Licensed Trade International awards for top North East bars

Members of the licensed trade have come together to celebrate some of the best in North East nightlife.

Licensed Trade International’s Benevolent Awards saw scores turn out for a black tie dinner at Newcastle’s Castle Gate on Tuesday night.

But the stars of the show were those picking up the accolades, with prizes – awarded after a public vote – for categories including Best Beer Bar, Best Restaurant and Best Mixologist.

The Best Beer Bar award saw Brewdog Newcastle, The Bridge Tavern, Lady Grey’s, The Town Wall, The Broad Chare and Pleased To Meet You go head to head, with Quayside brewpub, The Bridge Tavern, topping the poll.

One of the best kept secrets of the night was the winner of the Mixologist of the Year contest, with cocktail makers having battled it out in front of a team of judges at Brown’s on Grey Street on August 28, but having to wait to the awards themselves to find out who’d won.

The prize in the end went to Tim Ward from Two Fifths, ahead of Allan Beaton & Chris Resent, both from Hoochie Coochie, whose impressive cocktail concoction wowed experts including representatives of Russian Standard Vodka.

The Licenced Trade International Benevolent Awards winners:

Best Beer Bar

1. The Bridge Tavern

2. Pleased To Meet You

3. The Town Wall

Best Bar

1. Livello

2. Hoochie Coochie

3. Nectar Bar

Best Food Bar

1. The Bridge Tavern

2. Jam Jar

3. Fat Buddha

Best Live Music Venue

1. Hoochie Coochie

2. Cluny

3. O2 Academy

Best Late Night Venue

1. No 28

2. Powerhouse

3. The Empress

Best Restaurant

1. Blackfriars

2. As You Like It

3. Six @ Baltic

Best Multiple Operator

1. Apartment Group

Best Mixologist

1. Tim Ward (Two Fifths)

2. Allan Beaton (Hoochie Coochie)

3. Christopher Marco Resant (Hoochie Coochie)