Manchester cocktail bar Schofield’s has shared its absolute honour at being awarded not one but two prestigious gongs at one of the UK’s biggest bar awards ceremonies.
Shortlisted for no less than four awards in all, the sophisticated cocktail bar was awarded both ‘Bar of the Year’ and ‘New Bar of the Year’ at the Class Bar awards ceremony this week – making history as the first venue to ever win both.
Attending a glitzy awards ceremony on Tuesday night, the understated cocktail den beat London’s A Bar with Shapes for a Name and Tayer + Elementary, as well as Leeds’ Tabula Rasa, to take home two of the ceremony’s biggest awards.
It’s a coup for Bury-born brother Joe and Daniel Schofield, who have only recently opened the sleek city centre cocktail bar – taking over landmark Manchester boozer The Old Grapes last year.
Image; Schofield’s Bar
Since then, they’ve gone from strength to strength – with Schofield’s first appearing at number 16 on the 2022 Top 50 Cocktail Bars List, and now this.
Sharing their news on Instagram, Schofield’s wrote: “We are honoured to receive Bar of the Year and New Bar of the Year at the prestigious CLASS Bar Awards, and be the first bar to ever win both.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank our team, for constantly giving 100% to our goal of providing hospitality to our guests.
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Image: Schofield’s Bar
“We would like to thank our guests for supporting what we do on a daily basis. We would also like to thank the hospitality community of Manchester for taking us in.
“We are proud to call Manchester home and proud to be a part of a thriving hospitality scene. To the team who couldn’t join us last night, we collected the awards on your behalf.”
As well as Schofield’s, brothers Joe and Daniel also have a second cocktail bar, Atomeca, on Deansgate Square and recently revealed plans to open a third underneath Gary Neville’s Stock Exchange Hotel.
Image:Schofield’s Bar
Schofield’s wasn’t the only Manchester bar to take home an award on the night.
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Mecanica, the opulent Swan Street bar with a menu inspired by hotels from around the world, also took home a gong from the Class Awards on Tuesday.
Bartender Elena Wright has only been in the industry for a year, but that didn’t stop her from being awarded the ‘Emerging Bartender of the Year’ award at this year’s Class Bar Awards ceremony.
The annual awards, organised by leading industry publication Class, celebrate the very best of the UK’s bartending talent, with further categories including Bar Manager of the Year, Front of House Star of the Year, Bar Employer of the Year, Social Media Presence of the Year and Sustainable Practices Award.
The full list of Class Bar Awards winners and finalists can be found below.
Social Media Presence of the Year sponsored by Della Vite
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Sexy Fish, London
Nightjar & Oriole, London (Winner)
Pineapple Club, Birmingham
Mr Fogg’s, London
Sustainable Practices Award sponsored by Belvedere
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Publiq, London (Winner)
Henrock Bar, Windermere
Ugly Butterfly, St Ives
Rockwell, London
Front of House Star of the Year sponsored by Horse With No Name
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Dina Gestoso-Mattar, Pineapple Club, Birmingham
Christiana Pirinu, The Donovan Bar, London
Jacopo Correnti, Oriole, London (Winner)
Shaneka Mccalla, The Goring Bar, London
Emerging Bartender of the Year sponsored by La Hechicera
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Courtney Francis, Ojo Rojo, Bournemouth
Rory Sorrell, Murder Inc, London
Elena Wright, Mecanica, Manchester (Winner)
La’Mel Clarke, Lyaness, London
Bar Employer of the Year sponsored by Master of Malt Trade
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Mecanica, Manchester
Pineapple Club, Birmingham (Winner)
Speakeasy Entertainment (Nightjar & Oriole), London
Dishoom, London
Bar Manager of the Year sponsored by Italicus
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Maura Milia, Connaught Bar, London (Winner)
Klára Kopčikova, Pineapple Club, Birmingham
James Wheeler, Lyaness, London
Sophie Bratt, Sexy Fish, London
Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by Stauning Whisky
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Anistatia Miller and Jared Brown (Winners)
Cocktail of the Year sponsored by Lanique
Pineapple | Miso, Silverleaf at Pan Pacific, London
Biscoff Old Fashioned, Present Company, Liverpool
Pastel, A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London (Winner)
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Irish Coffee, Swift, London
Drinks Menu of the Year sponsored by Franklin & Sons
Lab 22, Cardiff (Winner)
A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
Schofield’s Bar, Manchester
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Couch, Birmingham
Bar Food Menu of the Year sponsored by Menabrea
Bon Vivant, Edinburgh
Tayer + Elementary, London (Winner)
Little Mercies, London
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Homeboy, London
Specialist Bar of the Year sponsored by Savoia
KOL, London
Hey Palu, Edinburgh
Milroy’s, London
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Hacha, London (Winner)
Hotel Bar of the Year sponsored by Moët & Chandon
Side Hustle, Nomad, London
Connaught Bar, The Connaught, London (Winner)
Artesian, The Langham, London
Lyaness, Sea Containers, London
New Bar of the Year sponsored by Hapusa Gin
A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
Schofield’s Bar, Manchester (Winner)
Tabula Rasa, Leeds
Silverleaf at Pan Pacific, London
Bar of the Year sponsored by Disaronno
Tayer + Elementary, London
Schofield’s Bar, Manchester (Winner)
A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
Lab 22, Cardiff
Bartender of the Year sponsored by The Busker
Rachel Orange, Schofield’s Bar, Manchester
Remy Savage, A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London (Winner)
Monica Berg, Tayer + Elementary, London
Filippos Filippopoulos, Tabula Rasa, Leeds
Bar Innovator(s) of the Year sponsored by Tia Maria
Lyndon Higginson, The Liars Group, Manchester
Joe & Daniel Schofield, Schofield’s Bar / Atomeca, Manchester
Monica Berg & Alex Kratena, Tayer + Elementary, London (Winner)
Remy Savage, A Bar with Shapes for a Name, London
News
Nine arrested in multiple coordinated raids after ‘celebrating Hitler’s birthday’ in Oldham pub
Danny Jones
Nine arrests were made earlier this week after a group of suspected neo-Nazis were discovered celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday at a pub in Oldham last month.
