The Bar Magazine Awards

Hospitality’s freshest event

JANUARY 2024 SEES THE INAUGURAL BAR MAGAZINE AWARDS TAKE PLACE IN LONDON. WITH SOME OF THE INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST NAMES ALREADY CONFIRMED, THE BMAS ARE THE PLACE TO BE TO HELP LIFT YOUR JANUARY GLOOM, AND CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.

For the last decade, the thousands of industry professionals who read Bar Magazine have been requesting that we run an on trade event, and here we finally are! Save the Date! Monday 22nd January 2024, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St. Pauls, London will see top names and talented individuals from the UK’s hospitality sector gather to showcase just how creative and wonderful our industry is.

The BMAs are all about supporting the industry, recognising the quality, passion and creativity of the staff that work so hard in venues every day. There’s so much flair that goes unnoticed, and we want to give you your moment to shine and highlight your achievements. With December being such a busy and demanding month for hospitality workers, the BMAs in January 2024 are the perfect opportunity for us all to let our hair down and sink drinks, rather than serve them!

In addition to celebrating your achievements and having a well-deserved night off, the BMAs offer a unique

WHEN? WHERE? GET INVOLVED.

MONDAY 22ND JANUARY 2024 18:30 – LATE

LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL, ST. PAULS 10 GODLIMAN ST, LONDON EC4V 5AJ

Applications are now open, and tickets are now available. Please visit www.barmagazine.co.uk/ barmagazineawards, email tom@cimltd.co.uk or reach out on Instagram @barmagazineuk for more information.

networking opportunity. Attendance to the event will put you in the company of 200+ likeminded hospitality professionals. This provides a fantastic chance to make new connections with peers, who you can discuss ideas and compare business successes with. Tickets are now available through the Bar Magazine website. Our host for the evening is the amazingly talented Ian Burrell, Global Rum Ambassador and founder of RumFest. Ian’s growth and rise within hospitality is truly inspirational and he shows that with

THE HOST

IAN BURRELL – GLOBAL RUM AMBASSADOR

We are especially excited to announce Ian Burrell as our host for the 2024 BMAs. Ian is an award-winning educationist for the hospitality industry, being voted the 10th most influential person in hospitality, 2020. He brings a wealth of experience, passion and character to the BMAs, specialising in the different rums available around the world and educating us on the best way to use them.

Ian has established himself as the world’s only recognised global ambassador for the rum category, and also a TV personality who can be seen as a regular guest on Channel 4’s ‘Sunday Brunch’. Ian told us: “I am definitely looking forward to getting involved and presenting the inaugural Bar Magazine Awards next January. The UK Bar industry is one of the greatest in the world, employing some amazing people, so it’s only right that some of its stars are recognised during this new ceremony for their work, talent and passion, that will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of stars.”

passion for your craft and hard work, the sky really is the limit.

Applications are now open to everyone until August 31st 2023, when the BMAs’ judging panel will gather to pick out our finalists and winners! Our 2024 judging panel consists of hospitality experts from The Drinks Trust, Mercieca, Licensed Trade Charity, Diageo and UKHospitality. More will be revealed in our May issue, where we feature a profile on each of our judges.

Over the next few pages, we will cover the amazing venue, the categories on which the awards will be judged and explain just how much your business and career can

THE JUDGES

ROSS CARTER CEO

THE DRINKS TRUST

PAULA SMITH

HEAD OF MARKETING

LICENSED TRADE CHARITY

FRANKIE MERCIECA

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

MERCIECA

UKHOSPITALITY

DIAGEO

TOM WOOLLIN

DIRECTOR

BAR MAGAZINE

benefit from being a BMA winner. We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved, apply, get tickets or just have a few questions. You can find out more information or ways to contact us on www.barmagazine.co.uk/

barmagazineawards

The BMAs are all about supporting the industry, recognising the quality, passion and creativity of the staff that work so hard in venues every day.

Where does your venue fit in?

WITH ONLY 8 MONTHS UNTIL THE BMAS, APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN TO ALL HOSPITALITY VENUES AND TEAM MEMBERS. WITH AWARD CATEGORIES COVERING EVERYTHING FROM MIXOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT SUCCESS TO MARKETING AND DINING CONCEPTS, DON’T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO LET THE INDUSTRY KNOW HOW AMAZING YOUR VENUE AND TEAM ARE.

It’s important to make one thing very clear from the outset: the BMAs are open to anyone who works within hospitality. Don’t rule yourself out if you think your venue might be too small or isn’t in a high-footfall location. Don’t avoid the limelight because your venue might not have the biggest budget or be at the top of Instagram’s jungle of algorithms. Bar Magazine has always been about success stories, and recognising colleagues in our wonderful industry who ‘punch above their weight’ by inspiring us in achieving success with very little resource. The BMAs are no

different. Everyone starts on a completely level playing field, regardless of the budget of your venue and the privileges you do or don’t have – success comes in all shapes and sizes, so although you might think people won’t understand how amazing your achievements are, let us (and our expert panel) be the judges of that!

