Best pubs in Scotland crowned at Scottish Bar and Pub Awards

Aberdeen's Malones were the big winners, taking home the Pub of the Year award.

Elsewhere, Edinburgh won big, with establishments in the city taking home Cocktail Bar of the Year (Hey Palu), Scottish Bar of the Year (Brewhemia), and Best Late-Night Venue (Stramash).

Glasgow's The East End Fox, in Baillieston, took home the New Bar of the Year award.

Gillian Kirkland of The Piper Whisky Bar in Glasgow was crowned Inspirational Woman of the Year, Rory McGinley of Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery was named HOSPO Manager of the Year and Sportsterz Pete Harvey received the Bar Personality of the Year award.

The awards held their 28th event with over 100 finalists attending the ceremony in Glasgow, making it Scotland’s longest-established hospitality awards. Previously, they were known as the DRAM awards.

READ MORE: Labour peer panned for Scottish Government 'elected dictatorship' jibe

Organiser Susan Young said: “The Scottish licensed trade is full of successful entrepreneurs and as a result we have some of the best pubs and venues in the UK.

“These awards recognise and celebrate the efforts of the owners and their employees that give Scotland a hospitality industry that is worth shouting about. I take my hat off to all of them.”

Edinburgh pub entrepreneur Billy Lowe (below with family) got an extra present when he scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award on his actual birthday.

The award recognised his 35 years at the top of the licensed trade.

Young said: “Billy Lowe is arguably Scotland’s most successful licensed trade entrepreneur. Having created three very successful pub companies and operated more than 30 pubs over the decades, he still remains at the helm of Caledonia Inns, which includes the award-winning Black Ivy.”

The full list of winners is below:

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Billy Lowe
• Caledonia Inns Heart of Hospitality Award - Michael Bergson
• Bucks Bar ARO Procurement Customer Service Award - Prime Steak & Seafood
• Inverness Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year Tipsie - Midgie, Edinburgh
• Buzzworks & Montpeliers Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year - Brandon Van Rensburg, Tempura, Ayr
• Campari Mixologist of the Year - Adrian Gomes, The Tippling House, Aberdeen
• Deanston Whisky Guru of the Year - Colin Hinds, Tipsy Midgie, Edinburgh
• Hospitality Employer of the Year - Buzzworks, Ayrshire
• Drinks Express Best Outdoor Area - Black Ivy, Edinburgh
• THE DRUM Digital Innovator of the Year Siberia Bar & Hotel, Aberdeen
• ‘Giving More’ Award in partnership with Edrington UK - Graham Chalmers, Radisson RED, Glasgow
• Flor de Cana Rum Sustainability Award - Lisini Pub Company, Uddingston
• Golden Jubilee Award for Hospitality Excellence - The Original Rosslyn Inn, Roslin
• HI-SPIRITS Best Live Music Venue - St Lukes & The Winged Ox, Glasgow
• HOSPO Manager of the Year - Rory McGinley, Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Glasgow
• Hotel Scotland Family Business of the Year - The Oak Tree Inn, Balmaha
• Inspirational Woman of the Year - Gillian Kirkland, The Piper Whisky Bar, Glasgow
• Inverarity Morton Scotland’s Best Drinks Offering - The Fox and Willow, Ayr Kopparberg
• New Bar of the Year - The East End Fox, Baillieston
• Makers Mark Cocktail Bar of the Year - Hey Palu, Edinburgh
• Mediaworld Casual Dining Award - Our Place, Annan
• Molinari Hotel Bar of the Year - Great Scots’ Bar, Cameron House
• Molson Coors Scottish Bar of the Year - Brewhemia, Edinburgh
• Pernod Ricard Best Late-Night Venue - Stramash, Edinburgh
• Premier Card Services Independent Operator of the Year - WORQ Group, Glasgow
• Bar Personality of the Year - Pete Harvey, Sportsterz
• Sheep Dog Whisky Dog Friendly Pub of the Year - The Forth Inn, Aberfoyle
• Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution to the Industry Award - Caroline Loudon, TLT LLP
• DRAM Licensee of the Year 2023 - Brian Flynn, Behind the Wall, Falkirk
• William Grant & Sons Bar Apprentices - Bryony Baxter, Meraki Bar & Restaurant, Bridge of Don
• Pub of the Year - Malones, Aberdeen