Northern bar group Mojo has teamed up with Langton’s No 1 Gin for activities, including a bartender competition, to raise funds and awareness for industry charity Hospitality Action.
It will begin with an industry event on April 10 at Mojo in Manchester, when top bar managers and owners and bartenders from across the north will learn about the charity that helps people who work or have worked in hospitality in the UK.
The event will also feature the launch of a new product, signature serve cocktails and a presentation and tasting for Langton’s Gin with co-founder Nick Dymoke-Marr.
Launched in November last year, Langton’s Gin comes from the Lake District, produced using water from natural aquifer water sourced from Underskiddaw, filtered through 450million-year-old slate. Local botanicals, including seasoned bark from ancient Lakeland oak, combine to create a smooth, distinctive spirit.
Bartenders at the event will be encouraged to put together a team to enter a Langton’s Gin cocktail competition to create a new cocktail using the product. Each bar will receive a bottle of gin to help with devising the drink, and all competing bars will become members of Hospitality Action.
The final of the competition will take place on April 23 at Mojo in Liverpool, where entrants will make their cocktail in front of a judging panel.
The winner’s bar will receive two cases of Langton’s Gin, and the winning bartender will receive a personal bartender’s kit plus an overnight stay for two in the Lake District.
The winning cocktail will be given the title of Langton’s Gin Recommended Summer Serve and will be promoted by Langton’s throughout summer 2013.
Nick said: “Together with Mojo, Langton’s are delighted to co-organise these awareness-raising events for Hospitality Action. We’ve worked in the industry for a very long time so we fully appreciate the work that they do and the effort that they put in. This is our opportunity to give a little something back, and we hope that the bars and bartenders involved will do the same.”
Mojo director Mal Evans said: “I’ve now been in this industry for 26 years and, as Nick says, this is our chance to give something back.
“At the moment, Hospitality Action work with a lot of high-profile chefs but there aren’t currently any representatives from the bar scene. We want to use our influence and experience to encourage other great bars and bartenders to get involved, represent and recognise the work that Hospitality Action undertake.
“We sincerely hope that by organising these events in collaboration with Langton’s Gin, we can help to raise awareness and some much-needed money for this fantastic charity. We are both fortunate and grateful to have never needed to make use of Hospitality Action, but the least we can do is ensure that they continue to be there for those who do need their services.”
The activity by Mojo and Langton’s Gin is in advance of Hospitality Action Week, which takes place from May 13 to 19, involving fund-raising by bars, hotels, pubs and restaurants across the UK. Visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk
