Superb serves

A GOOD COCKTAIL MENU CAN PROMOTE YOUR VENUE TO GUESTS AND BE THE CATALYST FOR HUGE SUCCESS, THEREFORE IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOUR VENUE IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING YOUR DRINKS OFFERINGS, TO MAXIMISE POPULARITY AND RECOGNITION AMONG CUSTOMERS. ANTHONY CALLEGARI, BAR MANAGER AT PUNCH ROOM, THE LONDON EDITION, PROVIDES FIVE TIPS TO IMPROVE THE COCKTAIL OFFERING AT YOUR BAR VENUE.

MIRROR THE BRAND’S IDENTITY

It’s great to have something about a bar’s cocktail menu that the venue is known for, in order to showcase the bar’s identity. At Punch Room we offer punch style cocktails, but a good bar doesn’t have to have a specialism. For example, having signature serves that are always available to order will help to create awareness of a bar, and make it a destination that is known for a particular cocktail. With the increasing popularity and interest in milk punches, specialising in this type of cocktail-making has helped Punch Room to be recognised as a leader in a particular style, which is great for business.

Strong Staff Values

Having a specialism and strong brand values is great, but the recipe for success calls for a solid team on the ground. It is important to put time into building a team who share and understand these values. If the team believes in the concept of the venue, this will be reflected in the quality of the output.

No And Low Alternatives

Now more than ever, customers expect to find well considered no-and-low options on a cocktail menu. Rather than listing them separately on the menu, we have opted to put non-alcoholic cocktail options, that have been given just as much love and attention as the alcoholic ones, at the top of each chapter of our latest menu, which feels infinitely more inclusive.

Explore New And Exciting Ingredients

Particularly since the pandemic, a lot of people are educated on cocktail-making and have a keen interest in more niche ingredients, so it’s important to make sure their drinking experience feels more elevated and special than it would at home. Using trending ingredients –currently a popular choice is pandan – will make the menu feel relevant and exciting to your customers.

Preparation Is Key

Getting the right ingredients and processes for your menu, bar and team is crucial. Be honest with yourself about the size of the venue and how far you want to push it. At Punch Room, our approach is similar to that of a Michelin star restaurant: a lot of effort goes into preparing ingredients before the bar opens, allowing our bartenders to assemble an incredible serve as a chef would ‘plate up’ a show-stopping dish. This approach ensures consistency and affords the team time to properly engage with guests. Instagram: @punchroomldn