BEHIND THE BAR: 11TH JUNE 2010
Welcome to a special edition of Behind the Bar, bringing you all the latest news from the industry event of the year - Bar. 10. This week we talk to the man behind The Bar Show, Andy Bishop, the show's Event Director, and find out what's going on behind the scenes at Bar. 10. We also bring you the very best of the Behind the Bar interviews from the last few weeks, find out the expert's thoughts... Come and see them at the original and best Bar Show, taking place NEXT WEEK from 15-16 June at the Business Design Centre, London. Click here to pre-register for your ticket. The best of behind the Bar Stuart Ekins, Inspirit Brands What’s going to hit the big time next? I suspect gin will enjoy its renewed prominence for a good while yet but, like I say, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a boom in whisky drinking over the next few years – not just the existing demographic, but a younger cooler crowd. Tim Bacon, operator of Living Ventures and serial bar entrepreneur What type of bar do customers want these days? I’m looking for that North American-style casual bar culture – a combination of big back-bars, good music systems, something that looks and smells good, is easy to use, not confrontational, where the price point’s good. Tony Conigliaro, bartender The cocktail you wish you’d invented The Army and Navy: gin, lemon and orgeat. Such beautiful simplicity; stunning to drink; it’s just ‘wow’ Spike Marchant, bartender What makes a great drink and a great bartender? “In 2010 bartenders are looking forwards and backwards. There’s a real sense of adventure through new science and techniques, and we’ve got insight from people like Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller and Dave Wondrich – I call it drink ‘archaeology’. Eric Yu, bar operator What’s your general attitude to running a bar business at the moment? I don’t think I’m alone in reviewing my sites to make them more efficient. We’ve all got to be open to ideas, to think and act laterally and very quickly. I’ve never known a time since I’ve been involved in the industry when customers decided their own terms so strongly over how they spend their money and how much they are prepared to spend. We’ve never had to work so hard. Salvatore Calabrese, mixologist What are your best memories of Salvatore’s bar? To see your personal icons come in and ask for me was just amazing – De Niro, Stallone, Bruce Willis, Jay-Z and Beyoncé, football teams, rugby teams. I could write a book about my customers, but I never would – what goes on in a bar is secret! See the experts at The London Cocktail Summit at Bar. 10. Behind the Bar with... Andy Bishop The Bar Show celebrates it’s tenth edition next week, so we speak to the man who has been involved from the start, Event Director Andy Bishop… Hi Andy…  How has The Bar Show changed over the last decade? When we started the Bar Show in 2000 everything was very new and I like to think we played a part in introducing everyone to each other. Bar people from all over the UK and internationally first got together in the early years. The show grew very big in around 2004 when we moved to Earls Court with huge visitor numbers. The business has changed recently and I think our smaller, conference led approach will prove to be the way ahead. Quality not quantity and all that. What’s your most memorable moment from the last ten year’s of the show? There have been many ‘moments’ over the years, some amazing, and some incredibly funny – who knew that the sand from Mahiki’s beach bar would cause such traction problems on a bare concrete floor ? – there were bodies everywhere. Good things have included the pop-up Match Bar (followed the next year by the pop-up Living Room), the Pernod Ricard/ Shaun Clarkson white room bar, the Maxxium Airstream with picket fence and deck chairs, the Ideal Brands stand made of shower curtains (but looked amazing), the Bacardi bongo player who played without a break for two days solid! We have also been privileged to host some of the finest bartending talent from around the world, a big thanks to all those who have been involved over the years. What highlights should we look out for this year? The first London Cocktail Summit has an amazing programme and line-up put together by Mixellany, and is set to grow into an annual event in its own right. The Summit also includes a bunch of competitions, Drink Factory, the Connoisseur’s Club from Belfast and Bar Show perennials Taste & Flavour – there’s something in there for everyone. What do you most enjoy about working in the bar industry? It’s a good place to be full of great people (even as a teetotaller). There is huge creativity in the industry from all areas. I’ve been involved since the beginning of Theme magazine nearly 20 years ago and the changes that have happened in that time have been nothing short of amazing. And finally, why is it so important for the industry to attend Bar. 10? Many reasons: find new suppliers, learn stuff, meet people, get inspired, find a new job and find new staff.  The Business of Bars The Bar Show is the leading event for the modern hospitality industry, gathering top drinks brands and industry leaders for a feature packed two day event taking place at the Business Design Centre, Islington from 15-16 June 2010. The show is now in its tenth year and is at the cutting edge of the drinks industry. It will incorporate The London Cocktail Summit, a one-stop-shop area to view the latest drink creations and see the best bartenders in the world in action. - The Connoisseurs Club Cocktail Theatre – Cocktails through the centuries; hear from the Merchant Hotel, Belfast on how the Cocktail has changed. - Drink Factory – a panel of expert alchemists demonstrate their latest liquid inventions using smoke guns. Centrifuges, vacuum machines and other creative paraphemalia - The Shark Pool: Bar! Sink or Swim! Competition – a Dragon’s Den style expert panel scrutinise contestants pitching their brain-child business plans. - Tequila Embassy – all things tequila! Compare and sample a great selection of brands; seminars will also take place so visitors can find out more about the history of Tequila - The Bartender “Black Box” Competition – the best mixologists from around the UK fight it out in an elimination battle for the title of “King of the Black Box”
The Ultimate Cocktail Competitions – the very best bartenders mix it up serving their finest Cocktail creations.
Bar. 10 will also show the latest in contemporary bar design with the Bar Build area, which will showcase hundreds of new products and services whilst uniting style gurus with industry peers from across the UK. There are a limited number of tickets available on the door, for more information or to pre-register for entry, click here. Bar. 10 takes place at the Business Design Centre, Islington from 15-16 June 2010. To subscribe to Behind the Bar, click here To register for Bar.10, please click here Find other editions of the newsletter here: | |||||||||
2010 highlights
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