consultancy
Drinks Consultancy
Strategy. Creativity. Commercial Reality.
Bespoke Drinks offers end-to-end drinks consultancy for hospitality businesses that want to stand out, scale sustainably, and perform commercially — without losing soul, identity, or operational sanity.
We work with hotels, bars, restaurants, developers, and brands to design drinks programmes that are beautiful on paper, compelling to guests, and realistic for teams to deliver day after day.
Unlike traditional consultants, we are active venue operators. Everything we recommend is shaped by the realities of service, staffing, margins, sustainability, and guest experience — not theory.
What We Do
Drinks Programme Design
From cocktail menus to full beverage ecosystems, we create drinks programmes that align with your brand, location, and audience.
This includes:
Cocktail, low & no, wine, beer and spirits strategy
Signature serves and hero drinks
Menu structure, balance, and storytelling
Seasonal and sustainable menu frameworks
Our menus are designed to be memorable, efficient, and profitable — not over-engineered showpieces that collapse under pressure.
Concept & Brand Alignment
We help shape (or refine) the identity of your bar or drinks offering, ensuring it feels authentic, intentional, and commercially relevant.
This can include:
Drinks-led concept development
Brand tone, language, and storytelling
Guest journey mapping
Aligning drinks with food, music, lighting and atmosphere
Whether it’s a neighbourhood cocktail bar, a destination hotel venue, or a rooftop pool bar, we ensure the drinks make sense within the wider experience.
Sustainability & Responsible Luxury
Sustainability should enhance creativity — not restrict it.
We specialise in practical, credible sustainability that teams can actually maintain, including:
Low-waste and closed-loop drinks systems
Local and seasonal sourcing strategies
Reduced glass, energy, and water usage
Low & no alcohol integration
Sustainability messaging that feels natural, not preachy
Our approach focuses on impact over optics, helping venues move beyond buzzwords and into meaningful change.
Operational & Commercial Support
Great drinks mean nothing if they don’t work on a busy Friday night.
We support venues with:
Recipe engineering and batching systems
GP and margin optimisation
Prep reduction and speed of service improvements
Supplier rationalisation and purchasing strategy
Menu engineering for sales mix and profitability
This is where creativity meets commercial discipline — ensuring your programme performs financially as well as experientially.
Who We Work With
We’ve delivered consultancy and drinks programmes for:
Luxury and lifestyle hotels
Independent bars and restaurants
New openings and refurbishments
International hospitality groups
Private clients and event-led venues
Our work includes projects with JOALI BEING, and consultancy support for Four Seasons-level hospitality, alongside award-recognised UK venues.
Crucially, we also own and operate our own venues, meaning every recommendation is tested against real-world pressures: staffing, margins, training time, and guest expectations.
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We provide a range of comprehensive bartender training programs that are fully customized to meet the unique needs of your team, from foundational skills to advanced mixology techniques. Whether you’re looking for essential day-one training or advanced training to refine your team's skills, our sessions are designed to cover a broad spectrum of bartending expertise. This includes in-depth knowledge of spirits, wines, beers, coffee, as well as hands-on technical skills development.
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Our flexible training packages cater to different timeframes, starting with one-day intensive workshops and extending all the way to more immersive 14-day courses. These options are adaptable to both individual participants and groups, with the ability to accommodate up to 15 students per session. By offering tailored training, we ensure that every team member is well-prepared to meet high international standards in bartending, empowering them to deliver consistently outstanding service.
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Our training courses can cover a wide range of essential topics, including but not limited to:
• Bartender technical training: Perfecting the craft of mixing, shaking, stirring, and presenting drinks with precision and creativity.
• Service and social skills development: Enhancing communication, customer engagement, and creating memorable interactions to build customer loyalty.
• Upselling and bar knowledge: Teaching strategies to increase sales and understanding the ins and outs of the bar menu, from ingredients to trends.
• In-depth spirit, wine, beer, cocktail, and coffee training: Providing specialized knowledge to elevate your offerings, from creating signature cocktails to selecting the perfect wine or brewing coffee with finesse.
Our goal is to elevate your team’s skills and professionalism, helping them provide exceptional service and bring your vision to life behind the bar.
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Our drinks development service is dedicated to crafting high-end, innovative cocktails that perfectly reflect and complement your venue’s unique identity. We work closely with you to design bespoke drinks that not only fit your brand’s atmosphere but also elevate the overall customer experience. Whether you're looking to introduce a seasonal menu or create signature cocktails, our expert team is committed to developing drinks that will stand out.
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Sustainability is at the core of our approach. We focus on using regional flavours and locally-sourced ingredients to create cocktails that are not only unique but also environmentally conscious. By prioritising sustainability in every drink, we help your venue contribute to a more eco-friendly future, all while delivering memorable taste experiences.
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Our cocktails are designed with consistency in mind. We provide you with replicable recipes that ensure every drink served is of the same exceptional quality, no matter who is making it. Each recipe is carefully crafted to balance creativity and simplicity, so your team can consistently deliver outstanding drinks with confidence.
In addition to creating drinks that are exciting and memorable, we also prioritise profitability. We ensure that every recipe is not only high in quality but also cost-effective, helping you maximise margins while maintaining premium standards. To support flawless execution, we provide your team with full recipes, detailed techniques, and precise costings, giving them all the tools they need to replicate the drinks with precision and efficiency, ensuring your bar runs smoothly and profitably.
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Visual appeal is a key focus of our drink development process. We understand that a stunning presentation can grab attention, create memorable experiences, and drive engagement, especially in today’s social media-driven world. Our cocktails are designed to be eye-catching, with every detail— from colour to garnishes—crafted to elevate your venue’s aesthetic.
By creating visually striking drinks, we help boost your brand’s visibility and encourage guests to share their experiences online, offering organic marketing for your venue. A beautifully presented cocktail not only enhances the guest experience but also attracts new customers, making your venue stand out and thrive.