Double Dutch names 14 winners of 2026 Female Bartending Scholarship
Premium mixer brand Double Dutch has announced the 14 recipients of its 2026 Female Bartending Scholarship, marking the programme’s sixth year and a 35% rise in applications.
Double Dutch Drinks has revealed the 14 successful scholars selected for its 2026 Female Bartending Scholarship, announcing the cohort in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Now in its sixth year, the scholarship aims to support women working across the UK on-trade through education, mentorship and leadership opportunities. According to Double Dutch, applications rose by 35% year on year in 2026, reflecting growing demand for initiatives that support women progressing into leadership roles within hospitality.
The programme was launched in 2021 by twin founders Joyce de Haas and Raissa de Haas to address the leadership gap in the sector by providing structured training, mentorship and career development.
Expanded programme
This year’s intake represents bars, restaurants and venues across the UK, from Edinburgh and Manchester to London and Bristol.
For 2026, the programme has also introduced a new element: all applicants, regardless of whether they were selected for the final cohort, were invited to attend three free virtual sessions with hospitality mentors and partners. Double Dutch said the change aims to widen access and strengthen the scholarship’s wider community.
The 2026 scholarship winners are:
- Becca Knox – Hey Palu, Bartender
- Carmella Ramos – National Theatre, The Understudy, Duty Manager
- Molly Wear – Mother Mercy, General Manager
- Cassidy Fourie – The Royal Cocktail Exchange, Assistant General Manager
- Samiksha Pingle – The Orange, Cubitt House, Bartender
- Alexa Jacob – Panda & Sons, Bartender
- Anna Gaglione – The Ned, Bar Manager
- Jasmine Smith – Dishoom, Cocktail Queen
- Iona Rogan – Northcote Hotel, Bar, Lounge & Terrace Supervisor
- Susi Olliff – White Horse Inn (Butcombe Brewery), Assistant Manager
- Helen Malhotra – Brat / Kiln, Super 8 Restaurant Group, Bar Supervisor
- Hannah Auld – Market Place Leicester Square, Bartender
- Adele Meunier – Granary Club, Head Bartender
- Chloe Southam – The Royal Cocktail Exchange, Head Bartender
The scholars will take part in a programme of virtual and in-person workshops covering drinks education, confidence, personal brand and professional development. Sessions will take place at Swingers West End, 58 & Co Distillery and The Chancery Rosewood.
Graduates will also join the Double Dutch alumni network and be invited to networking events going forward.
Addressing the leadership gap
Joyce de Haas, co-founder of Double Dutch, said: “International Women’s Day is about recognising progress but also being honest about how much work is still to be done. Hospitality is powered by incredible women, yet too few reach senior leadership. This scholarship is our way of actively creating pathways and opening doors. The response this year has been extraordinary. Taking the programme global and seeing a 35% increase in applications shows just how universal the appetite is for education, mentorship and support. We’ve heard from women at every stage of their careers who want to grow, lead and shape the future of drinks.”
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Raissa de Haas added: “As a business, we believe it’s essential to use our platform to champion women and drive real change. We want to help women build confidence, develop skills and step into leadership roles across hospitality. International Women’s Day is a powerful moment to celebrate the next generation of female leaders, but for us this work happens all year round. Our goal is to build a strong, supportive community where women can learn, mentor each other and thrive.”
Voices from the scholars
Anna Gaglione, bar manager at The Ned and part of the 2026 cohort, said: “One of the biggest challenges that shaped me was stepping into leadership at a young age. Managing teams – often predominantly male – forced me to find my voice quickly. I had to learn how to lead with clarity and confidence, without losing empathy. That balance between authority and approachability didn’t come naturally at first, but it became one of my strongest skills.
“Navigating hospitality as a woman in leadership has shaped me deeply. It has pushed me to be prepared, articulate, and results-driven. Those challenges didn’t discourage me – they refined me. They made me more resilient, more intentional, and more committed to creating supportive environments for others coming up behind me.”
She added: “I would say that hospitality can be fast-paced and unpredictable, and it’s easy to feel invisible, especially as a woman. But showing up with clarity, curiosity, and consistency will earn respect faster than any technical skill alone. Hospitality isn’t just about following recipes or procedures – it’s about shaping experiences, building connections, and leaving a lasting impression.”
Other scholars highlighted the sense of community offered by the programme.
Hannah Auld, bartender and supervisor at Market Place Leicester Square, said: “Being part of the scholarship means development. It means being around women who take hospitality seriously as a career. Hospitality is still very male-led at times, especially in leadership and brand spaces, so having access to female mentorship and insight is something that I really value.”
Rebecca Knox, bartender at Hey Palu in Edinburgh, added: “Being part of this scholarship means an investment in myself and my future career in hospitality. It means putting myself out there to meet new people with similar goals, and that chance to join a community that is dedicated to changing the shape of hospitality and women’ s place in it. I can definitely see hospitality being part of my future.”
Mentors for the 2026 programme include Laura Willoughby MBE (Club Soda), Liana Oster (The Chancery Rosewood), Maura Milia (Eagle Bar), Anna Sebastian (Anna Sebastian Hospitality), Carmen O’Neal (58 & Co Distillery), Claudia Carrozzi (UKBG), Lauren Mote (Patrón & Bacardi) and Mandy Naglich, author of How to Taste, among others.
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