As the summer months and BBQ season approaches, now is the perfect time to perfect those bartending skills. Five eager participants interested in upskilling and testing new skills, did exactly that as they responded to Southern Regional College’s latest call to ‘Get into Bartending’, in partnership with Ma Berry’s in Portadown. Course participants were Gabi Chmielewska from Armagh, Abbie Smyth from Lisburn, Abbie McKey from Craigavon, Paul Doherty and Alan Black, both from Portadown.
The course was a jam-packed two-day event. Participants were quick to learn the finer points in pouring the perfect pint alongside shaking up not one, but three deliciously prepared cocktails. The vodka-based passion fruit martini, whiskey based old fashioned cocktail on the on trend pink baby Guinness shot.
It was not all light-hearted fun as participants were provided with an insight into business operations, plus health and safety issues that come alongside running a hospitality business. Participants were introduced to behind the bar operations, opening and closing procedures, correct cold room and keg storage prerequisites, and procedures for changing kegs. At the end of the course participants all obtained a City & Guilds Level 2 qualification in Principles of Customer Service.
Abbie Muldrew, Business Development Executive at Southern Regional College’s Business Support and Innovation Team commented:
“Congratulations to our five students who successfully completed the ‘Get into Bartending’ course, qualifying with a City & Guilds Level 2 Principles of Customer Service, whilst also gaining excellent practical experience from our brilliant tutor, Seamus Rooney. Here's to the start of an exciting journey and career in the world of hospitality!”
Get into Bartending was a free short course offered by Southern Regional College through the Skill Up programme. The programme was funded by the Department of Economy to upskill and reskill participants. For more information on funded courses, please contact the Business Support team by email at betterbusiness@src.ac.uk or phone at 028 3839 7778.
