East London attracts mixology and bartending talent
Hackney-based cocktail bar Equal Parts has joined forces with East London Liquor Company to launch a quarterly takeover series named The Guest Shift. Jessica Mason reports.
The series, which kicked off this week with Manchester cocktail bar Stray, will feature some of the UK’s best bartending talent for a one-night-only event each quarter. Not only will it give Equal Parts guests the opportunity to taste cocktails from around the country, it will do so using East London Liquor Company spirits.
Championing excellence
Speaking to the drinks business about the takeover series, East London Liquor Company founder Alex Wolpert said: “We’re going to do this every quarter and Equal Parts is really our partner in the Guest Shift. The idea is to champion what excellence exists in the rest of the UK, which is something that might have been forgotten and not really looked at, so I spend every two or three months out of the road in Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester and that’s part of our journey as a smaller company.”
Wolpert told db: A lot of these guys are absolutely epic. We wanted to find a way to bring world class bars together and celebrate them on our home turf. That’s what it’s all about. The Equal Parts seem are pretty ace, but we also want to also bring in other people who are on that level and celebrate great drinks together. That’s what it’s all about: It’s about drinks, about music and about networking. It’s actually all about the people. They can chat about what’s important and what works and what doesn’t. We get to sort of sit back slightly, but also facilitate and help to make it work. It’s just lovely.”
Great energy and fresh perspectives
He explained: “When I was a bartender, there were never any initiatives like this really, nothing like this. But people want to work together, especially since the pandemic. They’re all about getting together and building a community.”
Partner Content
Equal Parts general manager Adam Montgomerie described how “so often these things are just brands footing the bill. This is different. This is about working together to make something great: for the bar, for us, and for our East London locals”.
The series sets out to offer “genuine collaboration” and put “community spirit front and centre,” he pointed out.
Wolpert reiterated that “the Guest Shift is a celebration of neighbourhood, collaboration, and unforgettable nights out. We’re inviting the UK’s best bars to showcase their talent for a one-night-only experience filled with great drinks, big energy, and fresh perspectives”.
Each event will be a shared effort between Equal Parts, East London Liquor Company, and the visiting guest bar. Cocktail lovers are encouraged to seek out the Guest Shift takeovers.
