Preview: BCB London 2025
The Bar Convent family will debut its first London show this month, taking place at the capital’s Tobacco Dock.
The drinks trade has a new fixture in its calendar, as BCB makes its long-awaited London debut. Formerly known as Imbibe Live, the show will host its first show under the Bar Convent family of brands from 30 June to 1 July. As well as a new name, the event has moved from its long-time home at Olympia London to Tobacco Dock in Wapping.
This is no simple rebrand. Organised by RX Global, the team behind BCB shows in Berlin, Brooklyn, and São Paulo, the London edition promises to bring the internationally trusted BCB format to a UK audience, with a strong emphasis on hospitality-first programming and opportunities to connect across all corners of the industry.
“BCB has become the leading international trade fair brand for the bar and beverage industry and has developed over the years into a hallmark of quality for trade events in the sector,” explains Petra Lassahn, BCB’s director. “Following the success of the Berlin show, we have since added shows on other continents to the BCB family.
“There is such high regard for the BCB brand across the international drinks industry that we felt that now was exactly the right time to bring the show to London to showcase and celebrate the UK and Ireland as a central player in the global bar and drinks scene.”
Though the BCB name is familiar across the industry, this will be its first outing in the UK – and organisers are keen to ensure BCB London feels distinctively British in flavour.
To get feedback from the trade, the BCB London team went on a UK-wide tour in early 2025, hitting Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin and Belfast, with pop-up events featuring panels, tastings and community meet-ups.
“BCB has earned great acclaim for its flagship Berlin event, and we’ve seen successful expansions, for example in Brooklyn, which is also a major hub for the bar industry,” Lassahn says. “BCB London will bring all the quality and innovation you’ve come to expect from the BCB brand to the city, and visitors will recognise some of the highlights of previous BCB events at the London edition.”
At Tobacco Dock, the new-look event will feature a mixture of main stage talks, intimate sessions, and hands-on learning. A key focus will be the on-trade, with content designed to support working bartenders – whether through flavour inspiration, business advice, or explorations of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.
“There will be plenty to discover across the two-day event,” Lassahn explains. “Leading drinks brands will present their latest products and visitors will have the opportunity to sample a new selection of spirits, mixers and low-and-no beverages. Exciting new brands will have a presence in the ‘Young Guns’ area.”
Education will be central, with three curated stages, including the Main Stage, which will feature masterclasses and panels from respected hospitality and bar experts; the Workshop Stage, which will offer hands-on learning and tastings across drink categories; and the Brand Stage, which will highlight some of the most exciting new product launches in the UK.
“We are bringing together a dedicated group of industry experts who will be working in partnership to curate an engaging education programme for BCB London,” says Lassahn. That group is led by BCB brand ambassador Jack Sotti – the brains behind London cocktail bar Archive & Myth – and director of education Angus Winchester.
The duo are supported by spirits educator Hannah Lanfear of Speciality Drinks, and the co-founders of The Cocktail Lovers, Sandrae Lawrence and Gary Sharpen. Guests can expect seminars from the likes of Sotti, Club Soda’s Laura Willoughby, drinks expert Hannah McDermid, and Cocktail Trading Co’s Elliot Ball, with more names still to be announced.
As with its sister shows, BCB London will offer exhibiting brands a range of formats – from large-scale booths to activation-style spaces – giving companies the chance to showcase their products creatively and connect with the trade.
New features are also in the works. “My personal highlight will be the section of the show dedicated to Local Heroes – celebrating drinks brands that really stand out within their local communities,” Lassahn adds. “I encourage everyone visiting to make time to explore this area.”
Attendees can expect the event to reflect key conversations shaping the world of spirits and hospitality in 2025. “Visitors can expect a diverse line-up of exhibitors and education sessions that tap into a range of topics and trends, all shining a light on the latest in drinks innovation,” Lassahn says.
“From the latest in low and no, to the cutting-edge of spirits innovation, BCB London will ensure that drinks professionals from across the sector will be able to understand how to tap into current and future industry trends to positively impact their businesses.”
While BCB London will primarily cater to the UK and Irish trade, Lassahn expects it to attract a wider audience. “As the BCB brand is known as a global platform for the bar and beverage industry, we expect the UK event to draw international visitors to London,” she says. “However, as our mission is to champion the UK and Irish bartending culture – which is reflected in our exhibitor line-up, education programme and spotlight on Local Heroes – our primary focus is on UK trade.”
With its world-class venues, pioneering bartenders and ever-evolving drinks culture, London has long been at the forefront of the world’s bar scene. BCB London looks set to match that energy – creating a platform that celebrates the city’s influence, supports its talent, and connects it to the wider international community.
Get your ticket: www.barconventlondon.com
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