Gordon McIntyre MBE, the founder of industry charity Hospitality Health and former associate dean for hospitality and tourism at City of Glasgow College took the top award at this year’s SLTN Awards in Glasgow.
McIntyre worked at various hospitality businesses before embarking on a 35-year career as a college lecturer, nurturing the hospitality stars of the future.
In 2018, with a growing awareness of the mental health struggles faced by many in the hospitality sector, he founded industry charity Hospitality Health.
The organisation provides free training to hospitality workers to help them become mental health ‘first aiders’, giving them the skills to be able to identify signs that their co-workers might be struggling with issues such as depression or addiction.
At the same time, companies are encouraged to sign up to the charity’s ‘wellness charter’, which sets out a number of steps companies can take to improve the health and wellbeing of their staff.
The 2025 SLTN Awards saw coveted corkscrew trophies handed out to pubs, bars, restaurants and staff from across Scotland.
More than 20 trophies were handed out at the event, which was this year hosted by actor, director and presenter Alan Cumming.
Gordon McIntyre wasn’t the only individual honoured on the night.
Jonathan MacDonald of Scoop Restaurants Group – the company behind Ox & Finch, Ka Pao, Margo and Sebb’s – was named Entrepreneur of the Year, while Olivia Wong of Glasgow’s Stravaigin won the title of Licensee of the Year; Sally Law of The Pot Still was named Bartender of the Year and Arianne Smith of cocktail bar The Absent Ear took home the Mixologist of the Year trophy.
In Edinburgh, winners included Timberyard, which won The Wine Award, and late-night bar Coco, which scooped the Late-Night Venue of the Year award.
Elsewhere, Aberdeen’s Ivy Lodge was named Spirits Bar of the Year; The Original Rosslyn Inn in Roslin took the title of Community Pub of the Year; and The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha was named Independent Pub/Bar of the Year.
On the food side, winners included Killiecrankie House in Pitlochry, which took the prestigious Restaurant of the Year (Fine Dining) award, while Jack ‘O’ Bryan’s in Dunfermline won Restaurant of the Year (Casual Dining).
Two venues retained their titles for the second year running: Edinburgh’s Tipsy Midgie, which was named Whisky Bar of the Year; and The Boar’s Head in Auchtermuchty, which retained the title of Gastropub of the Year.
SLTN print editor, Dave Hunter, said: “This was the 29th SLTN Awards, and somehow the standard of hospitality in Scotland just keeps getting better.
“Everyone we visited this year was outstanding, and those that were shortlisted as finalists represent the very best the industry has to offer. The SLTN team are proud to once again raise a glass to Scotland’s top operators and staff.”
SLTN digital editor, Gordon Davidson, added: “There is superb hospitality to be found in every corner of Scotland, and this year’s winners list proves it.
“From Inverness to Auchtermuchty, Ayrshire to Pitlochry, the standard of entries this year was exceptional, and making it to the shortlist in any category was a huge achievement. Congratulations to all our winners and highly commended finalists!”
