Best bars and pubs in Glasgow named as finalists for Glasgow Bar Awards revealed

Glasgow's top bars and pubs have been named as the Glasgow Bar Awards 2024 reveal this year’s prestigious finalists with awards including Best Bar, Best Pub and Best Drink all up for grabs.

Article Source: Glasgow Bar Awards
Last Updated: 6 February 2024 12:36

Renowned as ‘Glasgow’s BAFTAs for Bartending’, the winners will be revealed at the annual Bartender’s Ball at Saint Luke’s on Monday 12th February.

The 150 strong long list has been whittled down to the best six in each category. The finalists span the city, with iconic venues like The Laurieston and The Ben Nevis alongside newcomers Charlie Brown’s and El Santo. Now in its third year, the Glasgow Bar Awards celebrate the city’s diverse hospitality scene, from neighbourhood watering holes to sky-high cocktail bars and those working behind the scenes.

In the competitive Best Bar category, Merchant City’s innovative Absent Ear made the cut alongside one of the East End’s favourite spots, The Gate, with hotel bars including Jacks at Dakota Hotel and Radisson Red’s Sky Bar also claiming top billing. Opening in summer 2023, Charlie Brown’s represents the Southside, with Glasgow favourite The Rum Shack rounding out the top six.

Glasgow’s Best Pubs have officially been named with venues from all corners of the city set to be celebrated including The Bon Accord and Ben Nevis, legendary spot The Laurieston, plus neighbourhood favourite Redmond’s of Dennistoun. Whisky pub The Pot Still and one of Glasgow’s top Irish pubs, Malones complete this year’s finalists.

Not forgetting the hospitality heroes behind the bar, the Glasgow Bar Awards Best Bar Team finalists includes top teams from Tabac, Oran Mor, The Winged Ox, Jacks Bar at Dakota Hotel, La Jupe and Charlie Brown’s.

The awards even recognise Glasgow’s best drink - a fiercely competitive category with so much on offer across the city’s bustling nightlife.

Cocktail fans and the public shaped this year’s long list, nominating serves and venues, with 2024’s finalists chosen by industry nominations. This year’s official best drinks in Glasgow include one of Scotland’s favourite serves - a simple pint of Tennent’s Lager at The Gate, alongside creative concoctions like Daddy Marmalade's Sticky Toffee Pudding and Kelvingrove Café’s elegant Appletini. Plus, fun serves like Tabac’s Holiday in Cambodia, Balche Anna from La Jupe and a Steeplejack from Jacks Bar.

Culminating in a huge bash on Monday 12th February at Saint Luke’s, the awards will toast to the crème de la crème in Glasgow's dynamic bar landscape, shining a spotlight on unsung heroes and the very best spots in the city for a tipple or two.

Alex Riches, Co-Founder of Backs! Hospitality and Operations Manager of Saint Luke’s said: “We’re so excited to bring back the third instalment of the Bartenders Ball, with this year set to be our busiest and biggest yet. It’s amazing to have Glasgow’s hospitality community back together so early in the year to celebrate everyone’s hard work and achievements over the festive period.”

“We can’t wait to share our plans for Backs! Hospitality for this year with some great events, networking and development opportunities in the pipeline. We’re looking forward to toasting to another brilliant year at Saint Luke’s on 12th February - see you then!”

The Bartenders Ball welcomes bartenders and industry professionals together to celebrate a busy festive season, with entertainment on the night, drinks from premium brands and delicious street food. Tickets from £25 include three drinks and food to kickstart the evening before the highly anticipated prizegiving begins. On sale now from Ticketweb.

New Orleans style marching band Al & The Bad Decisions will provide the live soundtrack on the night, alongside guest DJs and performances from drag artists including Annie Inferno, Dinah Dare and more.

Organised by Backs! Hospitality - a community interest company created by David Smillie and Alex Riches, anyone who works across the hospitality industry is invited to attend - from brand ambassadors to bartenders. Funds raised from ticket sales go towards nurturing the next wave of bartending talent and frontline hospitality staff through various initiatives like events, networking, mentoring, and training.

Glasgow Bar Awards - 2024 Finalists (in alphabetical order)
Best Bar – sponsored by Mangrove
Charlie Browns
Jacks @ Dakota Hotel
Red Sky Bar
The Absent Ear
The Gate
The Rum Shack

Best Pub – sponsored by Cutty Sark
Ben Nevis
Malones
Redmond’s of Dennistoun
The Bon Accord
The Laurieston
The Pot Still

Bar Team
Charlie Browns
Jacks bar @ Dakota Hotel
La Jupe
Oran Mor
Tabac
The Winged Ox

Unsung Hero – Sponsored by Remy Cointreau
Aimee Ashworth – La Jupe
Arianne Smith – The Absent Ear
Euan Barker - Tabac
Layla Brown – The Finnieston
Linda Callaghan - Moskito
Panos Dimou – El Santo

Best Shake – Sponsored by Angostura
Adam Dykes – Jacks Bar @ Dakota Hotel
Alexander “Big Al” Martin – Rascal
Ally Shaw – Currently Unsigned
Fraser Harris – The Absent Ear
Kim Burke – Daddy Marmalade
Liam Grogan – The Absent Ear

Best Drink
Appletini – Kelvingrove Café
Balche Annan - La Jupe
Holiday in Cambodia - Tabac
Pint of Tennents @ The Gate
Steeplejack - Jacks Bar @ Dakota Hotel
Sticky Toffee Pudding – Daddy Marmalades

Social Sell Out – Sponsored by Liquid Oats
Breagha Wolfgang
Jess Campbell
Johnny Morrison
Kieron Kelleher
Sarah Berardi
Stuart Baxter

Far Side of the Bar - Sponsored by Atomic 10
Caitlin O'connor - Edrington
Jack Barrot - Beavertown
Mark "The Fridge" Keane – Master Repairer
Sarah Berardi – Hendricks Gin
Stevie Aitken – Base Spirits
Victoria Beckett - Woodwinters

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