If you’re a bartender or a bar owner or someone who writes about both then you’ve probably read Class Magazine at some point in your life.
Generally considered to be one of the most influential and important voices in the industry, each year they host awards – recognising and celebrating the excellence found in many of the country’s bars.
Well, they’ve just released the shortlist for the 2020 awards and low and behold – there’s a fair whack of recognition for people and venues in Manchester. Here’s the lowdown…
First up is the brilliant Georgi May at Science & Industry who has been commended as ‘Front of House Star of the Year‘. Next time you’re in there getting a cocktail – give her a shout and a big pat on the back.
Commended for their ‘Bar Food Menu of the Year‘ are Crazy Pedro’s and it’s pretty easy to see why. Their pizzas are big, tasty and topped with some pretty spectacular ingredients, perfect alongside a few bevvies and one too many mezcals.
Also commended this year is Wolf at the Door, specifically for ‘New Bar of the Year‘. After only being open for a few months now, WATD has won a host of awards, including the Imbibe Award for Avant Garde Drinks List of the Year. Their APERTURE cocktail menu is a thing of beauty.
Finalists in the ‘Restaurant of the Year‘ category are Hawksmoor, and I don’t think that anyone in the city will disagree with that accolade at all. Home to probably the best steak in the city, Hawksmoor is a class act where you’re always guaranteed fantastic food and impeccable serve.
Finally, Lyndon Higginson of The Liars Group is a finalist in the ‘Bar Innovator of the Year‘ category – and if he doesn’t win it – I’ll eat my hat. As one of the minds behind the likes of Wolf at the Door, Bunny Jackson’s, Crazy Pedro’s and The Bay Horse Tavern – he’s got a whole host of successful and innovative venues under his belt. Should be a walk in the park this one.
Each nomination in the categories is considered and decided upon by the ‘Class Collective’ a panel of 70 of the industry’s most travelled and influential people.
The awards themselves are all the way in the future in March 2020. Good luck to everyone of course!