Alarming stuff, to say the least.
The individuals in question were arrested following a series of coordinated morning raids across multiple areas of Greater Manchester, including Rochdale, Bolton, Trafford and Stockport.
Another man was taken into custody from an address in Southport, with those involved belonging to the North West arm of a far-right group known simply as ‘British Movement’.
Craft Union Pubs, who operate the establishment, said they were “absolutely appalled”. (Credit: Google Maps)
The pub in question was the Duke of Edinburgh in Royton, a town of around 21,000 people located in north Oldham; the owners, who were said to have been ‘tricked’ into allowing the celebrations, were shocked to learn the group were observing Hitler’s birthday.
Upon realising the true nature of the festivities after images were shared on social media, staff immediately reported the party to the local authorities and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers based in and around the borough were then made aware of the situation.
As seen online – including on British Movement Northern’s (BMN) own website – the pub were seen holding Nazi flags, SS bolts and the Iron Cross, even posting pictures eating a cake with swastika icing alongside captions which included the line, “the 136th birthday of Uncle A.”
Taking place on Wednesday morning, 7 May, several morning raids saw those present detained on suspicion of Section 18 Public Order Act offences, which relate to displaying written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, intended to stir up racial hatred.
During the extensive operation, everything from imitation firearms to real weapons like swords and a crossbow, along with numerous other pieces of Nazi memorabilia were found. Police are still investigating the incident and searching the relevant premises in Oldham and beyond.
Beyond shocking. (Credit: BMN)
GMP have been quick to contact Counter Terrorism Policing North West (CTPNW) to advise on the materials and assess further risk; for instance, following the recovery of a suspected grenade at a property in Bolton, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) was deployed and the item declared safe.
Assistant Chief Constable Steph Parker said in an official statement: “Due to the nature of the materials we recovered at the warrants today, we have liaised with colleagues at CTPNW. This is a matter of course, and it very much remains a GMP-led investigation.
“It’s important that all avenues are explored to establish the extent of the criminal offences which have been committed, and whilst our investigation is still in its early stages, we do not believe there to be a risk to the wider public.
“This group clearly has a deep fascination with ideas that we know are unsettling for communities across Greater Manchester. We must take action when concerns are raised, and where weapons are suspected, to ensure people are free to live without fear of intimidation or harm.”
Naturally, GMP are encouraging people to stay vigilant and come forward with any further information or concerns they may have.
Featured Images — British Movement Northern/GMP/Google Maps
News
No trams to run on major Metrolink line as ‘essential’ work to repair Victorian-era tunnel starts this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Travel disruption is expected across the next couple of weeks as ‘essential engineering’ work begins on a major Metrolink line.
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has confirmed that a reduced service will run on the Bury line this weekend, as work to replace ‘defective’ beams supporting the roof at Whitefield Tunnel means that no trams will run between Crumpsall and Bury on Saturday (10 May), or between Whitefield and Bury on Sunday (11 May).
Some weekend and overnight working is said to be ‘necessary’ to secure and protect the overhead line equipment, so that the beam replacement work can be completed as ‘safely and quickly as possible’, according to TfGM.
A crane is planned to be in use for the beam replacement work at times.
Closures on the line from this weekend come after the successful completion of preparatory work at the site, following the discovery of a defective beam.
No trams will run on a major Metrolink line as ‘essential’ work to repair Victorian-era tunnel starts this weekend / Credit: TfGM
As well as the suspension on services this weekend, as mentioned above, several other chances throughout this month and into the next on the Bury line are also to be expected.
No tram services will operate between Crumpsall and Bury on Sunday 25 May, and no again from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June, while no trams will run between Whitefield and Bury from Monday 26 to Thursday 29 May.
For the duration of all closures, replacement bus services will run between the affected stops on all the above dates.
Any so-called ‘noisier’ work is set to take place during daytime and evening working hours where possible, and several noise reduction measures – such as acoustic blankets and enclosures – also to be put in place during this.
Essential upgrade work to protect the historic Whitefield Tunnel means no trams will run between Crumpsall–Bury (Sat 10 May) and Whitefield–Bury (Sun 11 May).
We're replacing a defective beam to keep the line safe and reliable.
As always, the Greater Manchester public is being advised to ‘plan ahead’ if they are travelling.
“Whitefield Tunnel dates back to the 19th century,” explained Ian Davies, who is TfGM’s Network Director for Metrolink, “and this essential work will ensure tram services can continue to safely pass through it for decades to come.
“This is a complex job, but we will do everything we can to minimise disruption to passengers, residents and businesses.”
He added: “I would encourage people who use the Bury line to plan ahead and check the Bee Network website, app, and social media channels for the most up-to-date travel information.”
Georgina Pellant -
26th May 2022 
