New State‑of‑the‑Art Training Centre, Xcelerate With Edgbaston, Set To Up‑Skill UK Hospitality With Its Bar Excellence Training
With over 20 years of experience and a passion for crafting unique signature cocktails, Murdo brings his award‑winning expertise to Birmingham. The Bar Excellence masterclass provides in‑depth knowledge of spirit categories, from production processes to tasting notes, empowering bartenders to confidently upsell premium brands in everyday conversation.
By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to deliver exceptional customer service and stand out as quality bartenders.
By learning to upsell premium spirits fluently, hospitality operators can typically recoup the cost of training within an impressive 4‑6 weeks. Recent results demonstrate a significant increase in spirits revenue sales, often by almost 20%, following Bar Excellence training.
The Bar Excellence masterclass offers participants a comprehensive set of tools to excel in the hospitality industry including:
- Meet and greet excellence: Learn how to initiate guest contact at the right moment.
- Efficient operations: Master the setup of a drinks station, utilise all tools effectively, and work dynamically as a team.
- Spirit knowledge: Gain a deep understanding of key spirits, tasting notes, and powerful one‑line sales techniques to upsell confidently.
- Cocktail mastery: Learn to prepare shaken, stirred, built, and layered cocktails with precision and finesse.
- Garnish artistry: Create visually stunning drink garnishes to elevate presentation.
Murdo MacLeod said: “Our Bar Excellence training goes beyond technical skills. It instils a ‘hospitality mindset’ empowering attendees to embrace the theatre of providing engaging, consistent, and efficient drinks service. The course aims to spark a passion for bartending, showcasing the exciting and rewarding career paths available within our great industry.”
Murdo can create bespoke Bar Excellence training packages to meet the specific needs of individual bars, hotel bar operations, staffing agencies, or unique groups. Whether they want to perfect existing cocktail menus, increase spirit and mixer sales, specialise in scotch whisky, or deepen the team's knowledge of rum, a programme to suit specific goals can be customised and delivered.
Giacomo Pieri, Michelangelos Hotel, Bar & Restaurant recently sent his team on bespoke Bar Excellence training and commented: “Bar Excellence Training has taught our team great new skills in up‑selling and cocktail theatre. Our spirit sales revenue has increased by 19% and our cocktail sales revenue has increased 34% post training. From first contact, online meetings were organised for Murdo to understand exactly what my needs were and the goals for my staff. After the training my staff have found a new lease of life whilst working, which everyone has benefited from.”
Every attendee receives a printed and bound workshop manual to take home and reference, plus digital certificates at the end of each session. Additionally, attendees gain access to an online portal with “How‑To” videos for continued practice and skill development.
