Cocktail course can mix it with the best of them

City College Plymouth and Plymouth Gin have been awarded the Professional Association for Catering Education (PACE) Innovation with Industry Award, for their Professional Bartending (Cocktails) course – the UK’s first bartending qualification.

The City & Guilds Level 2 qualification in Professional Bartending has been written by City College Plymouth in conjunction with Plymouth Gin and bar consultant Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge.

Teresa Gardner, head of academy for hospitality at the College said: “We’re extremely pleased to have this collaboration recognised by such a prestigious organisation.

“Through our work with employers, discussions with our steering group and outcomes of national research we identified a skills gap in bartending skills. After working with our partner Plymouth Gin in locating our training centre within their premises, an idea was formulated to devise a training programme to up-skill bar staff and help the licensed trade, through what is becoming an increasingly difficult financial trading period.”

Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge said: “It’s encouraging to have this qualification recognised. Past training has always been along fairly traditional lines but has never addressed the needs of the professional bartender.

“We’ve had all sorts of people on the course, most obviously working in the industry but we’ve also had a few students who are about to go travelling and wanted to have a qualification which will help them to get work.”

The 60-hour course shows students how to make 20 different cocktails and pour accurately by eye. Students sit exams on recipes, cocktail-making techniques and health and safety, as well as making drinks for their assessors and recommending drinks to suit their taste.

For further information on the Cocktail Academy please telephone 01752 305300.