DRAM Magazine is the leading publication for the Scottish on-trade. Scotland’s only monthly licensed trade magazine.

The DRAM is innovative, creative and original. First with the news, and the people in the news. Covering all the latest information on pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants and hotels in Scotland.

The DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards were the first licensed trade awards in Scotland, established over fifteen years ago, recognising the very best of the Scottish on-trade.

DRAM AWARDS 2012

The crème de la crème of the Scottish licensed trade gathered in Glasgow on Monday 2nd July to find out who were the winners of the 2012 DRAM Scottish Licensed Trade Awards.

The pub industry’s equivalent of the Oscars were handed out to bars and pubs from all over Scotland at the ceremony which was held at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.

Said DRAM Editor, Susan Young, “It was a great night, and it was a real testament to the success story that is the Scottish licensed trade. This industry is dynamic, professional and forward thinking, and the people picking up the awards, and the finalists, are a credit to the industry.”

2012 AWARD WINNERS

Benromach Award for Success
Gold Winner – SimpsInns
Silver – Omni Taverns
Bronze- The Fort Hotel

Bowmore Whisky Bar of The Year
Gold Winner – Bon Accord, Glasgow
Silver – Whiski Rooms, Edinburgh
Bronze – Bally Grant Inn & Restaurant, Islay

BII Scotland Customer Service Award 2012
Gold Winner – Grill Room at The Square, Glasgow
Silver – The Grill on The Corner, Glasgow
Bronze – Le Monde, Edinburgh

Captain’s Morgan’s Spiced Award for Best Late Night Venue
Gold Winner – Maggie May’s, Glasgow
Silver – Chambre 69, Glasgow
Bronze – Sugar Cube, Glasgow

DRAM Dog Friendly Pub of the year
Gold Winner – The Ben Nevis, Glasgow
Silver – The Blue Goose, Edinburgh
Bronze – Bungo, Glasgow

The Drum Best use of Social Media
Gold Winner – Sugar Cube, Glasgow
Silver – The Grill on The Corner, Glasgow Bronze – Le Monde, Edinburgh

Foster’s Manager of The Year
Gold Winner – Jamie Wray, Artto Hotel
Silver – Archie Denny, Standing Order
Bronze – James Kelly, Mint & Lime

Kopparberg New Bar of The Year
Gold Winner – Strata, Glasgow
Silver – The Finnieston, Glasgow
Bronze – The Blue Goose, Edinburgh

The Kraken Rum Cocktail Bar of The Year
Gold Winner, The Finnieston, Glasgow
Silver – The Longhouse, Kilmarnock
Bronze – Bond No.9, Edinburgh

Mixxit Bar Apprentice of The Year
Gold Winner – Alistair Shaw, The Pony
Silver – Russell Downie, Tiger Lily
Bronze – James Hastings, Tiki Bar and Kitch Inn

Molson Coors Champion Beer Pub of Scotland
Gold Winner – The Anderson, Fortrose
Silver – Holyrood 9A, Edinburgh
Bronze – The Drake, Glasgow

Repertoire Gastro Pub of the year.
Gold – The Leftbank, Glasgow
Silver – Nicks, Glasgow
Bronze – Bond no.9, Edinburgh

Saltire Taverns Sales Rep of The Year
Gold Winner – Tom Clarkson, Forth Wines
Silver – Laura Sutherland, Bacardi Brown Forman
Bronze – Gemma Leisegang, WEST Brewery

Tennents Quality Award
Gold Winner – The Fort Hotel, Broughty Ferry
Silver – The Kittybrewster, Aberdeen
Bronze – The Three Judges, Glasgow

Sunday Mail Pub Of The Year
Winner – The Fort Hotel, Broughty Ferry

See pictures of all the winners here

2012 AWARD TESTIMONIALS

Frank Murphy, owner of The Pot Still Glasgow -
“This was my first DRAM Awards and I thought it was great! The theme was really well executed and Susan looked great – very Grecian… The staff at Grand Central were excellent and dinner was really nice, although I could have taken more time over it! A big well done to the team at DRAM.”

Steven Rankin, Associate Director of Gordon and MacPhail –
“This years DRAM Awards were super, although it has been and gone so quickly! I loved that the Olympic theme (with bronze, silver and gold awards), gave recognition to not only the winners but also the runners up. As Susan said, with such a high number of entries, being awarded silver or bronze was still such a credible award. Lynn Kelly was not only very helpful, but was also a great table host as I loved meeting all of the new faces. Cat Harvey was very much the party girl and brought a certain amount of fun which is needed at an awards ceremony. Susan also did really well, not only with the awards, but also in her speech where I think she was so moving and really did justice to David Urquhart.”

Dennis McDermott, Customer Development Director, Matthew Clark -
“First of all I must say thank you for the kind hospitality shown at The Dram Awards last night. It was a great night and good fun table, there were plenty of faces from the distant past to catch up with also. Mykindest regards to Susan, Martin and the rest of your team.

Malcolm Simpson, MD SimpsInns -
“I really enjoyed the night and I was delighted to have won the award for success. I couldn’t stay too late because I had a meeting with the Queen the next day. So this has been one of the most eventful weeks of my life.”

Michael Robertson, GM The Grill Room at The Square -
“I thought the Olympic theme this year was very well thought out, it ran throughout the night without being over powering. It was a honour to be nominated for the Customer Service award let alone win and it is proof of all the hard work that goes on here, it is a real testament to the staff. We are all delighted.”

Catherine Hardy, Co Owner Leftbank/Bungo -
“Thank you so much to all the staff at DRAM. We were delighted to win the award for Gastro Pub of the Year. It came at the right time because we recruited our new head chef Gayle just 10 months ago. She has been a real asset to the team here.”

John Mustard, Operations Director Saltire Taverns –
“The DRAM Awards were amazing this year! I had an absolutely fantastic night. Can we do it again next week? The Olympic theme was great as everyone was a winner. It also wasn’t too overpowering, as sometimes themed ceremonies can take over the awards but I think that Susan had the balance just right. The food was fantastic and the awards were really well presented. It has been a few years since I have been, but I think the ballroom at the Grand Central Hotel is stunning, a great venue.”

Bob Taylor, Drinks Consultant, The Taylor Agency -
“We had a great table and had a great night! Cat Harvey was spot on.”

Paul Hislop, Co Owner, Sugar Cube -
“I really enjoyed the awards this year. Compared to previous year’s I really liked the venue, and loved the theme that ran throughout the night. I thought the stage looked great, and I loved that there was recognition for all 3 finalists. I was delighted to be nominated for two categories, and win Best use of Social Media. It is a real accomplishment, when we have only been open just over a year. Cat Harvey was really funny and everyone seemed to have a great time.”

Graham Suttle, owner The Finnieston -
“I had an absolute ball. The venue looked stunning. The food was great, and my beef was cooked very well. The DRAM awards are definitely a notch above any other awards ceremony I have ever been to. Sheboom were great, I though they were a really nice touch. We were also of course delighted to take home the Gold for Cocktail Bar of the Year and Silver for Best New Bar.”

Janet Hood, Janet Hood Consulting -
“The DRAM Awards were spectacular as always. It was the first time I was photographed with gods, but the true stars were all the finalists and winners who stood out as excellent examples for the Scottish Licensed Trade. It was a delight to be a part of it, and I loved the podium idea for Bronze, Silver and Gold. The food was excellent, and Susan as always made a glamorous hostess. I thought Cat Harvey was superb and by far the best host I have seen at the DRAM Awards.”