What does it take to build and sustain world-class cocktail programmes across multiple cities and countries — each with its own culture, tastes, and challenges?

In this exclusive London Cocktail Week Bartender Knowledge Exchange session, Liam Davy, Head of Bars at Hawksmoor, shares the lessons learned from operating 13 restaurants across 7 cities and 3 countries. With refreshing honesty, he’ll explore the highs and lows of expansion: from standout successes to the occasional failures, the ever-shifting trends shaping the industry, and the opening that almost pushed him to the brink.

The conversation will also dive into balancing innovation with commercial reality, and how to maintain energy, creativity, and consistency in bar teams working within busy restaurant environments. Expect a mix of candid storytelling, practical advice, and forward-looking insights from one of the UK’s most respected bar leaders.

Whether you’re a bartender, manager, or simply curious about how a global restaurant group approaches drinks, this is a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain of Hawksmoor’s international bar programme.

Strictly for working bartenders only, free tickets will be allocated via ballot which you can join HERE. 
 

The Bartender Knowledge Exchange at London Cocktail Week is a programme designed for bartenders to learn from some of London’s most respected venues.  Offering unrivalled access pre-or-during shift - these collection of peer-to-peer learning are a chance to sharpen skills and take inspiration back to the bar. Curated by festival founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne, these sessions connect hospitality professionals directly with the people shaping the industry in London right now. Tickets are incredibly limited - some with just a handful of tickets available.