Time Out introduces a Global Bar Programme to identify the bars that define the drinks scene in the world’s leading cities
London, Wednesday 25 May 2016: Time Out, the trusted global brand for inspiring and enabling people to make the most of their city, has launched its inaugural London bar awards as part of a new Global Bar Programme, identifying the cocktail bars that define the drinks scene in some of the world’s most influential cities.
The London shortlist, voted for by an exclusive panel, showcases bars that represent the diversity of the London bar scene. The reservations only Punch Room at London Edition is the frontrunner with four nominations, including Bar of the Year and Classiest Bar. By contrast Farringdon’s shabby chic The Cocktail Trading Co., the Smithfield outpost of the Soho favourite, received three nominations including Best New Bar as well as Most Creative Bar.
Other notable nominees include Satan’s Whiskers, Hawksmoor Spitalfields Bar, White Lyan, Oriole and Connaught Bar, with each receiving two nominations. The winners of the London awards will be announced at an event at Rumpus Room at Mondrian London in front of industry insiders on Monday 13 June. Awards ceremonies also took place in New York and Los Angeles last week, with Paris and Chicago following over the next few weeks too.
An authority on urban nightlife, Time Out has been seeking out the brilliant in the world’s best cities since 1968, and bars have always been a crucial part of the metropolitan culture. This year Time Out has brought together the most gifted bar owners, mixologists, drinks experts and innovators in the global drinks business to define the best places to drink in five of the world’s most vibrant cities; London, Paris, New York, Chicago and LA.
For the Time Out Bar Awards, expert panels in each city were tasked with shortlisting their standout cocktail bars in three categories: Bar of the Year, Best New Bar and the Best Bartender/ Bar Team, sponsored by the Austin Tourism & Convention Bureau. As a grand finale, the winners of the Best Bartender awards will be flown to Austin, Texas, for a night of celebration with Tito’s Vodka.
In London, panelists included Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan) founder of Dandelyan and White Lyan and Hannah Sharman-Cox, Founder of DrinkUp.London. In addition to the global categories, the editorial team in each city also selected four award categories that celebrate local nuances of its bar scene.
“We are pretty committed bar fans here at Time Out, so we’re very excited about this, our inaugural Global Bar Awards,” said Caroline McGinn Editor in Chief, Time Out UK. “In London, Farringdon’s EC1 area has emerged as the trending area for directional drinking outside the West End, with five nominations across the seven categories. The Cocktail Trading Co., The Gibson and Oriole all appear in the Best New Bar category. We’re looking forward to the big reveal on 13 June, which we’ll be celebrating with a party and awards ceremony at one of London’s coolest rooftop drinking spots, the Rumpus Rooms.”
Noel Penzer, CEO of Time Out commented: “With a strong brand heritage in being the trusted expert in city nightlife, Time Out has always been a respected voice, guaranteed to advise on what makes a great cocktail bar. Our global bar programme is a way to showcase this on an international level and spotlight those that are driving this industry forward. We’re particularly please to have the Austin Tourism & Convention Bureau on board as sponsor of the Bartender Award, to support this thriving industry and promote the creativity and innovation in bartending today.”
Find more content on London’s best places to drink at Time Out London at www.timeout.com/barawardsLDN. The winners of the inaugural Time Out London Bar Awards will be announced on the website on Tuesday 14 June 2016.