All the Edinburgh and Lothian pubs and bars recognised at the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2026

Bars and restaurants in and around Edinburgh have been recognised at Scottish Bar and Pub Awards 2026 on Tuesday (September 1).

The ceremony at the Doubletree by Hilton, saw more than 600 guests mark the occasion with a Glam Rock theme to celebrate the awards' 31st year.

Edinburgh enjoyed a successful night with four bars having walked away with awards.

Black Ivy in Bruntsfield, which was named the best beer garden in Scotland in 2023, bagged the Annandale Distillery Dog Friendly Pub of the Year.

The bar takes its role as a dog-friendly pub seriously with its website stating that dogs are “welcome throughout our terrace and bar area”. It added that it keeps water bowls topped up and tha staff often “sneak a treat” to well-behaved dogs.

Newcomer Boston Bar New Town scooped the Jamesons Best Irish Bar 2026. The bar opened in Hanover Street in 2024 and proved an instant hit with locals and visitors alike.

Bittersweet Leith, in Henderson Street, was also named the Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year.

And The Dome also had cause to celebrate after Michael Maclean was name Schweppes Mixologist of the Year.

Barry’s Fish in Leith also came highly commended in the Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year category, which was won by Margo in Glasgow.

Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year - The Tap Yard | Supplied

Outside of the city, Commercial Inn in Fauldhouse was highly commended in the DRAM Community Pub of the Year category.

Publisher, Susan Young, said: “It was fantastic to see so many deserving winners this year. These awards are a celebration of the people who make the Scottish hospitality industry the success it is, and this year’s entries were truly outstanding.

“The standard was so high it made the judging incredibly difficult. Every one of our finalists should be immensely proud of their achievement, and I’d like to congratulate all of our winners on their success.”

“The Glam Rock theme was the perfect fit for an industry where the venues, teams and people really do rock!”

The full list of winners is as follows:

Lifetime Achievement

Don Lawson, Emerald Inns (Inverness)

Annandale Distillery Dog Friendly Pub of the Year

Black Ivy – Edinburgh

Highly Commended - The George Hotel – Inveraray

Inverarity Morton Family Business of the Year

The Fort Hotel & The Royal Arch – Broughty Ferry

Benromach Whisky Bar of the Year

MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults – Oban

Hero Media & Entertainment Best Bar Team

Johnny Foxes – Inverness

Highly Commended – The Parkville - Blantyre

Deanston Whisky Guru Rising Star Award

Sally Law – The Pot Still, Glasgow

Highly Commended - Chris Anton – MacGregor’s at The Whisky Vaults, Oban

Bar Personality of the Year

Tracey Hunter – The Tavern Bar, Millport

Scottish Hospitality Group Contribution To The Industry Award

Michael Bergson – Bucks Bar

Hospitality Health Employer of the Year

Lisini Pub Company – Uddingston

DRAM Community Pub of the Year

The Pawn Lounge – Alexandria

Highly Commended - Commercial Inn, Fauldhouse

Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder Cocktail Bar of the Year

Bittersweet Leith – Leith, Edinburgh

Highly Commended - Jimmy Badgers, Inverness

Black Ivy and Montpeliers Rising Star Entrepreneur

Struan Barclay, Ruby’s – East Kilbride

HOSPO Manager of the Year

Danny Stewart – Angels Hotel, Uddingston

Sims Automatics Sports Bar of the Year

The Tap Yard – Glasgow

Jamesons Best Irish Bar 2026

Boston Bar New Town – Edinburgh

Highly Commended – Radio, Glasgow

Jump Ship Brewing Best Lo and No Destination

SOBR – Aberdeen

Kopparberg Best Outdoor Area

The Birds and Bees – Stirling

Lightspeed Restaurant of the Year

Margo – Glasgow

Highly Commended - Barry Fish, Leith

SBPA New Bar of the Year

Ruby’s – East Kilbride

Schweppes Mixologist of the Year

Michael Maclean – The Dome, Edinburgh

Scottishnews.com Independent Multiple Operator of the Year

Rocks Leisure Group

SBPA Best Late Night Venue

Slouch – Glasgow

Hotel Scotland Inspirational Woman of the Year

Siobhan Edwards – Lisini Pub Company

Hero Brands Hospitality Hero Award

Kostas Simos – Atlantic Bar & Brasserie

The Drum Social Media Champion

Tempura – Ayr

Sunday Mail Pub of the Year

The Lismore – Partick, Glasgow