From spry up-and-comers to industry legends, the Imbibe Personality of the Year awards recognise some of the best and brightest members of the on-trade. You voted, we listened – and now it's time to announce our 2019 shortlist
Put the champagne on ice and roll out the red carpet, the Imbibe Personality of the Year awards are back and better than ever for 2019.
This year, we've made a few changes to our categories to better recognise the work you do each day. We've broken down our bar categories into Bar Owner of the Year, Bar Team of the Year and Bartender of the Year. We're showcasing somms in the Sommelier of the Year category, and we've added Tapster of the Year to shine a spotlight on the people pouring and pulling with aplomb.
Of course, you already know all about these categories. You, dear readers, are the ones who have cast the votes to select the shortlist. Now we pass the judging over to our panel of industry experts, who will decide on the final winners. But first, the nominees...
Categories and nominees
Restaurant Personality of the Year
Jason Atherton, The Social Company, London
Jackson Boxer, St Leonard's and Brunswick House, London
Marcis Dzelzainis and Michael Sager, Sager + Wilde and Fare, London
David Green, The Red Fox, Thornton Hough
Francesco Mazzei, D&D, London
Stuart McCluskey, The Bon Vivant, Edinburgh
Alexis Noble, Wander, London
Bar Owner of the Year
Sly Augustin, Trailer Happiness, London
Nate Brown and Lewis Hayes, Merchant House Group, London
JJ Goodman and James Hopkins, The London Cocktail Club, London
Lyndon Higginson, Liars Club, Science + Industry, Bay Horse Tavern and more, Manchester
James Hill and James O'Hara, Rockingham Group, Sheffield
Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson, Swift, London
Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil, Nightjar and Oriole, London
Max and Noel Venning, Three Sheets, Bar Three and Little Mercies, London
Rob Wood, 18/81 and Smultronställe, Birmingham
Bar Team of the Year
American Bar at The Savoy, London
Artesian, London
Below Stairs, Leeds
The Edgbaston, Birmingham
Lab 22, Cardiff
Panda + Sons, Edinburgh
Satan's Whiskers, London
Science + Industry, Manchester
Bartender of the Year
Dan Bovey, Hyde & Co, Bristol
Gethin Jones, Cottonopolis, Manchester
Remy Savage, Artesian, London
Rob Simpson, The Clove Club, London
Gemma Terry, Ojo Rojo, Bournemouth
Daniel Warren, Last Chance, Nottingham
Sommelier of the Year
Bert Blaize, The Mandrake, London
Sonal Clare, Purnells, Birmingham
Daniel Jonberger, Rockliffe Hall, Darlington
Gareth Ferreira, Core by Clare Smyth, London
Jan Konetzki, Ten Trinity Square, London
Matteo Montone, Berners Tavern, London
Diana Rollan, D&D, London
Julien Sahut, Sexy Fish, London
Pub Personality of the Year
Rob Allcock, The Longs Arms, South Wraxall
John Azzopardi and Aaron Burns, Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing
Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell, Brewhouse & Kitchen
Warren Carter, Bevendean Community Pub, Brighton
Nathan Clark, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
John Gyngell and Christian Townsley, North Bar, Leeds
Nigel Owen, Mother Kelly's, London
Jonathon Swaine, Fuller's
Phil Yates, Thirteen, Bicester
Tapster of the Year
Mauritz Borg, The Axe, London
Beth Buckell-May, The Stable, Bournemouth
Jordan Childs, Brewhouse & Kitchen, Lichfield
The team at Commercial Tavern, London
Andy Davies and team, Beer Merchants Tap, London
Sinead Murphy, The Parcel Yard, London
Jennifer Nadin, Cherry Reds and Lock & Key, Birmingham
New World Masters of Beer team, The New World Trading Co
Educator of the Year
Ian Burrell, The Rum Experience Co
Harry Crowther, Grain to Grape
Matt Dakers, London Cocktail Club
Tom Forrest, wine educator
Hannah Lanfear, The Mixing Class
Lauren Soderberg, The New World Trading Co
Innovator of the Year
Dan Dove, Global Bartending Talent Agency and Amico's Bar, Essex
Tim Etherington-Judge, Healthy Hospo
Sunny Hodge, Diogenes the Dog, London
Neil Kitching, Beer Merchants Tap, London
Dawn Leeder, Norwich City of Ale, Norwich
Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox, Drink.UpLondon
Matt Whiley, Scout, London
Victor Zasadzki, Pilango Cider and Cider Vault, London
Hot Stuff
Sam Ameye, Swift, London
Melania Battiston, 28°-50°, London
James Bowker, Nocturnal Animals, Birmingham
Beth Buckell-May, The Stable, Bournemouth
Dan Davies, Whatley Manor, Malmesbury
Pippa Guy, American Bar at The Savoy, London
Nicole Sykes, Satan's Whiskers, London
Melody Wong, Ten Trinity Square, London
Industry Legend
Tomas Estes, Café Pacifico, London
John Longden, Pub is the Hub
Christine Parkinson, Hakkasan Group
Ago Perrone, Connaught Bar, London
Nick Strangeway, Strange Hill
The winners will be announced at our official awards ceremony in London on 4 February.
