BCB London publishes seminar programme
Bar Convent London (BCB London) has announced the seminar programme for its 2026 show, which will return to Tobacco Dock from 11-12 May.
This year’s programme will be led by director of education Elliot Ball, with support from the show’s industry-led education board.
It will bring together leading voices from across bartending, hospitality, education and drinks to deliver two days of practical, relevant and forward-thinking content.
Ball said: “Our focus for 2026 is to create a programme that reflects the realities of working in hospitality today. These sessions are designed to be practical, relevant and immediately useful – whether you’re developing your skills, leading a team or thinking about the future of your career.”
Highlights from this year’s programme reflect some of the key conversations shaping hospitality today, from sustainability and flavour development to leadership and team culture.
The From Garden to Glass session, for example, will be presented by Jared Brown and Liv Jackson, and will explore how seasonal, locally sourced ingredients can elevate drinks while encouraging a more sustainable, flavour-led approach to cocktail making.
Focusing on the value of fresh produce – whether grown or sourced locally – the session will examine the impact of seasonality on flavour, waste reduction and creativity behind the bar. A guided tasting will demonstrate how a single ingredient can be developed into a balanced cocktail.
Meanwhile Kate Gerwin’s session, Biology of Taste, has been designed to support more informed, intentional drink development, helping bartenders refine their approach with greater consistency and understanding.
Gerwin will examine how flavour is shaped by the interaction between our senses, physiology and emotional response, and attendees to this session will explore the relationship between biology and the chemistry of taste, gaining practical insight into how cocktails are perceived.
In addition, Alex Lawrence Milia, alongside Nicky Craig, Jaimee Shields-Shabodalov and La’Mel Clarke, will lead a panel called Being Good for Your People; How to Engage and Facilitate the Best for Your Team, which will focus on the realities of building and sustaining company culture in hospitality.
Drawing on experience across hotel bars, independent venues and regional groups, the discussion will explore how to define, implement and maintain culture in a way that is both practical and effective. The session will address the challenges of getting it right in a modern hospitality landscape, from team engagement to long-term development.
The full seminar programme is as follows:
- Sip, Swagger, Slay – hosted by Chelsie Bailey, Kat Whyte McQueen, Nicole Sykes
- In Service of Service – hosted by Mikey Pendergast
- Sazeracs to Sippy Cups: Raising the Bar, and Kids – hosted by Sim Edwards, Rory Shepherd
- Let’s Make a Cocktail Competition (That Doesn’t Suck) – hosted by Matthew Hastings
- Being Good for Your People; How to Engage and Facilitate the Best for Your Team – hosted by Alex Lawrence Milia, La’Mel Clarke, Nicky Craig, Jaimee Shields-Shabodalov
- Setbacks & Successes – hosted by Drew Mallins
- Beyond the Buzzwords: Real Diversity in Hospitality – hosted by Lele Mensah, Chockie Tom, Nicky Craig, La’Mel Clarke, Vicky Ilankovan
- When Did We Lose our Why? How to Communicate Collaboratively and Defeat Despotism – hosted by Jordan Duncan
- Wired Differently but Brilliantly – Neurodivergence in Hospitality, Barrier or Brilliance? – hosted by Ahsoka Wallace, Camille Vidal, Nicky Craig, Sam Boevey
- Do You Believe in Life After Bars? – hosted by Sam Boevey
- From Garden to Glass – hosted by Liv Jackson, Jared Brown
- The Handy Guide to Handyfotografie – hosted by Matthew Hastings
- Biology of Taste – hosted by Kate Gerwin
- Building Better Boilermakers: The Art of Beer & Spirit Pairing – hosted by Natalya Watson, Liam Scandrett
- Taste In The Place – hosted by Stuart Bale, Nick Strangeway, Jess Barnick, Marcis Dzelzainis
- The Rapport Report – hosted by Deano Moncrieffe, Max Howe
- The Preliminary Course – hosted by Maria Kontorravdis
- Rum, Lime, and Sugar – Going Beyond the Daiquiri – hosted by Gergo Murath
- Functional Drinking: Beyond the Buzz – hosted by Laura Willoughby (Club Soda), Noah Villeneuve (Kore), Luke (Three Spirits), Johnny (The Alchemist)
BCB London 2026 will take place at Tobacco Dock on 11 and 12 May.
Further details on speakers, sessions and feature areas can be found at barconventlondon.com.
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