Bubbles & Beer “Adding a bit of sparkle to events

Alumni Interview

Bubbles & Beer

Adding a bit of sparkle to events

Harry Richards, (R’ 15), The Perthshire Piper and member of the Red Hot Chilli Pipers spoke to us about how his entrepreneurial spirit and spotting a growing trend in the hospitality industry led him to establish his business.

HARRY LEFT STRATHALLAN IN 2015 WITH A SPRING IN HIS STEP AND

A BURNING DESIRE TO WORK IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY. At Strath he had been a keen member of the Pipe Band and under the auspices of Pipe Instructor Craig Muirhead, he was both inspired and encouraged to follow his passion. After a brief stint at Gleneagles, working in the private dining department, he joined Celtic Rock Band, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers in 2016 and never looked back. The band's achievements have reached incredible heights with their ground-breaking fusion of traditional Scottish music and rock/pop anthems which they proudly call 'bagrock'. Harry started touring all over the country and indeed the world with the band and playing at many events, festivals and gigs including an impromptu busking gig with double Brit nominee Tom Walker and playing at Murrayfield for Scotland’s opening Six Nations game against Italy. Whilst attending these events he noticed the growing trend in artisan mobile bars and street food catering and was drawn to the air of spontaneity, creativity and doing things a bit differently. The Bubbles & Beer Co was born, and Harry quickly set about making it a viable business, obtaining the necessary licenses, branding the business and promoting it through existing industry contacts. Based in the rolling Perthshire countryside The Bubbles & Beer Co travel far and wide providing professional bar services, perfect for getting the party started. Its fully licensed bar can be personalised The rise in DIY catering at weddings and to suit every occasion, be it a corporate event, birthday party or wedding. They events got me thinking and as a person offer a range of packages and their team who always has an eye for doing things of fully trained and personable hosts ensures that customers can look forward myself, in a fit of creativity I decided to renovate an old horse box and make it to a fun, exciting and bubbly experience. As a natural born performer, and used to taking to the stage as a member of the into a pop up mobile bar serving quality Chilli Pipers, Harry was able to bring an extra sparkle and instinctively knew what champagne, craft beers and artisan was needed to make events rock and make nibbles. It's perfect for any occasion his offering stand out from the crowd. The Bubbles & Beer Co has been praised for its “red carpet treatment” and “first class hospitality” throwing out all the stops to make any event that extra bit special. It has gone from strength to strength and Harry puts this down to sheer hard work and a genuine desire to want to make people happy. “I love making a difference and bringing a smile to peoples faces. It’s an honour and a privilege to play a part in someone’s special event or day”

Red Hot Chilli Pipers on stage

Harry Richardson

When asked about his success since leaving school, both as a musician and business owner, Harry references Strathallan as an excellent springboard.

When asked about the challenges of owning his own business Harry believes it’s about trusting in what you deliver and going out there and promoting it. Taking success and failure in equal measures and if you try something and it does not work, take it on the chin, roll with the punches and find another way.

“It's been a steep learning curve especially manoeuvring my way around the regulation and rules of running a pop-up bar. I was thrown into a world of personal licences and temporary event notices” Harry explained.

Looking to the future Harry is keen to grow the business. Already he is building a small team around it, with a manager in What I learnt most at Strath was to place for when he is away on tour with the believe in myself and it gave me so many Chilli Pipers. He intends to build on the vintage pop up concept and would like to opportunities to expand my horizons, have a fleet of renovated horse box bars at music festivals and events. Eventually his dream is to own his own bar/pub. taking me out of my comfort zone and equipping me with the skills I use in my On talking to Harry its clear he is not one to stand still and at the tender age business every day. You learn how to of 22 has achieved so much. He wanted network without even realising it at the to thank everyone at Strath for their encouragement and support as well as time. The teachers at Strath are so much put a message out to all ex Strathallians more than teachers, they are mentors, that he would be happy to cater for any upcoming events or parties and would of and there is a mutual respect of each course offer “mates” rates. Watch out for The Bubbles & Beer Co other that becomes engrained at an event near you soon and in the meantime visit the Bubbles & Beer website at www.bubblesandbeer.co.uk. Get in touch at hello@bubblesandbeer.co

Since talking to Harry the world changed dramatically and with the advent of COVID-19, Harry was forced to return from a tour of the states with band Red Hot Chilli Pipers. Since then he has thrown himself into helping the NHS and providing a little bit of “happiness and sunshine” in the lives of others where he can.

He has worked with Skerryvore and other friends to pay tribute to frontline NHS workers, reaching the number one spot in the iTunes UK download chart, with a song dedicated to the NHS workers battling the coronavirus outbreak.

Harry has also played at local nursing homes and along with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and featuring the Soul Nation Choir, reworked their version of Hallelujah, dedicated to frontline workers.