industry that continues to redefine itself. An industry increasingly shaped by collaboration, emotional intelligence and cultural exchange.
CLASS Bar Awards 2026 Winners
Bar Business of the Year: GSG Hospitality, Liverpool
Sustainability and Community Impact Award: Kiki Lounge, Douglas, Isle of Man.
Drinks Menu of the Year: Couch, Birmingham
Cocktail of the Year: Unfiltered Martini, Lyaness, London
Bar Food Menu of the Year: Side Hustle, Nomad, London
Hotel Bar of the Year: Lyaness, Sea Containers, London
New Bar of the Year: Waltz, London
Best Bar in Wales: Lab 22, Cardiff
Best Bar in the West: Hideout, Bath
Best Bar in the Midlands: Couch, Birmingham
Best Bar in Scotland: Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
Best Bar in Northern Ireland: Rattlebag, Belfast
Best Bar in London & the South East: Satan’s Whiskers, London
Best Bar in the North: Schofield’s, Manchester
Bar of the Year: Satan’s Whiskers, London
Individual Awards
* Front of House Star of the Year: Lucy Thomas, Lyaness, London
* Emerging Bartender of the Year: Mathilde Rouge, Side Hustle, London
* Bartender of the Year: Gento Torigata, Waltz, London
* Bar Innovator of the Year: Iain McPherson, Panda & Sons, Edinburgh
* Bar Manager of the Year: Sotiris Konomi, The Spy Bar at Raffles London at The OWO
* Outstanding Contribution Award: Claire Warner, London
As I left Battersea Arts Centre that evening, I found myself reflecting on that first ceremony I attended back in 2020. At the time, I could not have imagined how deeply this world would become intertwined with my own story. Yet perhaps hospitality works precisely like that. Quietly. Gradually. Until one day, you realise it has become part of who you are.
