“If I could have a drink with someone (alive or dead) It would be Harry Craddock. The first cocktail book I read was his ‘Savoy Cocktail Book’ and I have looked up to him ever since. I relate to him quite often, as he too was a Hotel Bartender.”
People
People
“I love the bar industry. Honestly I’ve just gotten to meet some really fantastic people and everyone I’ve worked with have been phenomenal. I met a lot of people that are now a big part of my life from a variety of different backgrounds. I love that.” Jacob North, Burrow Bar
Hitting the ground running in 2021, Josh Davies was not discouraged by the tightening restrictions upon his arrival in Sydney – moving from Melbourne no less! The new NSW Brand Ambassador for The Exchange says “working in the industry abroad and now back home has made me realise that no matter where you are or where you work in the world, there will be some form of 6 degree of separation with a bartender somewhere…”
The team at Spanton Media are eagerly awaiting the end of 2020! A year that will go down in history, that’s for damn sure. So while we sign off on the final hours, we thought we would recap some of the biggest stories of the year and tip our hats to some of the clever folks who have contributed articles in 2020. Now let’s move on to 2021!
After five epic years in De Mestre Place, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Burrow Bar owners Bryce McDonough and Chau Tran have announced today that their beloved bar is moving.
“I launched the Bad Bartender range of merch this year. I feel like it has been difficult trying to juggle running the business as well still working full time in bars. I focus on my business the first 3 days of the week and then have to completely switch my sleeping schedule and jump back behind the bar for the second half of the week.”
The Speakeasy Group have joined forces with two of their staff to support them opening their own venue. So watch out as Perryn Collier and Alex Boon are set to open the doors to Pearl Diver Cocktails & Oysters come 2021.
Bobeche is and always has been hallowed ground to me, it was one of the first cocktail focused small bars in Perth that blew my mind with its offering and it still retains the same level of integrity and finesse that I experienced years ago.
“The main rule is to watch the door at all times and make sure every single person is greeted, and also every single person once they leave they say goodbye and thanks.”
“The last build I did from scratch was Penny Young Beer Hall in Moonee Ponds. It was here I realised I had had enough of making rich people richer and wanted to try my hand at being my own boss.”
“I think if I could drink with anyone it would be Ryan Reynolds mostly because he started in hospitality and I would be interested to know if he is different because of his time working in restaurants.” – Bruno Luke Ali, Nick & Nora’s Parramatta
This morning, the owners of award-winning Sydney cocktail bar Maybe Sammy have announced a partnership with TFE Hotels to manage the food and beverage offering of a new premium hotel experience due to open early 2021 on the corner of George and Hunter Streets in the Sydney CBD. The working title for the new bar/restaurant is Deans on 22.











