1953 The U K B G Guide to Drinks

THE STORY OF THE

UNITED KINGDOM BARTENDERS' GUILD

•It was shortly after the first United Kingdom Cocktail Competition, organised by the Wine, Spirit and Catering Trades Exhibition at Borland Hall, London, in 1933, that the idea was conceived of forming an Association or Guild of efficient Cocktail Bartenders. A few far-seeing bartenders had got to know and like each other and realised how much could be done in comradeship and to the mutual advantage of themselves, their emploj^ers, and most important of all, the customer. A small Committee wasformed and in those early days not one of the originals envisaged the very rapid response it would receive and the strides the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild would make in such a short time. By June of the following year (1934) the Guild had been brought into being. A Council wasset up,two eminent members of the trade were appointed as Trustees, and Harry L. Craddock of The Savoy American Bar (London) was invited and agreed to be our first President. Two months later, August, 1934, saw the birth of the official organ of the U.K.B.G.,"The Bartender",a comprehensive journal dealing with the many important activities of the Guild, and being of interest to Bartenders, the Trade and public alike. By the first week in October, 1934, the U.K.B.G. had organised its first officially recognised "British Empire Cocktail Competition ", and in the following week had held its first Annual Dinner and Dance at Erascati's Restaurant, London. Both events were an immediate success and gave added courage and encouragement to those few pioneers who were not in the least disturbed by the few who ridiculed the idea and regarded its activities with suspicion and mis trust. 1935 and 1936 saw the second and third British Empire Cocktail Competitions, organised and held at Grosvenor House, London, with its attendant Annual Dinner and Dance growing bigger and better each year, 7