Bartenders named among most influential in London

Dandelyan-owner Ryan Chetiyawardana, Sipsmith’s Sam Galsworthy and regular Spirits Business contributor BarChick have been named among the 1,000 most influential people in London.

Ryan Chetiyawardana and Sam Galsworthy are among London’s “most influential” club and bar-owners, bartenders and distillers

The London bar and club industry made a small but mighty contribution to the list, which ranks George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, as the most powerful men in the capital.

Just 15 names are listed as Club Owners and Party People in The Evening Standard’s 1,000 Most Influential Londoners 2014, the majority of which are club, bar or restaurant owners.

The distilling industry was represented solely by Galsworthy, who co-founded Sipsmith in 2009 in a small garage in Hammersmith. The operation has since moved to Chiswick and gained in size.

BarChick, who regularly contributes to The Spirits Business magazine, was the only drinks-focused writer on the list, although party columnist Pippa Middleton also made an appearance.

The only names to represent bartenders were Dandelyan and White Lyan-owner Chetiyawardana, and Talented Mr. Fox founder Matt Whiley.

Meanwhile, two new names were added to the list this year – DJ and The Vinyl Factory owner Mark Wadhwa, and DJ Sam Young.

The Most Influential Club Owners and Party People in London 2014:

Nick Jones, founder, Soho House Group
Michael and Charlotte Sager-Wilde, owners, Sager + Wilde

Robin Birley, owner, 5 Hertford Street
Sam Galsworthy, co-founder, Sipsmith Distillery
BarChick, blogger
Matt Whiley, founder, Talented Mr. Fox
Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling, owners, Inception Group
Ruth Spivey, founder, Street Vin Wine
Jordan Gross and Daniel Sylvester, owners, Oval Space
Steve Ball, founder, The Columbo Group
Ryan Chetiyawardana, founder, Mr. Lyan
Pippa Middleton, columnist
Mark Wadhwa, owner, The Vinyl Factory
Sam Young, DJ