No. 3 Gin opens Unrivalled Classics competition entries

No.3 London Dry Gin has opened entries for its newly renamed 2024 global cocktail competition, Unrivalled Classics. 

Argo takes over London's Amaro bar

Argo at Four Seasons Hong Kong – number 34 in The World’s 50 Best Bars - will take over Amaro bar in London’s South Kensington on 30 January.

East London Liquor Company bought out of administration

East London Liquor Co has been bought out of administration following “harsh new conditions” on its Time to Pay agreement with HMRC.

Bar Antoine launches at Four Seasons London

Pavyllon London, the recently opened Mayfair restaurant by chef Yannick Alléno has introduced Bar Antoine, at the Four Seasons Hotel London, Park Lane.

Silverleaf launches new menu

Silverleaf bar at Pan Pacific London has launched its new menu, Building Blocks, the first new menu launch for the bar since opening in February 2022. 

Buffalo Trace Distillery announces London location

Buffalo Trace Distillery, distiller of brands including Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazerac Rye, has announced the forthcoming opening of Buffalo Trace Distillery London, an American whiskey experience in Covent Garden.

London Cocktail Week adds new initiatives for 2023

London Cocktail Week has unveiled the Bartender Knowledge Exchange programme to help educate both local and international bartenders as part of a series of new initiatives in 2023 aimed at supporting the hospitality industry.

Scarfes Bar hosts Oslo’s Himkok

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London will partner with cocktail bar Himkok for a takeover experience on Wednesday 6 September from 7-10pm.

Nipperkin Bar launches at 20 Berkeley

20 Berkeley, the new British produce-led restaurant and bar in Mayfair, London, has launched its Nipperkin Bar. 

Michael Hajiyianni: Ruby's great import

The cliché entry into bartending is during the university years, where a part time job to support a student loan snowballs into a career. But for some, hospitality is in their blood. Michael Hajiyianni, general manager of veteran Copenhagen bar Ruby, falls into the latter category.

Artesian Bar launches new menu ‘Ingredients of the Future’

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that Artesian Bar, located at The Langham London, is launching a new menu titled ‘Ingredients of the Future’. 

London Essence, Avallen and ecoSpirits create low waste serve

Mixer brand The London Essence, Calvados brand Avallen and low carbon, low waste spirits distribution technology ecoSpirits, have joined together to create ‘The Sustainable Spritz’, a low waste serve that eliminates single use glass.

Nobu launches tequila for global markets

Nobu has collaborated with QUI Tequila to launch a limited-edition aged tequila available for both on and off-trade sales.

Hayman’s unveils ‘The Original Gin’ advertising campaign

London gin distiller, Hayman’s, has launched its first out of home (OOH) advertising campaign ‘The Original Gin’, to begin in London, rolled out internationally over the next few months.

Nobu Bar appoints Sophie Bratt as new bar manager and launches cocktail experience

Nobu Hotel London Portman Square's Nobu Bar has launched a new cocktail experience inspired by Nobu Matsuhisa’s global travels.

Agricole education platform readies for first session

Spiribam-UK, owners of Rhum J.M and Clement, has announced the launch of ‘AgriSchool’, an in-person, category education event for bartenders interested in rhum agricole.

Scarfes Bar launches global bar tour

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London has kicked off its first global bar tour to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

Newly renovated The Dorchester hotel opens two new bars

Following a year-long renovation, Mayfair’s Dorchester hotel has unveiled its ground floor complete with a reimagined Vesper Bar and new Artists’ Bar.

Sazerac to invest US$600 million in Kentucky barrel warehouses

Louisville-based Sazerac will invest US$600 million in new barrel warehouses in London, Laurel County, Kentucky.

Dre Masso: Three decades steeped in cocktails

Sat in his newest bar, The Drinks Trolley, just moments from London’s King’s Cross Station, Dre Masso takes a look over his career as he approaches 30 years in the trade.

Beefeater relaunches ultra-premium Crown Jewel gin

London dry gin producer Beefeater has announced the launch of Crown Jewel, the ultra-premium pinnacle of the brand’s gin portfolio that first appeared as a limited-edition release nearly two decades ago.

East London Liquor Co joins Mangrove Global portfolio

Mangrove Global, the premium UK spirits distributor, has announced the addition of East London Liquor Company to its portfolio.

Moebius Milano’s Lorenzo Querci talks Milan bar scene and London’s influence

Moebius, the Milan-based venue owned by Lorenzo Querci, includes a cocktail bar managed by Giovanni Allario, former bar manager of Le Syndicat, Paris, a bistrot restaurant, and a fine dining restaurant run by two Michelin Star chef, Enrico Croatti, it focuses on modern mixology.

