Cocktail maker Ben named Bar Person of the Year

Chelmsford’s Ben Skinner who flew to America to learn how to make the best cocktails has been named Bar Person of Year in the RedCat Independent Pubs annual awards.

The 31-year-old is now assistant general manager at The Lion Inn in Boreham where he has worked for the past six years.

Ben said: “It had always been my dream to go the States and this course was offered in New York, Las Vegas and Miami. I wanted the beach, so I went for Miami.”

It was during his first stint working at The Lion Inn almost 10 years ago that he heard about the European Bartender School in the USA.

During the four-week course, which Ben funded himself, he had to memorise how to make 100 cocktails and know the history of the spirits that go into them.

And he still draws on that knowledge making cocktails for customers drawn to at the 16^th century Lion Inn.

He said: “Every so often someone will ask for an unusual cocktail and I can still remember the ingredients to make it.”

Ben’s career in the hospitality business began as a kitchen porter while he was completing a BTEC national diploma in sports science at Essex College in Chelmsford.

“I really did begin at the bottom but as soon as I was 18, I started doing some bar work and my interest in cocktails grew from there,” he said.

After completing his bartenders’ course and spending time travelling he returned to Chelmsford where he managed The Bottle Bureau.

Today a major part of his work is running the bar at The Lion Inn but he also has an important front of house role.

Ben’s favourite cocktail is a margarita made up of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice but he said sales of non-alcoholic mocktails were rising all the time.

He said: “Like all zero alcohol drinks they are really popular. We now have a mocktails menu alongside our traditional cocktails menu.”

Ben was named Bar Person of the Year from among contenders in the RedCat Independent Pubs chain of 39 pubs across the country.

Richard Lewis, CEO of RedCat Independent Pubs, said it recognised and an engaging approach, a passion for drinks and attention to detail.

Ben said: “I was happy to win it. It felt really good to get recognition for my work.”

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Issued on behalf of RedCat by Rob Stokes for Nigel Heath of Media-Consult                07715 770 253