I’m chatting with Magician Ben Francis who opened The Oracle Magic Bar in Liverpool late in 2019. The pubs and bars in England were given the go-ahead to reopen their doors last weekend. We talk about how they’ve adjusted to the changes required to keep guests safe and how to open a bar based around magic performance when live entertainment is banned. The Oracle Magic Bar is a beautiful and nostalgic venue filled with nods to the magic community from menu colours to...

On this week’s BartenderHQ Podcast we’re talking Independents Day with G Franklin. The UK Bar industry has been given the go ahead by the government to open their doors for the first time since March’s lockdown on July 4th 2020. In the show we talk about what bars can do to mitigate the lower capacities an capitalise on their social presence, growing their following and making socially distanced ordering possible. We also talk briefly about the work of UK Hospitality...

NIO Cocktails (Needs Only Ice) are a cocktail delivery service that brings craft cocktails directly to, and indeed through your door. 2020 has been a very strange year for the hospitality industry, as well as of course, pretty much every other industry on the planet. We’ve not been able to got to bars in the way we used to and socialise in the normal way. One thing that has become clear however is that consumers do value good cocktails. Many cocktail bars have...

In this show we take a very high level overview of my editing and filming process for BartenderHQ content. I touch on a number of editing options from free to professional along with what they can do. Luma Fusion If you want to do everything from filming to edit and upload just on your phone, Luma Fusion is the best there is. Its a one off very reasonable app purchase, which you can use across multiple devices. iMovie Free on iOS as well as any Mac,...

On today’s show we welcome Nicole Barker, owner of Happy Bartenders Thrive on Facebook and resident of Reno, Nevada. Happy Bartenders Thrive is all about creating a mindset shift in the hospitality industry, training well rounded bartenders and creating longevity in the service industry. You can find Nicole online by searching “Happy Bartenders Thrive” on Facebook Find today’s Superhero Cocktail recipe, Captain Marvel’s Black Manhattan here.

On Today’s “abridged” Booze at Ten, our Flash Cocktail, the SpiceEEPU cocktail. I was planning a full show today talking about how I edit these shows (as I want to support other bartenders creating their own thing!) but it was not to be. This morning my youngest son was at hospital for his regular chemotherapy, and on returning home decided to turn the bathroom taps on full. This resulted in my office/studio below being flooded, and most of the day being taken up with clean...

Mat Parrott, the Magic Bartender joins us for the second Booze at Ten. The Magic Bartender Mat started his bartending career by accident off the back of juggling and has since become a very well respected bartender within TGI Fridays UK and beyond. He’s incorporated his love for magic as a part of his bartending for the past number of years and we discuss some of his influences in both the bar industry and magic in this show. Mat has been a finalist in the TGI...

On our first Booze at Ten show, we have Samuel Boulton, our long time co-host talking about how he’s kept his business relevant during the lockdown. We discuss the Mead Boutique, his online retail arm selling mead to the world, take away cocktails and the new normal, as well as our quick fire questions. Check out his recipe for his Thor cocktail, a mead twist on the Bees Knees here. Find Sam at Vanguardbar.co.uk and TheMeadBoutique.com Want to...

Hey everyone, I just wanted to update you on what’s going on right now – the show was paused for a little while because my three year old who’s undergoing Leukaemia treatment has been in and out of the hospital the past week. I want to reassure you, it’s not because he had COVID – he was tested twice and negative both times. But with Leukaemia treatment and chemotherapy ongoing he’s in the extremely vulnerable category and isolated for 12 weeks. Because of COVID...

While the bars are closed many bartenders are trying to grow their brands and you can easily get started with just your iPhone, android or whatever you have to hand. Here we’ll show you the basics of lighting, using the right camera and how to just get started with iPhone Video. Key points on iPhone Video (or any smartphone) Always shoot for the platform you’re using. This used to be a simple case of “always shoot in landscape” but now, there are multiple...

In this show we’re resurfacing our interview with JB Bandy – the man who trained both Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown to be bartenders in the classic movie Cocktail! We recorded this for the anniversary of the movie’s release. “On the 30th Anniversary of the release of Cocktail we’re incredibly proud to present our interview with JB Bandy, the man who trained Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown to flair bartend for the movie. Without JB Bandy, flair bartending may never have gained the popularity it...

On this Bartender’s Breakfast we’re talking about reconnecting with friends and family from the past. During these unprecedented times, If you’re isolating with family, make the most of that time. Try to get outdoors in your garden or any outside space you have. You don’t need to walk in the wood to appreciate a little nature, just sitting in a yard or on a balcony can make all the difference. Take the time when you might normally have been working to call friends...

