With less than a month to go to the first-ever Edinburgh Bartenders Ball, the capital city’s drink-slingers are now vying for recognition in the new peer-voted Edinburgh Bar Awards that will be presented on the night.
This week, the event’s organisers released lists of the top 15 contenders in the Best Bar, Best Pub and Best Bar Team categories – but stressed that bartender voting will remain open until August 28th to decide the final result.
Co-founder and organiser, David Smillie, said: “We’ve had thousands of votes cast for the first ever Edinburgh Bar Awards. There’s still time left to vote for your favourite before August 28th. The competition is fierce and we wait to see who comes out top!”
The current Top 15 in the best bar category, in alphabetical order, are: Bramble, Chancho, Cocktail Geeks, Dragonfly, Hey Palu, Hoot the Redeemer, Lucky Liquor, Old Pal, Panda & Sons, Paradise Palms, Port of Leith Distillery, Raging Bull, Smith & Gertrude, Stockbridge Star Bar, and The Spence @ Gleneagles Townhouse.
The shortlisted pubs are: Bowlers Rest, Diggers (The Athletic Arms), Kays Bar, Malones – Haymarket, Meadows Tap, Nauticus, Polwarth Tavern, Teuchters Landing – Leith, The Barony, The Black Cat, The Blue Blazer, The Bow Bar, The Desert Island @ The Lost Close, The Guildford Arms, and The Mother Superior.
Leading the best bar team competition are: Bramble, Diggers (The Athletic Arms), Cocktail Geeks, Commons Club – Virgin Hotel, Dragonfly, Hey Palu, Hoot the Redeemer, Nauticus, Panda & Sons, Raging Bull, Ruma, Scotch @ The Balmoral, Spry, Star Bar, and Three Sisters.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Bartenders Ball to be held on Monday, 16 September, at the Caves. The ticket-only event is aimed at anyone working in the trade, whether in pubs, bars, hotels or restaurants, or even with brands, offering everyone with a stake in drinks hospitality ‘a night to come together and unwind after a busy Fringe season’.
Organised by Backs! Hospitality – a community interest company created by David Smillie and Alex Riches – the Edinburgh Bartenders Ball follows the successful template established with the Glasgow Bartenders Ball, promising ‘high-energy entertainment, eclectic performers, and guaranteed fun’.
Previous balls in the West have featured a bucking bronco shaped like a wine bottle, a Sailor Jerry arm wrestling competition, DJ sets from Shaka Loves You, and live performances from a nine-piece New Orleans brass band, and Al and the Bad Decisions.
Tickets to the August 28th event cost £30 and include drinks from premium brands, street food, smoked barbecue classics, live music, entertainment, the Edinburgh Bar Awards, and ‘many high-octane surprises’.
Funds raised will go towards nurturing the next wave of bartending talent and frontline hospitality staff through various initiatives like events, networking, mentoring, and training.
Awards nominations can be made for any licensed premises within the EH postcode. Winners will be selected after a comprehensive judging process involving industry votes and a panel of judges. Vote online here
