The Drift Inn in Arran is celebrating after making the shortlist at the prestigious Scottish Bar and Pub Awards.

The bar in Lamlash is up for Isle of Arran Distillers Island Bar of the Year at the respected industry bash on August 16 in Glasgow’s Hilton hotel.

Licensee Euan Henderson and his wife Amy Rickard reckon the hard work and dedication they’ve put in over the last three years has made them a hot contender.

Euan, who is originally from Edinburgh and worked in hospitality before moving to Arran with Amy from Nova Scotia, said: “It’s great to be shortlisted out of the 1,400 entries. We’ve tried to bring a bit of the city here and built a rapport with customers. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication.

“All our produce is local and Scottish and the fish comes from the water that’s just outside the window.”

Judges from Dram Magazine who host the awards and Arran Distillery are looking for a pub that offers great food, excellent service and a very warm welcome in the Island Bar of the Year category.

Dram instigated the first ever licensed trade awards 21 years ago and today the entry has never been stronger. Some of the biggest names in the drinks industry – such as Isle of Arran Distillers, the BII, Caledonian Brewery, Diageo Disaronno, Gordon & Macphail, Inverarity MortonKopparberg, Maxxium / Mixxit, Molson Coors and Tennents, as well as Glencairn Crystal, Bright Signals and Flow Training – back the awards.

This year’s awards have a Brazilian theme to celebrate Rio hosting the Olympic Games.