Cocktail barman mixes business with pleasure

Mar 20 2009 by David Old, Evening Chronicle

FORMER cocktail barman John Collingwood is hoping to shake up the drinks industry with his fledgling firm.

The 29-year-old, from Dunston, Gateshead, is one of the first entrants in the Chronicle’s competition to discover the business maestros of tomorrow.

The if we can, you can challenge, driven by the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, aims to discover the region’s talent.

And John has big plans for his venture. He came to a crossroads in his life when he was laid off by drinks giant Barcardi in September.

Unsure what to do, he volunteered for an eight-week project on a remote Fijian island. And he came up with his idea when he got back.

With a wealth of experience in the cocktail trade – during which he has trained more than 10,000 bartenders – John is now preparing to roll out his expertise across the country.

John’s company Want To Impress will start with a launch party at Floritas, in Collingwood Street, Newcastle, on Wednesday, April 8.

He hopes to run a regular training school, plus evolving other routes such as stag and hen parties, corporate functions – even home lessons.

Cocktail barman mixes business with pleasure John said: “I can teach 1,000 drinks in just an hour and a half.

“People can’t afford to go out, but this could be the new staying in.

“If you have bottles of spirits sitting in a cupboard gathering dust, I can give you the necessary skills to make fantastic drinks.

“There are so many opportunities for the company, it’s just concentrating on the vital elements to make the business work.”

Last year saw 150 of the region’s seasoned and aspiring entrepreneurs enter the competition.

More than 2,000 votes were cast to decide the seven sub-regional winners.

And this year we hope to have even more.

Entrants have until May 3 to log on at www.ifwecanyoucan.co.uk/challenge and put themselves or a friend forward.

John Collingwood – www.wanttoimpress.com