Espresso Martini creator Dick Bradsell dies
The cocktail community has paid tribute to renowned bartender Dick Bradsell, who passed away over the weekend.
Industry pioneer Dick Bradsell passed away at the weekendBradsell is regarded as a pioneer in the formation of London’s cocktail scene, and created a number of modern classic cocktail serves, including the Espresso Martini and the Bramble, over his near-40 year career.
He grew up on the Isle of Wight, moving to the capital in 1977 to stay with an uncle who ran the Naval & Military Club in Piccadilly. “The complete training he gave me would have been hard to find elsewhere,” Bradsell told The Guardian in 2000.
His bartending career kicked off in the late 1970s, when he worked at the Zanzibar Club in London. Bradsell was later involved in a roster of top bars in the city, including the Soho Brasserie, where he created the Vodka Espresso, Fred’s Club, Groucho and Match Bar.
Most recently, he led the bar team at the Pink Chihuahua bar at Soho’s El Camion restaurant to wide acclaim.
Over his career, Bradsell trained countless bartenders and has had a far-reaching influence on modern cocktail culture.
A JustGiving page for The Benevolent, a charity which provides practical support to the drinks industry, has been opened in Bradsell’s memory.
Industry friends and colleagues took to social media to pay tribute to Bradsell:
