Keenan Williams has an infectious smile and an easy manner around people, which makes him perfect for hospitality. He drove a taxi for a long while but it became too dangerous. He then had a job in retail, which he lost in Covid. He has to support his wife and four kids, one of whom is a six-month-old baby he found abandoned on the street.

When Mango House was at the 11th hour of launching its bar Kokoye, oranges hadn’t been available in the Seychelles for three months. The base spirits for four of the cocktails on the opening menu were also unexpectedly out of stock. At times, strawberries and blackberries were 86 and at one time, even coconuts were in short supply. The trees may be everywhere, but during…

“The bar scene is growing. There are some really exciting new openings too. Bars like Reka, Bar Terumi, BAC, Bar Mizukami, Alcohall and Penrose are all great new editions to the city. You can have a fun night out barhopping and enjoying very different concepts and styles of drinks. There are a lot of bars using local ingredients and flavours in interesting and original serves,…

Every Commonwealth nation around the world came to a standstill to show appreciation for a cherished member of the Royal Family, while the UK entered an official period of mourning. Having led the Commonwealth for a staggering 70 years, Her Royal Highness leaves behind a lasting legacy for the future of the UK. But more specifically to the drinks industry, she leaves behind a collection…

Soaring inflation rates and energy bills, particularly in the UK, have been triggered by a combination of supply chain issues off the back of the pan- demic, followed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. For hospitality, inflation acts as a deterrent for consumers who are not only seeing the price of a pint rising, but having to prioritise other basic living costs…

HiteJinro is a major player in the soju category that has recently begun expansion into UK markets. The brand, which has continually topped the list of Drinks International’s The Millionaires’ Club, sold more than 94 million 9-litre cases in 2021. The expansion comes as part of ongoing investment in the UK market to increase distribution and awareness of the brand, following the success of recent…

Drinks International caught up with co-founder Alex Harrison to shed some light on the so-called secret weapon of UK small distillers and producers. “When we started, we had no experience in bottling. I had met my co-founder John [Ferguson], through our partners in a bar in Edinburgh, we became friends, and both wanted to set up a new venture. “There was a demand for botting…