On Wednesday 21 May 2025, CLASS magazine announced its highly anticipated CLASS Bar Awards 2024.

Having debuted in 2003, the CLASS Bar Awards is the longest-running UK bar industry celebration. Representatives from the UK’s leading bars attended the Awards last night at Battersea Arts Centre, London, among a crowd of 600 industry well-wishers. Judged by the CLASS Collective (a group of 170 bar aficionados from across the UK), the CLASS Bar Awards recognises the talent, achievements and diversity of the UK bar scene.

The Best Bar in the Midlands & East Anglia went to Couch this year, winning out from a finalist’s group of
Birmingham bars. Couch is full of talented bartenders who work in perfect harmony to create what is now a
nationally famous neighbourhood bar in Stirchley, in the burbs of Birmingham. It’s no coincidence that Couch’s owner Katie Rouse took the big individual prize: Bartender of the Year sponsored by Funkin  Cocktails. A leading light of the UK bar scene in recent years Rouse is no stranger to a finalist list. Her maiden win comes off the back of a big year at her Birmingham neighbourhood bar Couch, where the level of the drinks is only matched by the vibe and service.

The Food Menu of the Year sponsored by Mothaiba also went to a Birmingham venue: Passing Fancies. The food here isn’t the work of a professional chef but co-owner Eve Green, who is fast fulfilling that description. The bartender turned cook, has designed an ever-moving menu of small plates of fresh food that bends the notion of what bar food from a small kitchen can be.