Bar Convent Berlin 2022 : the bar industry is back
For three days, visitors to Bar Convent Berlin 2022 enjoyed a perfect mix of in-depth conversations, beaming faces and unique experiences in the packed halls of the Berlin trade fair.
From October 10 to 12, the bar world once again came together to meet the international “who’s who” of the scene and concentrate knowledge, as well as to taste extraordinary cocktail creations.
The world of bars and spirits once again gathered in the German capital for three days to taste the latest drink creations, do business, gain knowledge or simply meet friends and colleagues from the international bar community. Once again, the top echelon of international bartenders was present:
“We are very pleased that so many renowned bartenders from all over the world came to actively participate in this year’s Bar Convent Berlin 2022, whether at the exhibitors’ booths, as speakers in the training program or at the guest night shifts held in Berlin’s best bars. And all this despite the still numerous challenges facing the industry today. We appreciate their commitment even more and are working together for a positive future for the sector,” says Petra Lassahn, director of the BCB.
Bar Convent Berlin 2022 also welcomed a wide variety of visitors: From bartenders and restaurateurs to major spirits brands, retailers and wholesalers, as well as hotels and restaurants, a wide variety of trade visitors attended. In addition to the many visitors from Germany, many others traveled from the United Kingdom, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands and Denmark. There were also large contingents from Austria, Switzerland, Spain and France.
The elaborate and creative booth designs once again set the tone in the exhibition halls: many small brand worlds and bars were created in which visitors could lose themselves wonderfully:
“Our exhibitors once again outdid themselves with their presentation and corresponding booth designs. You could see and taste how much effort and attention to detail had gone into them. You could tell that the bar sector is not to be beaten. That’s why we in the BCB team would like to thank all our exhibitors, partners and visitors for their fantastic commitment,” said Petra Lassahn enthusiastically.
There was a separate area for the country pavilions of, for example, the USA, Italy, and this year’s partner country Denmark. A wide variety of products were presented there, to the delight of visitors and the satisfaction of exhibitors.
Four things to know after Bar Convent Berlin 2022
A taste of Spain
It wasn’t just the sunshine that contributed to the summery atmosphere: The “14 De La Rosa” team’s snack bar spread that feel-good vibe by briefly transporting visitors to Barcelona, the birthplace of the original bar. Dean Shury and his team created an impressively authentic snacking experience in the midst of the exhibition halls.
In addition to demonstrating the popularity of the different “variants” of the aperitif, the Bar Convent Berlin 2022 also highlighted many other trends in the bar scene: such as the various brands once again showcasing interesting products and beverage creations in the “Low & No” ABV segment.
The topic of sustainability in the bar business also featured prominently: here, the focus was on packaging and alternatives to plastic, among other things. For example, visitors were able to try out edible cocktail cutlery or learn about ecoSPIRITS products, which offer an alternative to conventional disposable glass.
The ecoTOTES™ care from this technology company, which has developed the world’s first closed-loop packaging technology for premium spirits and wines, was also used in the Urban Gardening Area.
Off into the bar jungle!
Another spot that magically attracted visitors was the Speakeasy bar. Together with the Greek bar team “The Rumble in the Jungle” and “The Bar in Front of the Bar,” BCB launched this project with sponsor Bar-Fabric. Visitors who came in search of the mystery bar were rewarded not only with exceptional drinks, but also with a unique experience: renowned Athens bar professionals offered delicious cocktails and an extraordinary atmosphere throughout, both in front of and behind the curtains.
“BCB is the biggest event in our industry. Everyone in the industry is influenced by BCB, especially in Europe. I have always been here as a guest and to be here as a bar serving drinks is more than fantastic for us. Our team is very happy and we almost feel like we are serving at our bar in Athens. It has been a great experience and we would definitely do it again,” says bar owner Konstantinos Theodorakopoulos.
Green thumbs up for BCB’s Urban Gardening Area
In the Urban Gardening Area, sustainability and herbalism took center stage for three days, forward-looking topics that are currently moving the entire industry. The workshops given by Bartender of the Year Ruben Neideck, who talked, among other things, about herbal brewing, aroused great interest. Despite being a very specific topic, the turnout was enormous: in no time at all, groups of visitors formed around the booth, making it clear that this topic deserves an even bigger stage.
“I think it is very important that bartenders with a wider reach properly use their influence within the scene to pass on knowledge. I am very pleased that, together with BCB, we have provided a platform for this important topic.
This reflects the excellent focus of the event,” says Ruben Neideck. He is also particularly pleased that, in addition to young bartenders, there were also familiar faces among the audience who have been in the industry for years.
Three days full of program highlights
The varied educational program, with first-class speakers, also lived up to expectations and was curated by the BCB Education Board, with Angus Winchester as Education Director, Eleni Nikoloulia, and Damien Guichard. One of the highlights this year was the talk by bartender Danil Nevsky, entitled “You VS the Global Bar Industry,” which drew a very large audience to the main stage.
Also of note was Jean Trịnh’s talk ‘Alchemist’ Jean Trịnh. The endurance and strength of him and his team to move to the countryside and set up a farm deeply impressed the audience. Also entertaining and important was Iain Bell’s talk on nutrition and health, because while bartenders love to take care of their guests, some are extremely bad at taking care of themselves.
Another highlight after the close of the show was the numerous guest shifts with top-notch bar equipment that were presented throughout the city. Bar Convent Berlin 2022 visitors flocked to Berlin’s most popular venues to have special drinks prepared for them by the greats of the bar scene, such as Jeffrey Morgenthaler or Jesse Vida.
A total of 12,505 visitors from 88 countries and 533 exhibitors from 44 countries traveled to Bar Convent Berlin 2022. This underlines Bar Convent Berlin role as an international meeting place for the bar and spirits scene and its pioneering role in terms of trends and exchange.
The last three days have definitely left us wanting more. We are already looking forward to next year, when we will be toasting again in Berlin from October 9 to 11, 2023.
To learn more about Bar Convent Berlin 2022 read the official article.
Don’t drink and drive. Enjoy responsibly.
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