Submission Awards

Our five Submission Awards are entered by application and are designed to uncover emerging talent and spotlight the industry’s less visible achievements.  Bars and bartenders are invited to submit their entries free of charge, to be judged by a select panel of renowned nationwide industry judges led by CLASS editor Hamish Smith.

Simply read through the entry criteria below and submit a written submission of up to 500 words explaining why you should win.

Eligibility period: 16th November 2023 to 17th February 2025.

Entries close: 24th February 2025.

Bar Employer

The Employer of the Year award rewards those businesses that put their people first, developing employees’ careers and fulfilling their financial and wellbeing needs. In doing so, the best employers forge a happy, motivated workforce, create a customer-friendly environment and project a positive image of hospitality.

Bar Employer

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?

Sustainable Practices Award

Sustainability behind the bar takes many forms, from the sourcing of ingredients to the reduction of waste and the elimination of single-use products to energy efficiency.  The winner will showcase how their practices have contributed to creating a bar industry that places less of a burden on the environment.

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?

Front of House Star

This award recognises the hosts of our industry – the people that set the tone, the mood for the hospitality experience. Be it a host, supervisor, maître d' or server, we are in search of that someone who makes their guests’ evenings special.

Front of House Star

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? 

Emerging Bartender

This award recognises new talent in the UK bartending industry, particularly those to have made a mark through innovative initiatives or ideas, who have shown a thirst for spirits and cocktail knowledge and an aptitude for creative drinks-making.  Bartenders must have launched their bartending career in the past four years.

Emerging Bartender

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?

Bar Manager

Bar Managers play a crucial role in setting standards, implementing innovative strategies, creative ideas and choregraphing well-honed, engaging hospitality.  Our winner will have showcased leadership and team development skills, shown their initiatives to achieve results, proved how they improved their venue’s financial performance and ultimately bettered their guests’ bar experience.

Bar Manager

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?

Exposure

1. Results exposure on classbarmag.com and in CLASS Summer edition

2. Entry to the CLASS Bar Awards Ceremony

3. Awards artwork for finalists and winners

Entries close: 24th February 2025