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Raging Bull named Edinburgh’s Best Bar
The inaugural Edinburgh Bar Awards crowned the Scottish capital’s top talent in hospitality last night (16 September) at the Bartender’s Ball.
Marking its debut in Edinburgh following three years in Glasgow, more than 250 of the city’s bars, pubs, and industry leaders gathered for the peer-nominated awards, hosted at The Caves, which aimed to shine a spotlight on those who ‘go above and beyond in the capital’s vibrant hospitality scene’.
Spanning 10 categories, including Best Bar, Best Pub, Best Drink, and Rising Star, 150 venues were nominated for awards.
The event was supported by Halewood, Base Spirits Collective, X Muse Vodka, Born Irish Whiskey, Heverlee, Royal Mile Whiskies, Schweppes, Atomic10 and Cutty Sark Whisky.
The Best Bar prize was awarded to Raging Bull, which is known for its ‘energetic atmosphere’ and signature Espresso Martinis. Meanwhile, neighbourhood favourite Star Bar was named a Highly Commended Finalist for its warm hospitality and inventive drinks.
Famed for its geek culture-inspired drinks, the team at Cocktail Geeks were awarded the Best Bar Team accolade, with Bramble taking the Highly Commended title.
While Hawksmoor’s ‘exceptional bar experience’ saw it honoured as a Highly Commended Finalist, it was Old Pal’s reputation for expertly curated drinks list and an inviting atmosphere that earned it the title of Best Restaurant Bar.
The Best Drink was the Cranachan Manhattan – a Scottish twist on the classic serve made with Angel’s Envy Bourbon – created by the team at the Commons Club bar in Virgin Hotels Edinburgh.
Jane Ross of Mother Superior was named as the Unsung Hero, while Alessia Impedovo of Cocktail Geeks was named as the Rising Star of the evening, due to her passion for mixology and innovative drink creations.
Carrie Smith of Hoot the Redeemer won the Social Star award, having ‘captured the hearts of her followers’ with her engaging social media presence, showcasing the creativity and fun that the bar is famous for.
David Smillie, co-founder and organiser of the Edinburgh Bar Awards and Edinburgh Bartenders Ball, said: “Bringing the Bartenders Ball to Edinburgh for the first time has been epic. Tonight’s winners reflect the incredible talent we have working in Edinburgh’s hospitality industry, and it’s been fantastic to celebrate their hard work and passion with such a supportive community. Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended finalists — this is just the beginning of what will become a yearly celebration of Edinburgh’s best.”
The awards were organised by Backs! Hospitality – a community organisation established in Glasgow with a mission to elevate and sustain the standards of hospitality across Scotland and beyond.
Earlier this year, Edinburgh hosted Scotland’s first international bar show.
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