Our judging panel consists of experts

within the hospitality industry, who are bringing a wealth of knowledge to the BMAs and helping us choose who most deserves recognition for their business triumphs. High-ranking members from Diageo, UKHospitality, The Drinks Trust, Licensed Trade Charity and Mercieca will be judging your applications in the following areas:

Bar Magazine

has always been about success stories and recognising colleagues in our wonderful industry who ‘punch above their weight’

NEW COCKTAIL CREATION

An exciting, creative-brief led award for mixologists. To be announced in our May issue!

BEST VENUE MANAGER

The success or failure of a venue hinges massively on how competent the manager is. The manager of a hospitality venue can have a positive effect on the business by focusing on anything from tiny, intricate details, to large, wholesale changes to the establishment. Most of all though, understanding their brand and the concept of their offering is key, and we want to highlight managers who excel in this area. Every venue is unique, and all require different things to stand out and shine. We’d love to hear inspirational stories of how you have helped make your business better in 2023.

BEST MIXOLOGIST

The award for best mixologist brings an element of flair and creativity to the BMAs. We all know the level of precision and passion that mixologists put into their craft, so we’re giving you the chance to show this off to our expert judging panel. If you, or any mixologists you know, create unique, exciting and innovative serves that deserve more recognition, then please tell us! With this category in particular, we are looking for professionals who think outside the box and ‘wow’ their guests with creations that keep them coming back.

MARKETING INNOVATION

Working in such a creative industry means that our flair isn’t limited to food and drink creations. We have seen some venues plan and execute marketing campaigns to the highest-level, and we want to showcase these at the BMAs. Marketing is all about boosting the brand of your business or product – this can be done via unique social media campaigns, promotion in the local area and exciting branding exercises. So many UK venues are operating at high levels every day, but who is doing the best job of letting consumers know and enticing them through your doors?

BEST DINING CONCEPT

Hospitality is such a competitive industry, and venues must strive to stand out ahead of the competition. Culinary offerings play a huge part in this, and are a vital way to enhance your wet-led business and bring in more revenue. Our expert panel will be choosing a winner who has used food to boost sales and attract more footfall to their venue. We are looking for exciting dining concepts, which can include anything from fine dining to flavour-packed street food; the key to this award is how your food menu has taken your business to the next level.

BEST VENUE INTERIORS

Although it’s a cliché, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. For a hospitality venue, the interior and decoration play a huge part in this. Not only will guests get an intuitive feeling of your establishment’s atmosphere as they take in the design, but in an age where social media rules, giving your venue an ‘Instagrammable’ quality offers free branding opportunities through your customers and their networks. We want to know about your venue’s interior journey – from concept to execution, what were your initial plans for the design and how have you brought them to life?

THE ENVIRONMENT AWARD

Sustainability is the word on everybody’s lips – and rightly so! Hospitality can make such a difference to the way that we treat our planet, and we know that a lot of venues are already very conscious of this and have put plans in place to improve the sustainability of their business. We want to hear your struggles, plans, operations and successes in converting your business into one which is flying the sustainability flag and leading from the front in eco-friendly initiatives.

Success comes in all shapes and sizes

For more information on award categories, please visit www.barmagazine.co.uk/ barmagazineawards

Applications are open

APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 BAR MAGAZINE AWARDS ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN. YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO APPLY AND DEMONSTRATE YOUR SUCCESS TO SOME OF THE MOST WELL-RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS WITHIN OUR INDUSTRY.

Save the date! Only 8 months to go until hospitality’s newest, unique event; and more importantly, only 4 months left to get your applications in. The BMAs are here to reward the hard work, creativity and passion that make your venue thrive.

Our judging panel consists of experts within the hospitality industry, who are bringing a wealth of knowledge to the BMAs and helping us choose who most deserves recognition for their business triumphs. High-ranking members from Diageo, UKHospitality, The Drinks Trust, Licensed Trade Charity and Mercieca will be judging your applications.

Ross Carter is CEO at The Drinks Trust, who have been providing the industry with vital support and advice for well over a century. Ross told us: “I am delighted to be part of the judging panel of the newly launched Bar Magazine Awards, created to celebrate the successes of the on trade sector. Our industry have been experiencing hard times in the past years, so it’s great to come together and celebrate the community that makes this industry great.”

Also on our judging panel is Frankie

Mercieca, Associate Director at Mercieca, an award-winning, integrated agency with a client roster that boasts some of the world’s leading Food & Drink brands. Frankie told us of the importance that hospitality plays in creating experiences for the public: “For many of us, experiences are becoming more meaningful than material things. Our vast, diverse hospitality industry, which is at the heart of these shared moments, has therefore never been so important. I can’t wait to see the creativity and passion of the individuals and

APPLY FOR THE 2024 BMAs

venues that make truly great experiences what they are, and wish everyone the very best of luck.”

