Spirited teamwork

Related tags Bartender

Walkabout came out top on a Wednesday night after six different venues were visited by the four-strong judging team, which included award-winning...

Walkabout came out top on a Wednesday night after six different venues were visited by the four-strong judging team, which included award-winning bartender Jamie Stephenson.

The same six drinks were bought in each bar and staff were assessed according to criteria including teamwork and interaction with customers. All the venues visited were faced with an order of a glass of white wine, a cappuccino, a pint of lager, a Coke, a gin and tonic, and a different cocktail from the menu in each bar.

We were looking for staff accuracy in taking the order and the quality of serve of the products. Did we want ice and lemon with our Coke? Did we want slimline tonic in the G&T? What lager did we want? What type of wine did we want? Did the team work well together behind the bar?

A sterling effort

The two Walkabout barstaff, Alicia Rowlands and Renee Sandy, were picked out for working well together and assisting each other when questioned on a number of product-related topics by the team. The staff were operating on a quiet Wednesday with a relief manager who was helping out while the venue manager was away.

Service was quick and friendly and the staff responded positively when interacting with customers.

Out of the six bars we visited the Pitcher & Piano in Nottingham's Lace Market came a close second. It boasted a great atmosphere, well-served drinks and friendly staff.

The majority of venues visited did have the optimum number of staff working, but they were not always being fully utilised. In one bar we

visited a bartender was serving while customers waited as two other members of staff chatted to each other.

In another venue customers stood around while a member of staff mopped the floor in the back but only served when requested by another team member.

In particular, two high street premium operations were quite quick to disappoint. In one venue we were not given a choice of lager or wine when we ordered and full ashtrays and dirty glasses were left on the tables. In the other, as Jamie Stephenson pointed out: "It's all about training issues and the quality of the staff. They don't look like they want to be here."

The judges agreed that there was a lack of wine knowledge among most of the barstaff, although, the barman at the Lloyds No 1 boasted a good knowledge of all the products served there and when asked was happy to give his opinion.

The team were impressed by the cleanliness of most of the venues and five out of the six were able to serve a cappuccino - which oddly enough had been a problem in some of the previous cities visited. Most venues managed to fulfil the request for a cocktail while the quality of a dry white wine varied across the bars.

In general, however, they had the right atmosphere with a decent level of music and general ambience.

Next month the team hits Manchester to see how the city's high street bar teams fare.

Related topics Spirits & Cocktails

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