A bartender from Be At One Spitalfields has been crowned the best in the country after winning Be At One’s Bartender Challenge 2026.
Angel Mir Candela beat competition from hundreds of Be At One bartenders across the UK to claim the title of Bartender of the Year 2026, taking home a £3,000 prize following the national final at Be At One Regent Street.
The annual competition celebrates the very best bartending talent from across Be At One bars, putting competitors through a series of in-bar heats, regional rounds and a national final designed to test cocktail-making skills, product knowledge, speed, pouring accuracy and guest interaction.
After progressing through the earlier stages of the competition, Angel secured a place among the six national finalists before impressing judges with an outstanding performance on the day.
As well as being crowned Bartender of the Year, Angel also collected the award for Most Knowledgeable Bartender, underlining their exceptional expertise behind the bar.
The victory marks the culmination of years of dedication to the craft for Angel, who has worked at Be At One for more than seven and a half years. Having previously reached the Bartender Challenge final in both 2023 and 2024, this year’s win sees Angel finally take home the competition’s top prize.
Gemma Gallon, Senior Brand Training Manager at Be At One, said: “Angel was a standout performer throughout the competition and thoroughly deserved to be crowned our Bartender of the Year.
“The challenge tests every aspect of what it takes to be a great bartender, from technical skill and product knowledge to personality and guest engagement. Angel excelled across all areas and represented Be At One Spitalfields brilliantly.
“To come out on top from a field of more than 200 bartenders is an incredible achievement and one everyone at Be At One is immensely proud of.”
Angel said: “I’m incredibly proud to have my name engraved on this trophy. But this achievement also belongs to everyone I’ve had the privilege of working alongside over the years, because without their hard work, support and dedication, this simply wouldn’t have been possible.”
Angel’s success highlights the calibre of hospitality talent working in East London and places Be At One Spitalfields among the top-performing venues in the national cocktail bar brand.