Be At One crowns its 2025 bartender champion

A bartender who works at Be At One's Liverpool Street site has won the Stonegate brand's internal bartender competition.

Be At One’s Bartender Challenge saw Izzy Vince (pictured) from Be At One Liverpool Street mix, shake and stir her way to victory, winning the £3,000 top prize.

More than 200 bartenders from 38 Be At One bars across the UK competed for the title, with the competition beginning with a series of in-bar heats.

After the regional semi-finals, eight bartenders earned their spot in the Bartender Challenge final.

Vince impressed all five judges with her mixology skills, cocktail knowledge and crowd interaction, as she made five cocktails in under 12 minutes.

"We’d like to congratulate all eight finalists for reaching the final, they were all deserved finalists and put on an incredible effort to make our jobs as judges very difficult," says Jess Pearson, senior brand trainer at Be At One.

"Izzy’s brand and cocktail knowledge is second to none. Despite the pressure of performing in front of a huge crowd, all five of her cocktails were unbelievable, while her crowd engagement, pouring knowledge, speed and flair made for an amazing performance."

Cocktail crazy

The news from Be At One landed just days before the 2025 Classic Cocktail Competition, where pub, bar, hotel and restaurant brands will come together to deliver their own take on six different classic drinks. 

A total of 15 respected hospitality businesses will be represented at the final on 13 October in London, including teams from Butcombe Group, Flight Club, The Cocktail Club and current champions Arc Inspirations. The full list of finalists can be seen below.

At the final, these talented mixologists will be battling it out to make the Spiced Mojito of the Year, Fortunella Sour of the Year, Pornstar Martini of the Year, Tom Collins of the Year, Old Fashioned of the Year, and Paloma of the Year.

For 2025, the event is moving to The Refinery at Regent’s Place, where bartenders will go head-to-head in a bid to win the esteemed title of Bartender of the Year. The winners will be announced at a private reception held immediately after the daytime competition. 

To register your interest in attending the final, please visit the Classic Cocktail Competition website.

The 2025 Classic Cocktail Competition finalists

• Arc Inspirations
• Brother Marcus / Kamara 
• Butcombe Group
• Character Inns
• Country Creatures / Mason’s Arms
• Desire Cocktail Bar
• Drake & Morgan
• Flight Club
• Lime Wood Hotel
• Sixes
• The Alchemist 
• The Cocktail Club
• The Inn Collection Group
• The Pig Hotel
• Urban Pubs & Bars / The Gun

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