It’s admirable to see independent bars making small changes to reduce their carbon footprint, especially off the back of a crippling pandemic, but really the onus is on the major drinks companies and their distributors to make the important changes to production, packaging and transport. Sadly, in order for successful companies to commit to sustainable initiatives, they need either…

As well as highlighting the danger of a single company controlling the bulk of social media, the blackout left much of the developed world in darkness, without the ability to communicate on-demand. It was incredibly tedious, but from a bartender’s point of view it was refreshing. It meant people weren’t distracted by their screens and were able to simply enjoy their drinks with…

That is, until the gastro pub emerged in the early 2000s and changed a pub’s role from simply being a boozer to a place you go to eat beer-battered cod and poncy triple-cooked chips. I fear a similar thing is now happening in the bar trade. Of course, it’s important to offer a food menu because ultimately it’s a way…

Back in the ’90s I worked in some of London’s top members’ bars alongside the late Dick Bradsell, and they were hugely popular. People would join them just for the drinks because they were some of the best around, and you could meet rock stars and have regular lock ins. It was enjoyable to work in them because every…

The non-profit venture lasted 14 years and although it eventually closed down, it was far from a failure. If just one person was given an opportunity to pursue a new career path then it’s a success in my eyes. The news that east London agave bar Hacha is adopting a similar concept for its new site in Brixton is…

Bartending has never been a secure career path, which is why a popular route for experienced bartenders is to embrace the lavish lifestyle as an international brand ambassador. Now, given the hardship of the past 15 months, bartenders probably feel more vulnerable than ever, possibly feeling less valued by their employer following the hardships of Covid, therefore making it more tempting than ever…

When I first started bartending there weren’t any brand trips. It wasn’t until the late 90s when they started taking us to Manchester from London that we were exposed to other bar cultures and it grew from there. I’m lucky enough to have been all over the world with brands, but the past year’s restrictions on travel have le a gaping chasm in…