Morning everyone! While everything is still crazy, make sure you’re looking after yourself and your family. Get outdoors if you have a yard or a garden, go for socially distanced walks or runs if it is safe and legal to do so. Practice your flair and learn new recipes and techniques to use when everything is back open.

While the world is locked down and bars in many areas are closed, bartenders can continue to build their profile and skill set from home. In today’s video we’re touching on just a few ways you can stay front of mind for your guests and potential employers when the pandemic is over (or at least controlled!) BarSmarts free (use “TRYBARSMARTS” at Checkout) A Bar Above course Masterclass With Ryan Lyan Find us online at http://bartenderhq.com Tweet...

Super quick chat today. The UK has ordered everyone who can to stay at home until further notice with an initial review in three weeks. Sorry we’re late today, word came through that my role is “furloughed” for now meaning that my partial salary is coming in from the Government while the company is widely shut down. That meant I had to spend a little time this morning to get everything finalised! If you’re living in an area that is also on a Stay at Home order, please observe...

On today’s Bartender’s Breakfast: UK Bar industry is on lockdown All public gatherings closed. Thats bars, restaurants, pubs, gyms, theatres and leisure centres. Some bars are offering take away services or delivery with the stock they have but all gatherings are off. Should the Olympics be cancelled? The International Olympics Committee is still dragging its feet on what to do in the face of the crisis. Should the Olympics be cancelled or at least...

Your daily update on what’s happening within the UK’s bar world as we get through the Corona Crisis. Government Update At the time of recording, there is still government advice in place to avoid pubs, bars, restaurants and theatres but no formal order to close. This has made it very difficult for many to decide on the right course of action. Closing without a mandate may make insurance claims for interruption to business difficult, and staying open means paying...

Hey friends – This is Bartender’s Breakfast. We’ll be sharing the latest updates for the bar industry on what’s going on with Coronavirus and what you can do to keep a shred of normality in your life. We’re aiming to do the show daily at 11am and of course, right now things are changing super quickly. We need your feedback on what you need from the show and how we can make it as useful for you as possible. Due to our location in the UK there will certainly be...

On our podcasts we want YOU to start doing – and tag whatever you do with #MyBartenderLife so that I can see your passion for bartending. Whether your passion is for Craft Beers, Craft Cocktails, bartending at speed, owning the party, I want to know. So get posting your thoughts on the bar industry, your walk to work and when and where you’re working, and don’t forget to tag! * Find us online at http://bartenderhq.com* Tweet me your thoughts on this video...

On this week’s show we reached out to the Worldwide Bartender Community and Happy Bartenders Thrive on Facebook to get some questions to answer for you! Ford from the Worldwide Bartender Community asks: “Advice for Bar Managers please” Decide if you’re on Defence or Offence from day one. Playing Defence as a Bar manager * Careful margin management* Concern about theft* Micromanaging bar team On the Offence * Maximising sales* Hiring...

We’re in conversation with Jumbles St Pierre in this week’s podcast talking FLAIR CAMP! In 2020 Flair Camp is expanding from its one week into a full on world tour with different legendary instructors at each location. Who are you? So my name is Jumbles and yes that is my real name.  I have been Teaching at Flair Camp since 2016 but I have been turning up uninvited since the first year way back in 2012. Since then, the last week of September has been my...

On this week’s podcast we’re talking dehydrated fruit garnishes and why every bar needs a dehydrator in their arsenal. Fruit dehydrators are a great option for bars in terms of reducing food waste while making drinks more attractive to the guest. Dehydrated fruits last far longer than fresh fruit, while retaining much of the flavour and becoming more aromatic in many cases. There are plenty of options to explore, from citrus wheels to cinnamon apple slices, pineapple...

Are you making drinks with flavours your guests demand? Caveat – in the UK, many bars need to list their entire cocktail menu as there isn’t always the assumption that bartenders can make off menu drinks. There has long been a trend for using unexpected or unfamiliar flavours in drinks. It’s often seen as a way to show how progressive or original a bar is, but there is a danger that it can alienate guests. It’s vital that even if you choose this way to...

In this week’s Podcast we’re looking back at The Spirits Business predictions from last year to see how they did. We then look at what we see as 2020’s most likely trends and give our own predictions. The Spirits Business 2019 Predictions The cocktail trends to watch in 2019 * Sherry Based Cocktails* Simplifying Serves* Closing the loop (reducing and re-using waste)* Its ok not to be ok – Healthy Hospitality* Fermentation Experimentation In general,...