Staff at hotels around the area have been training for a critical contest, and their skills will soon be evident when you head to a Lake District bar.
The final of the Cocktail Competition, organised by the Lake District Hotels Association in conjunction with LWC Drinks, will be staged at Windermere’s Merewood Hotel on Wednesday November 26.
Meanwhile, staff have been taking part in training sessions. The first, at Grasmere’s Rothay Garden Hotel, was attended by 18 shakers and stirrers from 14 member venues. It was run by LWC’s Brands Activation Manager Daniel Knight and Wine Development Manager Bill Roberts.
The bar staff gained new skills and knowledge about spirits, with an expert introduction to cocktails, learning about service standards and consistency, presentation, engagement of the consumer, and value enhancement.
This will be followed soon by a half-day session at the Lindeth Fell Hotel in Bowness, with a more in-depth dive into cocktails for those who want to go through to the eventual cocktail competition. The focus will be on cocktail core skills and methods; how to create and advance cocktails, how to promote them within an outlet, how to create your own cocktail; and what to expect in the competition.
Said Tracey Cragg, LDHA Recruitment & Membership Co-ordinator: “This has been both a light-hearted and enjoyable experience for everyone involved, but also a serious raising of standards so that visitors to the Lakes will continue to be served the best cocktails by knowledgeable staff. We are very grateful to LWC Drinks, who have given their time and expertise in helping the training sessions go well.”
LWC is the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, serving over 15,000 hospitality businesses with a best-in-class portfolio spanning beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks. With 18 depots across the UK, they combine national scale with local service. As both a distributor and operator - owning a group of 40+ managed and tenanted pubs - they understand first-hand the demands of hospitality.
Founded as a family business back in 1979, LWC remains proudly independent, with a reputation built on agility, trust, and an unwavering commitment to service, innovation, and sustainability.