Harpers Drinking Out Excellence Awards shortlist announced

The shortlisted restaurant and bars in this year’s Harpers Drinking Out Excellence Awards have been announced.

The line-up includes some newcomers and drinks trade favourites and have been pulled together by a cross industry panel including restaurant critics, consultants, food and wine writers and bloggers, suppliers and sommeliers.

All finalists are from London or otherwise mentioned:
* After dinner drinks: Boisdale, Cinnamon Club, Boomerang Bar, Hamble, Southampton.

* Best Asian drinks list: Hakkasan. Zuma. Hunan

* Champagne venue of year: Amuse Bouche. Le Bouchon Breton, St Pancras Champagne Bar

* European Wine Restaurant: 28-50, Chez Bruce, Hibiscus, The Jetty, Mudeford

* French restaurant: Le Bouchon Breton, La Trompette, Pied a Terre

* Italian restaurant: Locanda Loctelli. L’Anima. River Café, Ramsons, Ramsbottom (sponsored by  Cavit)

* New World wine restaurant: Gaucho Restaurants, High Timber, Providores. The Greenhouse) (sponsored by Brown Brothers)

* Newcomer: The Jetty Mudeford, Broadway Bar & Grill, 28-50, Cigalon (sponsored by Mission Estate)

* Spanish wine restaurant: Barrica, El Faro, Morito, Barrafina

* Spirits personality: Jake Burger, Ben Leake, Toni Conigliari (Chambord)

* Spirits venue: Mark’s Bar at Hix, Socio Rehab Manchester, Bramble, Edinburgh. Portobello Star (Iceberg Vodka)

* Wine bar of year: Vinoteca. Terroirs. Folly’s Wine Bar, Petersfield, Beaujolais

* Wine Personality: Gerard Basset, Nick Strangeway, Trevor Gulliver

* Wine pub of year: The Anchor, Walberswick, The Wild Duck, Ewen, The Harwood Arms, The Garrison.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on January 24, 2011 at London’s Haymarket Hotel.

Written by Richard Siddle

Tuesday, 14 December 2010