Frankie and Ross’ thoughts are echoed by the whole Bar Magazine team. We all wait, in excited anticipation, for your applications to start coming through. Our wonderful industry has so many untold, inspirational stories of success, so please help us in boasting about your amazing accomplishments by applying via www.barmagazine.co.uk/ barmagazineawards

Applications are now open to anyone who works within hospitality. We can’t wait to hear all of your stories of success, and share them amongst our expert team of judges. You can apply for yourself or nominate a colleague/acquaintance. It couldn’t be easier to apply; follow these simple steps:

1. Go to www.barmagazine.co.uk/barmagazineawards

2. Choose your category

a. You are able to apply for multiple categories, just repeat these steps once the application is submitted

3. Fill out the personal information form and click next

4. Fill out and submit your application form – the more detail you can include, the greater chance you have of winning!

5. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 31ST AUGUST 2023

Propel your business

WITH

THE CONCEPT OF THE BMAS BEING TO RECOGNISE AND

CELEBRATE SUCCESS WITHIN HOSPITALITY, IT’S VITAL FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW WINNING AN AWARD CAN BENEFIT YOUR BUSINESS.

BRANDING

The BMAs are presented in collaboration with Bar Magazine, the UK’s leading title for hospitality business advice, so applying for an award gives your venue a unique branding opportunity. You’ll be among, and competing with, the best of the best, and having your name involved with the BMAs provides you with an exclusive opportunity to grow your brand and improve your business.

TEAM MORALE

If you’re successful in business then you’ll know how important your team is in contributing towards this. From the members on the frontline who create a lasting first impression, to the behind-the-scenes crew who ensure your operation runs smoothly, the performance of your team can have huge effects on the experience your guests are immersed in. Team spirit is one of the most important, and underappreciated, aspects of running a venue. The BMAs offer a unique way to shoot some adrenaline into your team’s morale, not only by showcasing your success as a group, but also by treating them to a night off to celebrate their achievements.

NETWORKING

There’s no better way to improve your business than meeting with, and learning from, others who work in your sector. The BMAs put the industry’s brightest stars all under one roof for the evening and gives you the opportunity to expand your network. This could lead to you learning new techniques, developing new ideas and creating new partnerships with likeminded professionals who excel in their craft just as much as you. We’re a very supportive industry who love to ‘give back’, so why not use your success from winning one of our prestigious awards to inspire and mentor others who feel as passionately about hospitality as you?

CONFIDENCE

Working in hospitality is so rewardingly hectic that it’s easy to get tied up in the day-to-day, and not take the time to sit back and appreciate how great we are. With 58% of people in the UK said to suffer from Imposter Syndrome*, think of what winning an esteemed award could do for you, your team and your collective mental health. Think about how hearing that some of hospitality’s top experts believe that you’re elite at what you do, and the positive effect it could have on the quality of work you achieve. *workplaceinsight.net

Apply for the 2024 BMAs today, at www.barmagazine.co.uk/barmagazineawards

Leonardo Royal Hotel, St. Pauls, London

HOSTING THE BAR MAGAZINE AWARDS IN JANUARY 2024, THIS HOTEL SITS IN THE BUSTLING STREETS OF ST. PAULS, PROVIDING HOLISTIC EXPERIENCES WITH A STUNNING PANORAMA FOR EVERY GUEST.

As well as amazing views of St. Paul’s Cathedral and the city, the Leonardo Royal Hotel offers a five-star service from the very first moment a customer steps through the doors, ensuring their time at the hotel is a real treat.

Founded in 1998 by David Fattal, the Fattal Hotel Group boasts 250 hotels in 20 different countries, with a total of 117 destinations. The brand portfolio includes: Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, Leonardo Boutique Hotels, NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels, Jurys Inn and Herods –all aiming to be the preferred choice for everyone who values genuine hospitality.

Just like the other subsidiaries, the team at the Leonardo Royal work tirelessly to win the hearts and minds of their guests, aiming to do so by providing ‘exceptional service, creating memorable experiences and constantly challenging the benchmark of hospitality’.

This high-level of service is what enticed us to host the first ever Bar Magazine

Awards at the venue next January. Guests at the BMAs can look forward to a luxury 3-course meal, with the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and surround themselves with 200 of the brightest sparks in our wonderful industry.

All of this whilst rubbing shoulders with some of the finest hospitality has to offer. The BMAs are supported by incredible organisations such as Diageo, BT Sport, UKHospitality, The Drinks Trust, Licensed Trade Charity and Mercieca. Leading members from each of these hospitality giants will be in attendance to help celebrate your achievements and recognise your business excellence.

Get your tickets now and join BMA host, the rum ambassador himself, Ian Burrell, plus an assortment of hospitality’s superstars to the Leonardo Royal Hotel, St. Pauls, London, on 22nd January 2024!

@leonardoroyalstpauls

www.barmagazine.co.uk/ barmagazineawards

BMAs 2024

LEONARDO ROYAL HOTEL, ST. PAULS, LONDON

10 GODLIMAN ST, LONDON

EC4V 5AJ

22ND JANUARY 2024

18:30 UNTIL LATE

HOST

Ian Burrell - @therumambassador

NEAREST TUBE Blackfriars

For more information, tickets and applications, please visit www.barmagazine.co.uk/ barmagazineawards

**Doors open at 18:30**

**Dinner at 19:00**