London Essence launches in Dubai

London Essence has announced the launch of five of its mixers in the UAE, distributed by Dubai Refreshment Company.

Drinks International’s Guide to London Cocktail Week

London Cocktail Week kicks off on Thursday 13 October and for 11 days it promises to be the biggest yet, involving 350 bars spread across the capital.

Trade highlights for London Cocktail Week 2022

London Cocktail Week begins this Thursday, October 13, running for 11 days, incorporating two weekends, the festival will see 350 bars involved and four Little Cocktail Villages spread across the capital. 

Paradiso named World’s Best Bar 2022

Paradiso from Barcelona was named the World’s Best Bar at the annual World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in Barcelona, the first time the accolade has been awarded to a bar outside of London and New York.

Shannon Tebay to open The Lower Third in central London

Former Death & Co bartender Shannon Tebay is set to open a new neighbourhood bar and music venue on the site of the now-closed institution The 12 Bar Club on London’s Denmark Street.

Swift to open third site in London

The team behind London cocktail bars Swift Soho and Swift Shoreditch have announced the opening of a third site in South London this October.

The view from Cocktails in the City

Cocktails in the City has returned to London for a series of garden parties featuring some of London’s finest bars. 

London’s Lyaness named world’s best bar at The Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards

Lyaness at Sea Containers London took top honours as it was named World’s Best Bar at the 16th annual Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards at the New Orleans Ritz Carlton Hotel.

London Cocktail Week announces 2022 dates and restructure

London Cocktail Week 2022 will run from 13-23 October 2022 - now encompassing two weekends, following two years of extended month-long activities.

Rishi Sunak calls new Guinness microbrewery "a vote of confidence" in London

Diageo is investing £73 million in a Guinness microbrewery and “culture hub in the heart of London.

London Wine Fair moves to June to avoid Prowein clash

The London Wine Fair will now take place from June 7-9 in order to avoid a direct clash with Prowein.

Taj opens new hotel bar and restaurant at 51 Buckingham Gate

Indian hospitality and hotel brand Taj have announced the opening of a new bar and restaurant at the five-star Taj 51 Buckingham Gate in central London.

London Wine Fair slams "extremely aggressive" move from Prowein amid clash of dates

London Wine Fair director Hannah Tovey has branded Prowein's decision to move the Dusseldorf-based show to May "a direct attack" on the UK drinks trade.

Silverleaf: The independent luxury bar

The team behind Milroy’s of London have opened a new high-end venue called Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London near Liverpool Street.

The effects of Covid-19 on 50 Best Bars

The World’s 50 Best Bars reflects travel restrictions and spotlights neighbourhood bars, says Nick Strangeway.

Connaught Bar named World's Best Bar 2021

Connaught Bar from London was named the World’s Best Bar for the second year running in The World’s 50 Best Bars list, which was unveiled at the annual ceremony at Roundhouse in London tonight (December 7).

Mr Lyan to open Seed Library in East London

Ryan Chetiyawardana, known as Mr Lyan, and his team is due to open a new venue in East London called Seed Library in early 2022.

Streaming platform Spirits Network seeking UK bartenders for new cocktail competition

New York-based media company NBTV Studios has announced the UK launch of streaming platform, Spirits Network, and is inviting UK bartenders to audition for its inaugural programme, Shake Off.

London Cocktail Week 2021 trade schedule released

London Cocktail Week has once again been extended to the whole month of October for 2021 and the full trade schedule has been released.

The Fernet-Branca Barback Games returns to London Cocktail Week

Fernet-Branca has announced that after a year’s hiatus, the Barback Games will return to London Cocktail Week for a third time, on 28th October.

Edrington UK to host trade events series for London Cocktail Week

Edrington UK has announced a series of workshops and events for the London trade as part of October’s London Cocktail Week.

The Essence House returns to Covent Garden for London Cocktail Week

The London Essence Company has announced that The Essence House pop-up is returning to Covent Garden throughout October for London Cocktail Week 2021.

Officina Cocktail Week brings in World's Best

Milan bar Officina is set to host Officina Cocktail Week with bartenders from some of the World’s Best Bars set to attend the inaugural event.

London Cocktail Week adds new Covent Garden hub

Wristbands are now available for London Cocktail Week 2021 which will once again be extended for the entire month of October.

Former head sommelier of Zuma and Roka opens new London wine bar

Kevin McCabe, former head sommelier of Zuma, Roka and Yautacha Group, has teamed up with, Antony Lyon, of Lyon's Seafood & wine bar, to open a new brasserie and wine bar in east London.

London Cocktail Week launches one-off Warm-Up festival

For the first time, London Cocktail Week has announced a one-off Warm-Up festival, taking place 05-11 July 2021.