Submission Awards

Our six 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: 18th February 2025 – 2nd February 2026

Entries close: 2nd February 2026

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.
  • 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 and developed your hospitality to a high standard?)
  • How is the company culture you have created so important for the success of your bar?
  • What experience do you bring to your role that you share with your team?


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 do you elevate the customer experience and build customer connections?
  • 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?

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.

• What inspired you to pursue bartending, and what motivates you in the role?

• 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?


Drinks Menu of the Year

This award celebrates exceptional cocktail menus, rewarding design appeal, thematic coherence, originality, and range. Judges are looking for menus that clearly communicate an offering and elevate the drinking experience.

Drinks Menu 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 has your bar created or adapted its business model to remain profitable and resilient?
  • What key financial or operational decisions have improved efficiency and cost control?
  • How do you attract and retain customers in a fast-changing landscape?
  • What investments have you made in staff development, retention, and wellbeing?
  • Why do you believe your bar represents the best business in the industry today?

Sustainability and Community Impact Award

This award celebrates bars that champion sustainability—both environmental and social. Judges will look for bars whose actions have created lasting, measurable impact by supporting the local environment or strengthening your community to foster a more sustainable bar culture.

Sustainability and Community Impact Award

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

  • What inspired your sustainability journey, and how is your bar’s ethos rooted in your local community?
  • What planet-positive systems and low-impact practices do you employ?
  • How do your initiatives support local businesses, charities, or social causes, and what are the measurable outcomes?

Bar Business of the Year Award

This award celebrates bars that have built successful businesses with a long-term strategy. Judges will look for venues that have employed smart strategy, adapted, innovated, and ultimately thrived.

Bar Business of the Year Award

  • How has your bar created or adapted its business model to remain profitable and resilient?
  • What key financial or operational decisions have improved efficiency and cost control?
  • How do you attract and retain customers in a fast-changing landscape?
  • What investments have you made in staff development, retention, and wellbeing?
  • Why do you believe your bar represents the best business in the industry today?