Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2019: Winners announced

The top movers and shakers of the UK drinks industry gathered last night in London to hear the results of the Imbibe Personality of the Year Awards 2019.

The nominees were voted for by Imbibe magazine’s readers in record-breaking numbers and the shortlist included the highest calibre of UK on-trade professionals.

The Edgbaston, Birmingham, picked up the Bar Team of the Year award.

Imbibe editor, Chris Losh, commented:

“Some say a great bar team works like a well-oiled machine, but that description seems inadequate to describe our winners here.”

“Of course, they’re efficient and hard-working. One of our judges said he got ‘goose pimples just sitting at the bar watching them work’. And yes, they make great drinks. But what blew our judges away was their engaging personalities and panache. These guys really take hospitality to the next level, proving that approachable and unpretentious doesn’t also mean unambitious. And that even in quieter locations a great team will still pull in the public night after night.”

The winners on the night were: 

The Edgbaston, Birmingham
Bar Team of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Ketel One Vodka)

Dan Bovey, Hyde & Co, Bristol
Bartender of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Fernet-Branca)

James Bowker, Nocturnal Animals, Birmingham
Hot Stuff 2019 (sponsored by Tanqueray No. Ten) 

Dawn Leeder, Norwich City of Ale, Norwich
Innovator of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Fentimans)

John Azzopardi and Aaron Burns, Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing
Pub Personality of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Licor 43) (Note: joint winner)

Jonathon Swaine, Fuller’s
Pub Personality of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Licor 43) (Note: joint winner)

Marcis Dzelzainis and Michael Sager, Sager + Wilde and Fare, London
Restaurant Personality of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Champagne Gosset) 

Jan Konetzki, Ten Trinity Square, London
Sommelier of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Ramón Bilbao)

Andy Davies and team, Beer Merchants Tap, London
Tapster of the Year 2019

Christine Parkinson, Hakkasan Group
Industry Legend 2019 (sponsored by Southern Comfort)

Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson, Swift, London
Bar Owner of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Woodford Reserve)

Hannah Lanfear, The Mixing Class
Educator of the Year 2019 (sponsored by Brew + Press)

Judges for the competition included Jane Payton (founder and principal at the School of Booze), Martin Lamb (wine consultant and Sommelier Wine Awards team leader), Sam Fish (operations director at MOJO Bars), Julian de Féral (Gorgeous Group), and of course the Imbibe editorial team.