Matt Arnold is GB Bartender of the Year 2026
Birmingham’s Matt Arnold, co-founder of the city’s Passing Fancies bar, will represent Great Britain at the Diageo World Class Global Finals in October.
The GB finals took place at the Ned hotel on 3 June, with Arnold competing against Stonegate Group’s Chelsie Bailey and Murder Inc’s Oscar Perry.
The three finalists had been whittled down from the 10 competitors announced in May.
Arnold’s win marks the first time a bartender has been named GB Bartender of the Year twice, following his previous victory in 2023.
He said: “I’m absolutely over the moon and can’t wait to represent Great Britain at the World Class finals in a few months.
“I’ve been in this competition, and in the top 10, in previous years, but this time I really felt calm and that I could take the top spot.
“I think my style is more refined, more thoughtful and hopefully more confident in its own identity. I’m not trying to imitate what a ‘World Class bartender’ should look like anymore. I’m just trying to represent myself, my city and the style of hospitality I truly believe in.”
Arnold will now proceed to the World Class global finals, which will be held in Scotland on 20 October.
He will be competing against Karan Dhanelia from India, Sharfin Auni from the United Arab Emirates, and Alexis Ortega from the US.
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