SUBMISSION AWARDS

A CLASS Bar Award represents the ultimate accolade for bartenders and bars. Our awards recognise the impeccable standards for hospitality and innovation across the UK. Our rigorous judging process is designed to uncover the top talent working in the industry today.

Our award categories recognise the bars and bartenders that set the standard for hospitality and innovation across the UK. A CLASS Bar Award represents the ultimate accolade for bartenders and bars. Our rigorous judging process is designed to uncover the top talent working in the industry today.

Bars and bartenders are invited to submit their entries free of charge, to be judged by an esteemed panel of renowned industry judges.

To enter, simply read through the entry criteria below and submit a written submission of up to 500 words explaining why you should win and addressing some of the points outlined.

ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENTED TO 22ND NOVEMBER 2023

ENTER TODAY

  • Click on each category below to view the criteria for each category
  • Entries require a 500 word submission outlining why you should win
  • Eligibility period: 16th November 2022 to 15th November 2023
  • Entries close: 22nd November 2023


Bar Employer of the Year

Keeping loyal personable, customer-focussed staff behind your bar maybe difficult for some, though for some bar owners, their approach to investing and developing their staff leads to a strong, focused and motivated work force.
This category is now closed

Bar Employer of the Year

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• Do you offer a clear vision to your employees and share innovative ideas that can move the bar forward to expand its growth.

• Do you offer flexible working to your bar teams?

• Do you offer personal development plans and training for your bar staff?

• Tell us about how you communicate with and support your staff

• Do you offer any incentives for loyal staff or for long periods of service?

• What do you do to promote a more mindful, healthy lifestyle among your staff?

Emerging Bartender of the Year

This award recognises new talent in the bartending industry to an individual who has brought a fresh perspective to their job performance with new and innovative ideas, knowledge and understanding of craft cocktail practices and techniques.

Bartenders must have launched their career in the past three years.
This category is now closed

Emerging Bartender of the Year

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• Why did you want to start a career in bartending?

• What motivates you about the bar environment?

• What do you want to achieve in bartending?

• What techniques and skills have you developed?

• Do you have any notable achievements?

• Have you made significant and demonstrable contributions to your bar in the past 12 months?

• Can you provide evidence that your ideas and contributions are having a sustained and positive impact on the bar operation?

• How have you improved the quality of the customer’s experience?

• Why should you win this award?

Sustainable Practices Award

There is a lot of waste in the bar industry, which not only costs establishments money, but is also damaging to the environment. We are in search for a bar that is actively enforcing sustainability practices and standing out from the competition as a result.

The winner will showcase examples of how these practices have contributed to saving costs, reducing waste, saving energy and attracting new customers.
This category is now closed

Sustainable Practices Award

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• Why did you decide to start implementing sustainable practices in your bar?

• What procedural systems have you implemented to limit waste and establish closed-loop sustainability?

• In what way have you reduced perishable waste by ingredient utilisation and/or collaborations with other venues?

• In what ways have you recycled and repurposed disposable materials and equipment?

• How have these measures reduced costs at your bar and to what extent?

• Why do you think customers care about sustainability?

• Do you promote the sustainable practices of your bar to the public? How has this helped boost awareness of your bar and sales?

• Why should you win this award?

Exposure

  • Results exposure on the CLASS magazine website www.classbarmag.com
  • Exclusive results coverage in CLASS Awards issue, published July 2024
  • Trophy presentation at the CLASS Bar Awards ceremony in front of 600 of your industry peers.
  • Free high resolution artwork of award logo is available to all finalists and winners.

Bar Manager of the Year

Bar Managers play a crucial role in setting standards, implementing innovative strategies, creative ideas and setting the best examples of superior customer service skills.

Our winner will have showcased fine Leadership skills, their initiatives to achieve results, how they improved performance, motivate their team and ultimately better the customers’ drinking experience.

This category is now closed

Bar Manager of the Year

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• What is your objective as bar manager?

• Have you implemented any new ideas or initiatives to drive new business?

• How do you motivate and improve the performance of your bar team?

• How have you improved the quality of the customer’s experience?

• How is the company culture you have created so important for the success of your bar?

• How have you developed your hospitality and service to a high standard?

• What experience do you bring to your role that you share with your team?

• Why are your leaderships skills strong?

Front of House Star of the Year

This award acknowledges talent on the other side of the bar. Hosts, maitre d’s, waiters and waitresses are at the front of the customer’s experience.

We are in search of a star who consistently demonstrates high service standards and has a true understanding of hospitality.
This category is now closed

Front of House Star of the Year

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• How many guests do you host on a busy night?

• How have you contributed to the quality of the customer’s experience?

• What skills do you possess that enable you to connect with customers?

• How do you overcome and deal with difficult situations?

• What organisational skills do you bring to your current job role?

• How does your contribution improve the speed, quality and efficiency of the bar operation?

• Why are you a great host?

• Why should you win this award? 

Social Media Presence of the Year

This award celebrates a UK bar that has demonstrated the most effective use of social media as part of their marketing strategy.

We are in search for the bar that has implemented creative and engaging ways to promote their business through social media platforms which has had a positive impact on increasing their customer base.
This category is now closed

Social Media Presence of the Year

Please write a maximum of 500 words on why you should win, some pointers of what we are looking for are detailed below.

• Why did you decide to promote your bar through social media?

• What is your social media objective?

• How do you engage with followers through social media?

• Have you implemented any campaigns to drive new business?

• How do you use social media to promote new or seasonal drinks menus?

• How often do you post on social media?

• What do you promote as your USP to bring the customers into your bar?

• How many followers or likes do you have?

• Has posting on social media resulted in a positive boost for your business? How?

• Can you provide any evidence that showcases new business resulting from social media activity?

• Why should you win this award?