Top operators and venues from across the Scottish trade celebrated
THE brightest stars from across Scotland’s licensed trade were honoured at this year’s SLTN Awards.
Scotland’s top operators, staff and venues were celebrated at the glittering awards ceremony hosted by comedian Kevin Bridges in Glasgow last Thursday (November 6).
Mario Gizzi and Tony Conetta, the directors of Di Maggio’s Group, whose outlets include Anchor Line, Barolo Grill and Amarone, were presented with the SLTN Award for Industry Achievement, in association with Maxxium UK.
Accepting the award, Gizzi said: “Tony and myself are very much the tip of the pyramid. You see us standing here, but below us is a management team of staff and an infrastructure that’s been built up over 30 years. We wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for them.”
Gizzi and Conetta weren’t the only individuals recognised on a night which saw 23 awards presented to winners from across the country before an audience of 670.
James and Louise Rusk, who launched Hutchesons in Glasgow earlier this year, took the SLTN Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Graham Guthrie of The Golf Hotel Crail in Fife was named Licensee of the Year; Nicky Craig of Edinburgh’s Basement Bar was named SLTN Barperson of the Year; and Sian Ferguson of Heads & Tales in Edinburgh took the SLTN Mixologist of the Year Award.
Elsewhere, Ayrshire’s Buzzworks Holdings, whose outlets include Elliots and Scotts, was named Independent Multiple Operator of the Year; Dornoch Castle Hotel in Sutherland took the award for Whisky Bar of the Year; and MacGochans on the Isle of Mull was named Independent Pub of the Year.
SLTN editor Gillian McKenzie said the standard of entries to this year’s SLTN Awards was exceptional, “highlighting the diversity and vibrancy of the Scottish trade”.
“The licensed trade is a vital contributor to Scotland’s economy, not to mention a cornerstone of our tourism industry,” she said.
“In the past year our top operators have really shown their mettle – innovating, adapting and expanding their businesses. I’d like to congratulate all of our SLTN Award winners, who have proved beyond doubt that Scotland’s bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels can rival any in the UK and beyond.”
• Turn to page two for a full list of SLTN Award winners and finalists. Don’t miss the November 27 issue of SLTN for all the pictures from this year’s SLTN Awards.
