Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne announce planned acquisition of the world renowned cocktail celebration
Following a sixteenth successful London Cocktail Week, co-founders Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne are acquiring the brands London Cocktail Week and London Wine Week from the ownership of Speciality Drinks Ltd.
Despite being at the helm of the much-loved annual celebration since its inception in 2010, this will be the first time Hannah and Siobhán will fully own the rights to London Cocktail Week themselves. Originally founded during their time working with Simon Difford at Difford’s Guide, London Cocktail Week moved into the Speciality Drinks Ltd. portfolio of businesses in 2014, taking its place alongside luxury spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange. Since then it has grown and transitioned, with Hannah and Siobhán as the driving forces behind the event.
Hannah and Siobhán say: “London Cocktail Week is an endeavour we’re incredibly proud of, and we’re delighted to be taking it into a new chapter from 2026. As the festival has grown, we’ve showcased the best of London’s cocktail culture on the international stage. We’ve also supported our city’s bars with new revenue opportunities and educational content such as the Bartender Knowledge Exchange. We plan to keep listening to the on-trade and evolving the festival to make sure it continues to be the world’s leading cocktail celebration for years to come.”
The news comes as Speciality Drinks and The Whisky Exchange have also announced changes within the company, sharing a new look and a more united business model for the trade and consumer facing parts of the business.
Natalie Tennent, managing director for The Whisky Exchange, says: “As we move into our new chapter and our exciting new look for The Whisky Exchange, this felt like the right time to release London Cocktail Week into the capable hands of Hannah and Siobhán. They have always been the driving force behind the festival and we’re excited to watch it continue to blossom in the coming years.”
