The Alchemist is a cocktail bar and restaurant serving experimental drinks and twists on classic cocktails. A venue where experience is always on the menu. Each concoction is meticulously crafted to tantalize your senses and transport you to a realm of flavour and spectacle.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to become a bartender?
I was a schoolteacher for about 5 years but after Covid, decided I wanted a change and to try something new. I have always loved people and knew I wanted a job where I was active and social, so hospitality appealed to me.
How did you come to work at The Alchemist, and what drew you to this particular venue?
When I was looking for my new job, I knew I’d get bored very quickly if I was working in a pub or just pulling pints the whole time. This drew me towards working in a cocktail bar. I remember visiting The Alchemist in Cheltenham a few weeks prior with a friend and was blown away by the beauty of the venue, especially the art deco-style bar itself, as well as the attitude of the staff and (of course) the amazing cocktails. I knew it would be the most interesting and most fun place to work, and I could learn a new skill by training to be a free-pouring bartender.
The Alchemist is known for its innovative approach to food and drink. How would you describe the drinking experience here?
I think visiting The Alchemist for drinks is truly an experience for all the senses. Not only are the cocktails (and the food) delicious, but they’re also theatrical and cool too!
What sets The Alchemist apart from other bars & restaurants in The Brewery Quarter and the wider Cotswolds?
First and foremost, I think the range of options on offer is truly unrivalled. Not only do we have an array of cocktails on our menu for you to choose from, but our experienced bartenders can make anything off the menu too. If we have the ingredients (and we almost certainly do), we can make it! I also think the knowledge of the team is something that sets us apart. One of my favourite parts of the job is talking to our guests about their likes and preferences and helping them pick the best drink for them.
Can you walk us through the process of creating a new drink for The Alchemist? What inspires your creations?
Every bartender always has an opportunity to put forward their own ideas for a new drink to go on the menu. There is then a long process of fine tuning the small details, and finding which cocktails will end up on our menu. I think everyone has their own process for creating a cocktail; some start with a name they’ve come up with and then figure out flavours etc. I like to start with either an idea for a new piece of theatre, or a particular flavour combination and then build the name around the drink itself.
What do you find most rewarding about your job? Is there a particular moment or experience that stands out?
As Head Bartender, I love seeing the development of the rest of the bar team around me. It’s so rewarding to see someone come through the ranks (as I did), starting from bar support and progressing through to bartender and sometimes even then being able to train a new bartender themselves. I remember a year or so ago, on a really busy Saturday shift, I looked down the bar and every bartender I was working with was someone I had personally trained. To see them smashing it on such a busy shift made me really proud; both of myself and all of them.
What’s next for you and The Alchemist? Are there any upcoming projects or new menu items that our readers should look out for?
The Alchemist is a very dynamic company and we’re always looking for new and exciting opportunities that could be available. You never know where the next site could pop up!! We have some really exciting menus coming up in the near future too. One of our most popular cocktails, The Screwball, is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year, so you should keep your eyes peeled for a few ‘Screwball Inspired’ options heading for our menus later this year, and I always love the ‘Festive Cocktails’ we create over the winter, so I can’t wait for those either!
For more information and reservations, visit www.thealchemistbars.com
