Franklin & Sons names competition finalists
The finalists of Franklin & Sons’ cocktail competition, Flavour in Motion 2025, have been announced.
The final will take place next week (15 July) at London’s Equal Parts bar, with 11 bartenders competing. The finalists were selected through four regional heats held throughout June, narrowing down the field from 40 participants.
The competition is now in its second year, with Elyse Von Ruinn winning the first edition.
Flavour in Motion invites bartenders to revisit the first cocktail they ever learned to make and reimagine it through the techniques and skills they have since developed since.
The finalists are:
- Alessandro Todini, Three Sheets (London)
- Alice Ford, Nine Lives (London)
- Meg de Bell, Below Stairs (Leeds)
- Drew Millington, Project Halcyon (Manchester)
- Scott Stevenson, Ga Ga Kitchen & Bar (Glasgow)
- Victoria Cochrane, Plaza Premium Lounge (Edinburgh)
- Aaron Lewis-Grey, Dos Dedos (Bath)
- David Purkiss, Lab22 (Cardiff)
- Lili Johnston, Bar Daskal (London)
- Stefano Azzaro, The Old Fish Bar (Glasgow)
The winner will receive £2,500 (US$3,383) towards their career development education, with second and third awarded £500 (US$677) and £250 (US$338) respectively.
Pete Thornton, senior brand manager at Franklin & Sons, said: “We’ve been blown away by the talent, creativity, and passion shown by bartenders across the UK. Flavour in Motion is all about evolution, honouring the very first steps bartenders took behind the bar, and recognising how far they’ve come.
This year’s finalists reflect the energy, artistry and ambition of the UK’s bar scene, and we can’t wait to see their final serves.”
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