The Scottish Bar & Pub Awards

Scotland's Best Bars and Pubs Celebrated in Style

Over 600 people walked into the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow on the evening of 1 September 2026, and every single one of them knew they were part of something special. The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards, now in its 31st year and Scotland's longest established trade awards, delivered a night that the country's hospitality industry will be talking about for a long time to come. The theme was Glam Rock, and if the energy in that room was anything to go by, the Scottish licensed trade is very much alive, very much thriving, and absolutely not done making noise.

This was not just an awards ceremony. It was a statement. A declaration that despite rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and the relentless pressure that every hospitality business in Scotland faces day in and day out, the people running these venues are extraordinary. They show up. They innovate. They build communities. And on this particular Tuesday night in Glasgow, they got the recognition they deserved.

Glasgow Takes Centre Stage

Glasgow had a brilliant night. The Lismore in Partick, one of the city's most beloved local institutions, took home the Sunday Mail Pub of the Year award, a title that carries real weight and real meaning. This is a pub that knows its community, serves it well, and has built the kind of loyalty that no marketing budget can manufacture. It earns it, pint by pint, conversation by conversation.

Margo picked up the Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year title, a recognition that speaks to the quality of food and experience that Glasgow's dining scene is now consistently delivering. The city's restaurant landscape has transformed dramatically over the past few years, and Margo is very much part of that story. Meanwhile, The Tap Yard won Sports Bar of the Year, and Slouch was named Best Late Night Venue, rounding off a strong showing for the city across multiple categories.

There were also individual honours worth celebrating. Sally Law, Assistant Manager at The Pot Still, received the Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award, a nod to the talent that is coming through in Glasgow's bar scene. And Michael Bergson of Bucks Bar received the Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution to the Industry Award, recognising a career built on genuine commitment to the trade. Kostas Simos of Atlantic Bar and Brasserie in Glasgow also took home the Hero Brands Hospitality Hero Award, a fitting tribute to someone who has given so much to the industry.

Edinburgh and the Wider Scottish Picture

Edinburgh had plenty to celebrate too. Bittersweet Leith claimed the Hendrick's Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year title, a well deserved win for a venue that has built a strong reputation in the capital's increasingly competitive bar scene. Black Ivy was named Dog Friendly Pub of the Year, and the Boston Bar New Town took home the Jameson Best Irish Bar award. Michael Maclean of The Dome was recognised as Schweppes Mixologist of the Year, adding another layer of individual excellence to Edinburgh's strong showing on the night.

Beyond the two main cities, the awards painted a vivid picture of a hospitality industry that is genuinely thriving across the whole of Scotland. The Pawn Lounge in Alexandria was crowned DRAM Community Pub of the Year, a category that gets to the heart of what great local hospitality actually means. Ruby's in East Kilbride won New Bar of the Year, with owner Struan Barclay also picking up the Rising Star Entrepreneur award. The Birds and Bees in Stirling took the Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area award. Tempura in Ayr was recognised as The Drum Social Media Champion. And MacGregor's at The Whisky Vaults in Oban claimed the Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year title.

In Uddingston, Lisini Pub Company had a particularly memorable evening. Director Siobhan Edwards received the Hotel Scotland Inspirational Woman of the Year award, the company itself won Hospitality Health Employer of the Year, and Danny Stewart of Angels Hotel was named HOSPO Manager of the Year. That is the kind of clean sweep that reflects an organisation with a genuine culture of excellence running through everything it does.

The Lifetime Achievement That Said It All

The evening's most prestigious individual honour, the Lifetime Achievement Award, went to Don Lawson of Johnny Foxes in Inverness. It was a moment that brought the room together. Johnny Foxes is the kind of venue that defines what a great Scottish bar can be, and Don Lawson's contribution to the industry over the years is the sort of legacy that inspires the next generation of operators to keep pushing. His team also won the Hero Media and Entertainment Best Bar Team Award on the same night, which felt entirely right.

Susan Young, publisher of DRAM Scotland and the driving force behind these awards, summed it up well. She said the standard was so high that judging was incredibly difficult, and that every finalist should be immensely proud. That is not the kind of thing people say just to be polite. When you look at the breadth and quality of the venues and individuals recognised across the country, it is simply true. Scotland's hospitality sector is producing world class talent and world class experiences, and these awards exist to make sure that does not go unnoticed.

What This Means for Scottish Hospitality Right Now

It would be easy to look at a night like this and simply enjoy the celebration. But there is a bigger story here. The Scottish Bar and Pub Awards, in its 31st year, is a mirror held up to an industry that has faced enormous challenges and kept going anyway. Business rates have risen sharply. Labour costs have increased. Consumer spending has been squeezed. And yet, across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, the Highlands and beyond, operators are opening new venues, investing in their teams, building communities, and winning awards for doing it brilliantly.

The Glam Rock theme was not just a fun choice for a party. It was a metaphor. Glam Rock was loud, bold, unapologetic, and it refused to be ignored. That is exactly what Scotland's hospitality industry is right now. It is making noise. It is demanding attention. And it is absolutely delivering on the promise.

For anyone running a bar, pub, restaurant or hotel in Scotland, this is the moment to take stock of what is working, double down on it, and make sure the people around you know they are valued. The venues that won on 1 September did not get there by accident. They got there through consistency, care, and a relentless focus on the guest experience. That is the lesson worth taking away from a night like this.

The next generation of award winners is already out there, working their shifts, perfecting their menus, training their teams, and building the kind of reputation that eventually fills a room at the DoubleTree by Hilton on a Tuesday night in September. The question is not whether Scotland's hospitality industry has what it takes. The question is what you are doing to be part of the story.

Keeping the Standards High Behind the Scenes

Behind every award winning venue is an operation that runs smoothly, and that means getting the details right. Fresh, well presented linen. Spotless towels. Uniforms that look the part. These things matter more than people often realise, because guests notice them even when they do not consciously register them. The feel of a crisp tablecloth, the weight of a clean white towel, the presentation of a bed made with properly laundered linen. These are the quiet signals that tell a guest they are somewhere that cares. For hospitality businesses across Scotland looking for reliable commercial laundry support, Harveys Laundry has been a trusted partner for years. Whether you are searching for laundry in Glasgow, laundry in Edinburgh, or a dependable commercial laundry service that understands the demands of the hospitality trade, Harveys delivers the kind of consistent, high quality service that lets operators focus on what they do best. From linen hire Glasgow to bed linen hire for hotels, towel hire, and full laundry for hotels, the team at Harveys understands that behind every great guest experience is a supply chain that simply works. You can find out more and get in touch at www.harveyslaundry.com

Scotland's hospitality industry is clearly in excellent shape, and the businesses that are winning awards and building loyal followings are the ones that sweat the small stuff as much as the big stuff. If your venue is growing, if you are taking on more covers, more rooms, more events, then your laundry operation needs to grow with you. Harveys Laundry works with hotels, restaurants, bars and hospitality businesses right across Scotland, providing commercial laundry solutions that are built around your schedule and your standards. From laundry in Glasgow to laundry in Edinburgh and everywhere in between, the team is ready to support your business with the kind of reliable, professional service that the best venues in Scotland depend on. Visit www.harveyslaundry.com to learn more about how Harveys can support your hospitality business and come and see the team in person to find out what a proper commercial laundry partnership looks like.