Revolution in Aberdeen, Drygate bar and brewery in Glasgow and the bar manager of Rick’s in Edinburgh were among winners at this year’s BII Scotland awards.

Revolution Bars Group won the title of bar operator of the year for its Revolution bar in Belmont Street, Aberdeen, beating two Glasgow finalists, the Butterfly & Pig and The Howlin’ Wolf.

The award for bar personality of the year went to bartender Anna Thomson, bar manager at Rick’s bar and hotel in Frederick Street in Edinburgh’s New Town.

The title of late-night operator of the year went to The Jazz Bar in Chambers Street in Edinburgh’s Old Town, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year after being founded by drummer and jazz organiser Bill Kyle. It beat other finalists Liquid in Dundee, operated by The Deltic Group, and Slouch and The Howlin’ Wolf in Glasgow.

An award for best business initiative went to Drygate brewery and its bar and restaurant The Vintage (pictured) which was opened last year next to Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow’s East End. The brewery is a collaboration between Williams Bros Brewing Co and C&C Group, which owns Tennent’s. The other finalist was Strathearn Distillery.

The title of whisky bar of the year went to The Kenmore Hotel in Aberfeldy in the Highlands of Perthshire, part of Aurora Hotel Collection. The other finalist was The Bon Accord in Glasgow.

The award for food operator of the year went to Porter & Rye which was opened in Argyle Street in Glasgow in December by the team behind top bars Lebowskis and The Finnieston. It beat other finalists Martin Wishart in Edinburgh and Red Onion in Glasgow.

CPL Training won the Scottish Training Award after being nominated by Dennis Forsyth, owner of Cheers Café Bar & Tavern in Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, beating finalists GTG, The George Hotel in Edinburgh and Tennent’s Training Academy.

Dennis said: “Our commitment to staff training has seen us win staff training awards for both Scotland and Great Britain. In the past four years we’ve won over 20 various national awards, all of which would not have come about without the investment and development of our staff, who are the backbone of our success.

“Our CPL online training console, which allows our staff remote access to nearly 20 different training modules, is the main focus of our development programme. We don’t know what we’d have done without it.”

Fyne Ales, based in Argyll, was named Scottish brewery of the year for its award-winning range of craft ales such as Jarl, Avalanche and Highlander. The other finalists were Williams Bros and Lossiemouth’s Windswept Brewing Company.

The judges awarded their social responsibility award to Falkirk Delivers business improvement district (BID) for various initiatives to improve the night-time economy in the Central Lowlands town. The other finalist was Deltic Group’s Institute in Aberdeen for its Women United safety initiative.

The annual awards were held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow on Sunday (May 17). Stephen McGowan, chairman of BII Scotland, said: “Many congratulations to all finalists and winners and thanks to all our sponsors and supporters.

“In Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink this was a real celebration of the licensed trade and its innovation. I’m proud to be part of this community and already looking forward to the 2016 event – it will be the 30th anniversary of BII Scotland so watch this space.”

Full list of winners

BAR OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

Revolution, Aberdeen

LATE NIGHT OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh

SCOTTISH TRAINING AWARD

CPL Training

SCOTTISH BREWERY OF THE YEAR

Fyne Ales

BEST BUSINESS INITIATIVE

Drygate Brewery, Bar and Restaurant

WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR

The Kenmore Hotel, Aberfeldy (previous finalists)

FOOD OPERATOR OF THE YEAR

Porter & Rye, Glasgow

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD

Falkirk Delivers (Night-Time Economy Initiatives)

BAR PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR

Anna Thomson, Rick’s, Edinburgh