What do The New Yorker, Time magazine, Private Eye and CLASS all have in common? Well, up to now, very little, but as of now, each has featured the work of Gerald Scarfe on its cover. Scarfe, if you’ve not made the connection, is the legendary political satirist who is also the eponym of Rosewood London’s Scarfes Bar.
When news dropped that Andy Loudon – formerly of Satan’s Whiskers and Tippling Club – had returned to these shores to take the reins at Scarfes alongside Kristijonas Bazys and Nóra Földvári we had our hook - now over to Gerald to capture them. We talk to Gerald about his illustrations, recent and past and to Loudon about London and his plans for the bar.
In mullet order (business at the front, party at the back) we kick off our columns with UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, who has an update on tipping legislation, Edmund shows us how he’s still managing to recruit from overseas and Kevin Armstrong argues that efficiencies in our drinks making are de-skilling our workforce.
Iain Mcpherson, meanwhile, encourages us to think and act globally, Monica Berg wants ingredient sourcing to chime, not clash, with the seasons, while Anna Sebastian argues for more selfless collaboration.
In my own column, I ask whether a bar can be great without serving great spirits, while debutant Sophie Bratt says a memorable bar experience is more about what’s outside of the glass. In his trends piece, Tyler Zielinski makes the case for cut-size cocktails, Clinton Cawood’s classical odyssey takes him to the Carajillo, while Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown are making drinks with tomatillos.
In spirits, we have Millie Milliken on American whiskey, Oli Dodd on gin, Matthias Ingelmann on new-world agave spirit and Laura Foster takes us through Spanish brandy. In wine Joe Wadsack flies the flag for Australian wine. While in bars, we drop the spotlight on to Byrdi in Melbourne and Sean Muldoon writes on the decline of Irish pubs.
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Our Summer 2024 issue - Best in the West – leads with Bristol’s Ben Alcock. The cover theme all sort of fell into place when his bar Filthy XIII won Best Bar in the West at the Class Bar Awards. West country of England that is, but their gear isn’t anywhere near as fancy. We speak to Alcock about his venues as we revisit the winners of the Class Bar Awards.
In this edition we also welcome Kate Nicholls to our team of writers – the chief executive of UK Hospitality has her binoculars on the political horizon for CLASS and she’s joined as a columnist by Iain McPherson from Panda & Sons, who makes the argument for innovation in spite of the challenging fiscal landscape. Giulia Cuccurullo of Artesian debuts with a piece about creating narrative around drinks.
Of our regular contributors, Monica Berg talks about the sources of her ambition, Edmund Weil asks whether your bar should adapt to its changing locale and Kevin Armstrong puts the case for making cocktails à la minute. Jake O’Brien Murphy, meanwhile, reels off his favourite books on drinks and why we should read them, while I comment on the well-meaning but unstoppable wave of guest shifts.
Sliding further into the glass, it’s tea time for Tyler Zielinksi in his latest piece on cocktail trends, while Bart Miedeksza and Valentino Girotto of Crossroads bring us their expert guide to carbonation. Stalwarts Anistatia Miller & Jared Brown are looking at liquid ends to their first harvest of tomatoes, while they pen a second piece on gin – the small matter of its history rewritten.
Also, on the menu are pieces on rhum agricole, amaro, non-abv cocktails and spritzes. And, of course, a whole lot more.
Happy reading! https://edition.pagesuite.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=397b7353-8a08-486f-b1c7-7f0d223a2d5b
Partnering with our Best Bar in London & the South East Award is Espolòn Tequila! Visit their bar and share a tequila at the #CLASSBarAwards tonight 🫶
Madrí Excepcional is our exclusive Beer partner for the #CLASSBarAwards supporting our Best Bar in Wales Award! 🍻
We are thrilled that Funkin Cocktails is presenting the Outstanding Contribution Award at the #CLASSBarAwards 🍸
We are pleased to announce that Master of Malt Trade is our partner for the Best Bar in the West Award 🤠 Good luck to all the finalists. #CLASSBarAwards
Introducing Doghouse Distillery as our partner for the Best Bar in Midlands & East Anglia Award at the #CLASSBarAwards tomorrow! 🙌
@thebusker_official Irish Whiskey is proud partner of our Best Bar in the North Award at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024. Cheers to the very best in the North, lets celebrate their deserved recognition! 🥃 #CLASSBarAwards
We are excited that @wildturkey_uk is our Bourbon partner for the CLASS Bar Awards 2024! 🥃 Supporting our New Bar of the Year Award #CLASSBarAwards
We are making the Bar Food Menu of the Year award even better with our partner Altamura Distilleries 🍸#CLASSBarAwards
It is nearly time to join us at the #CLASSBarAwards 2024, let’s toast to our Social Media Presence of the Year and the Best Bar in Scotland & Northern Ireland partner - Disaronno Velvet 🫶
