Cheshire Cat makes Drinks Buyers Awards shortlist

The 2026 Drinks Buyers Awards shortlists have been announced by the London Wine Fair.

Tim Bird of National Pub & Bar Awards winner Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars is up for No & Low Drinks Buyer of the Year alongside Harry Cooper of Counter 71. 

Adam Donnelly from Urban Pubs and Bars has been nominated for Spirits Buyer of the Year, as has Hawksmoor's Liam Davy. Donnelly is also up for Wine Buyer of the Year for the On-Trade Multiple Venues category. 

The shortlist for The Rising Star Award, which is sponsored by Dine Out magazine and Hatch Mansfield, comprises: Maria Cintoli, Studio Paskin; Sean Crosby, W8; Bowie Tsang, Taku Mayfair; and Issy Wardlow, Virgin Wine Online.

The other award categories are: No & Low Drinks Buyer on the Year (Off-Trade); No & Low Drinks Buyer of the Year (On-Trade); Spirits Buyer of the Year (Off-Trade); Spirits Buyer of the Year (On-Trade); Wine Buyer of the Year (On-Trade Single Venue); Wine Buyer of the Year (On-Trade Multiple Venues); Wine Buyer of the Year (Independent Merchant); Wine Buyer of the Year (Supermarket/Multiples); Sustainable Drinks Buyer of the Year; Sustainable Drinks Buying Team of the Year; Drinks Buying Team of the Year (On-Trade); Drinks Buying Team of the Year (Off-Trade).

The full shortlist can be found at drinksbuyersawards.com/2026-shortlist. 

Winners for all the Drinks Buyer Awards categories will be announced at London Wine Fair in May, at Olympia. 

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