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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 Coektail 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 employers, and most important of all,
the customer. A small Committee was formed 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 was set 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 Oetober, 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 Frascati'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 ridieuled
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.