Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, founders of legendary Edinburgh cocktail bar Bramble, took the top award at this year’s SLTN Awards in Glasgow.
The pair founded Bramble on Edinburgh’s Queen Street in 2006 as one of the first in a new wave of Scottish cocktail bars. The venue went on to set the standard in Scottish cocktails, popular with trade and the general public alike.
Aikman and Scott followed up their debut with two more bars in the capital: The Last Word in Stockbridge and Lucky Liquor, just down the street from Bramble. Each venue was distinct, with its own atmosphere and offer, but each shared the same dedication to top quality drinks and service.
The entrepreneurial pair are also responsible for Mothership Drinks, which produces and sells a range of quality liqueurs, spirits and cocktails to other hospitality venues as well as the general public.
The SLTN Awards 2024 saw coveted corkscrew trophies presented to pubs, bars, restaurants, staff and operators from across Scotland.
More than 20 trophies were presented at the event, which was this year hosted by TV superstar James Corden.
Winners hailed from across Scotland, from Inverclyde to Inverness, Ullapool to Auchtermuchty – and Mike Aikman and Jason Scott weren’t the only individuals honoured on the night.
Dean Banks, the chef operator behind Dean Banks at the Pompadour in Edinburgh, The Forager in Dollar and DUNE in St Andrews, was named Entrepreneur of the Year, while Tina MacDonald of Inverness institution Johnny Foxes & The Den won the hotly-contested Licensee of the Year category.
Mari Chierchia of Daddy Marmalades in Glasgow took the title of Mixologist of the Year, with Louise Parvin of Merlins in Motherwell named Hospitality Hero. Glasgow’s Morgan Pyle was awarded the title of Bartender of the Year.
Other winners included Tipsy Midgie in Edinburgh, which was named Whisky Bar of the Year, Redmond’s of Dennistoun in Glasgow, which was crowned Craft Beer Bar of the Year, and The Dipping Lugger in Ullapool, which scooped the Restaurant of the Year (Fine Dining) trophy.
Two venues retained their titles from last year: The Station Bar in Alness, which was named Community Pub of the Year for the second year running; and The Absent Ear in Glasgow, which was again named SLTN’s Cocktail Bar of the Year.
SLTN print editor, Dave Hunter, said: “Even as operators across Scotland struggle with all manner of challenges, there’s never been a better time to visit the country’s outstanding pubs, bars and restaurants.
“The standard of hospitality here is second to none, and it’s a privilege for the team at SLTN to help showcase some of the very best our country has to offer.”
SLTN digital editor, Gordon Davidson, added: “Every year the SLTN Awards gives us the opportunity to celebrate the quality and commitment of Scotland’s licensed trade, and as we travelled the highways and byways again this summer, visiting venues across the country, it was clear that they’ve never been more determined to provide the highest standards.
“We’d like to congratulate all our winners and highly commended finalists. They didn’t make it easy on us this year and sometimes the difference between the winners and runners-up came down to the slimmest of margins. Everyone that was shortlisted should be proud to call themselves the best that Scottish hospitality has to offer.”
SLTN Awards 2024
Winners and highly commended finalists
Whisky Bar of the Year, in association with Glenmorangie
Winner: Tipsy Midgie, Edinburgh
Highly Commended: The George Hotel, Inveraray
Highly Commended: The Pot Still, Glasgow
Cocktail Bar of the Year, in association with Campari
Winner: The Absent Ear, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Daddy Marmalades, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Community Pub of The Year, in association with Tennent’s Direct
Winner: The Station Bar, Alness
Highly Commended: Merlins, Motherwell
Highly Commended: Platform 3, Linlithgow
Beer Quality Award, in association with Tennent’s Lager
Winner: The Stag, Forfar
Highly Commended: The Craftsman Company, Aberdeen
Highly Commended: Winstons, Corstorphine
Best Venue to Watch the Match, in association with Sky Business
Winner: Fullbacks, Milngavie
Highly Commended: Malones, Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Vic’s, Prestwick
Best Outdoor Area, in association with Magners
Winner: Teuchters Landing, Leith
Highly Commended: The Albyn, Aberdeen
Highly Commended West Side Tavern, Glasgow
Spirits Bar of the Year, in association with Schweppes
Winner: The Criterion, St Andrews
Highly Commended: The Ivy Lodge, Aberdeen
Highly Commended: The Old Workshop, Aberdeen
Hospitality Hero, in association with PayFacto
Winner: Louise Parvin, Merlins, Motherwell
Bartender of the Year, in association with Barr Soft Drinks
Winner: Morgan Pyle, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Erin Kelly, The Caledonian Bar, Port Glasgow
Highly Commended: Oliver Cush, Lunar, Glasgow
Licensee of the Year, in association with Kopparberg
Winner: Tina MacDonald, Johnny Foxes & The Den, Inverness
Highly Commended: Julia Fletcher Smith, The Pot Still, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Murray Ainslie, The Black Grape, Edinburgh
Mixologist of the Year, in association with Absolut and Barnomadics
Winner: Mari Chierchia, Daddy Marmalades, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Arianne Smith, The Absent Ear, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Kim Toft, Daddy Marmalades, Glasgow
Restaurant of the Year (Casual Dining), in association with Matthew Clark
Winner: The Dome, Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Tarragon by Graham Mitchell, Aberdeen
Restaurant of the Year (Fine Dining), in association with Matthew Clark
Winner: The Dipping Lugger, Ullapool
Highly Commended: Jack ‘O’ Bryan’s, Dunfermline
The Wine Award, in association with Accolade Wines
Winner: La Jupe, Helensburgh
Highly Commended: The Black Grape, Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow
Gastropub of the Year, in association with Deanston
Winner: The Boar’s Head, Auchtermuchty
Highly Commended: Inverkip Hotel, Inverclyde
Highly Commended: Stravaigin, Glasgow
Craft Beer Bar of the Year, in association with Camden Town Brewery
Winner: Redmond’s of Dennistoun, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Cold Town House, Edinburgh
Highly Commended: Teuchters Landing, Leith
New Business of the Year, in association with The London Essence Co
Winner: DUNE, St Andrews
Highly Commended: Malones, Leith
Highly Commended: Pania, Glasgow
Music-Led Venue of the Year, in association with BrewDog
Winner: MacGregor’s, Inverness
Highly Commended: BLOC+, Glasgow
Highly Commended: The Garage, Glasgow
Independent Pub or Bar of the Year, in association with Madrí Excepcional
Winner: BLOC+, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Bag O’ Nails, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Johnny Foxes & The Den, Inverness
Late Night Venue of the Year, in association with Tia Maria Coffee Liqueur
Winner: The Howlin’ Wolf, Glasgow
Highly Commended: Johnny Foxes & The Den, Inverness
Highly Commended: RED Sky Bar, Glasgow
Independent Multiple Operator of the Year (4-7 Outlets), in association with Diageo
Winner: Carrigan’s
Independent Multiple Operator of the Year (8+ Outlets), in association with Diageo
Winner: Malones Group
Entrepreneur of the Year, in association with Chivas Regal
Winner: Dean Banks, Dean Banks Group
SLTN Award for Industry Achievement, in association with Edrington UK
Winner: Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, Bramble Bars
See more winners’ photos here.
Party pics to follow…
