Bars By Design : The Blog http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk Bars by Design Blog Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:08:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 en The results are in and the fridges are out! http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/the-results-are-in-and-the-fridges-are-out/ http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/the-results-are-in-and-the-fridges-are-out/#comments Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:08:41 +0000 Sam http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/?p=9 A year and a half ago I was asked to make the Sky Christmas Party Bars carbon neutral. Never one to miss an opportunity, I did my homework and set about learning how to become more sustainable as a company and as a service. Our environmental policy has just undergone its first annual update and the results are in! We have been able to significantly reduce our waste by reducing, re-using, recycling and composting, and have cut our carbon emissions by nearly 30% through using ice receptacles rather than electricity guzzling and coolant dependent refrigerators; furthermore we have increased efficiency to boot! No costly re-stocking, no waiting to chill time and faster load-in’s and load-outs; a win-win formula all round. I LOVE the idea of becoming sustainable - it’s NOT about being an eco-purist - it’s about being pro-active with our operations so that we are able to offer the best service at the best price.

Our next venture is bio-diesel made from rape seed –  and about time too given the price of diesel at the  moment! Watch this space!

Sam

]]> http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/the-results-are-in-and-the-fridges-are-out/feed/ Making of a Mocktail http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/making-of-a-mocktail/ http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/making-of-a-mocktail/#comments Thu, 29 May 2008 19:46:59 +0000 admin http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/?p=7 I love the idea of teaching people how to make really good Mocktails - it’s kind of like a work of art - so with the help of my fab media teacher Nik Butler aka Loudmouthman, here is the video of what is now known as the infamous ‘Cool As Ice’. All at the party were raving about this one…so here it is….I guess you could always add a tipple of Vodka to spice it up a bit too….happy playing!

]]> http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/making-of-a-mocktail/feed/ SATC…in London before New York! http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/satcin-london-before-new-york/ http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/satcin-london-before-new-york/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 23:07:14 +0000 Sam http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/?p=6 Well that’s a big compliment for us Brits hey….and causing quite a stir over the pond apparently. Rather a provocative stance I reckon but one I rather like…always one for a bit of provocation me…

I for one can’t wait to see the film and I WANT TO KNOW WHEN YOU SEE IT AND WHAT YOU THINK …. driving the BBD team mad in the office - and I am the only gal here so I need some company :-) Hmm…do you think SATC is just for girls or are there some well-adjusted men who are looking forward to an evening of SJP on the big screen? If you are out there guys let me know who you are….!

My connection with SATC goes a bit further than this though as it was one of the big motivators for the branding behind Cocktail-in-a-Box. I wanted that sexy, classy, gorgeous fun-ness that can only come from a beautiful long stemmed Martini Glass filled with Bevedere Vodka, oh so pretty in pink Cranberry, Triple Sec and fresh lime…so indulgent…

Now that gives me an idea for a comp (see…that’s what happens when typing this late at night after 2 glasses of good quality Sauvignon Blanc!)…

‘The first person to respond to this post telling me the name of the person who FIRST created the Cosmo will get a FREE Cocktail-in-a-Box from me’.

Ah - I love any reason to celebrate!

Sam

]]> http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/satcin-london-before-new-york/feed/ It’s Party Time! http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/its-party-time/ http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/its-party-time/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:43:26 +0000 Sam http://blog.barsbydesign.co.uk/?p=5 The sun is starting to wink at us - thank goodness (still sitting here in my cardie…but the central heating is OFF OFF OFF…YAY) and the phones have been ringing off the hook - lovin’ this time of year when everyone starts to get excited about wonderfully warm and exciting social gatherings…SO important after our long cold winter tucked up in our brick nests. And I am so excited about this year as this is the first season for Keg Hire.com started in response to serious demand from more than a handful of party people (yes Dave - you especially.. your keg of Carlsberg is waiting for you…as a big mouthwatering THANK YOU for Electric Nature’s amazing work on our sites. Hey - now that’s a good starting point for our new social environmental policy - free keg of beer on tap as a reward for being super fab!

Seriously, I believe strongly that the BBD team is all-important - and they deserve to be treated as such. They are the life and soul of any bar and simply could not do their job as well as they do if they were being treated by some high powered grumpy critical boss…well…I might be a little grumpy before my first cup of coffee in the morning but hey - one of my bartenders is usually loitering around my kitchen with job sheet in hand and the kettle on. Now that’s what I call teamwork!!

Before I dash off I must just also say…COCKTAILS…the world has gone cocktail crazy!!! now - I know that our BBD gift is pretty special and it seems that most of the UK does too - would love love LOVE to hear your thoughts on a brand new Martini Cocktail-in-a-box for the launch of the New Bond Film Quantum of Solace - whatcha reckon?? And of course there’s the gorgeously sexy Cosmo for Sex and The City fans….hmmm - tell me your thoughts and cocktail of your dreams…

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