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Hamish Smith

Journalist — the global and UK bar trade; cocktail-bar awards, openings and the industry's own politics.

editor of CLASS (the UK bar-trade magazine) and of Drinks International's bar coverage; the trade voice that reports the World's 50 Best Bars ceremonies from the room, on the night.

Their own reviews and picks.

Their own judgment, in their own words, by the piece it appeared in.

• CLASS (9/10 overall) ↗their review · 2025-07
  • WaltzShoreditch

    “Like Angel's Share and Bar Goto in New York, Waltz feels every bit a proper export of the fabled Japanese cocktail bar.”

• CLASS (7/10 overall, drinks 9) ↗their review · 2024-10-16
  • Archive & MythLeicester Square

    “In drinks, hospitality and atmosphere, this is a fine cocktail bar that could rub shoulders with the best indies around.”

• CLASS ↗their review · 2024-10
  • Scarfes BarHolborn

    “I'm yet to meet anyone who's been there who doesn't love it.”

• CLASS Magazine, 'East heads west - the journey to Three Sheets the sequel' ↗their review · 2024-03-13
  • Three Sheets DalstonDalston

    “A couple of years in and black cabs from central London are a regular sight, pulling up on Kingsland Road, nervous cocktail tourists peering out of the window. Could this actually be the site of one of The World's 50 Best Bars and its famous French 75? It was and in fact this narrow, unassuming bar made three editions, not to mention winning Bar of the Year at the Class Bar Awards in early 2019. Dalston was now on the international cocktail map.”

• CLASS (9/10) ↗their review · 2024-01
  • EQUAL PARTSHackney Road

    “I wonder if it's actually possible to not like this bar.”

Pieces they wrote about these places.

Reporting, openings and roundups. Kept for the trail, and not read as their endorsement — a writer relaying someone else's award is not recommending it.

• CLASS Magazine, 'TT Liquor closes' ↗opening coverage · 2024-10-08
  • TT LiquorShoreditch

    “The multi-floor venue, which included a drinks shop, outside terrace, cocktail bar, cinema and events space, has served the drinks industry for nine years, as a host to educational events, not least CLASS Academies.”

• CLASS ↗opening coverage · 2024-07-01
  • Swift ShoreditchShoreditch

    “The pair have sold back their shares in the three Swift bars - in Soho, Shoreditch and Borough - to embark on a new chapter of their lives in Stockholm, Sweden.”

  • Swift SohoSoho

    “Swift's operations manager Coral Anderson, who has been with the group since the launch of the first site in 2016 (Soho), has been at the forefront of its success and now becomes managing director and co-owner of the bars, taking a "meaningful" sweat-equity stake.”