WHO WILL BE CROWNED UNDERGROUND PUNCH PONG LEAGUE CHAMPIONS?
Bartenders from across the UK and Ireland are in training for the ultimate battle, as they prepare for the grand final of the Underground Punch Pong League – Monin Bartenders’ Challenge Cup, on Monday October 7.
The grand final takes place at the ‘London Punch Pong Arena’ – also known at the Arts Theatre London – with an after-party at the Seven Dials Club, on the opening night of London Cocktail Week 2013. Fourteen teams of two mixologists from around the country will fight it out to win a trip to Paris , and organisers want to fill the venue with supporters to cheer them on.
The Covent Garden Cocktail Club will be serving the top three punches all night long, at only £4 per cup of punch with an LCW wrist band.
Founded by JJ Goodman and sponsored by Monin and Plantation Rum, the Punch Pong craze has taken the UK and Irish bar scene by storm over the past six weeks, with bartenders competing against each other in a ‘beer pong’-style tournament, with one difference – the beer is replaced with delicious punch. At each of the 12 regional heats, every team drew a Monin syrup flavour at random which was then used as the foundation for creating their signature recipe.
James Coston, Monin’s UK brand ambassador, said: “Over the past few weeks it’s been great to see bartenders around the country, from Bristol to Edinburgh , really rise to the challenge and take the UPPL into their hearts. There’s been some fierce competition, but there’s no telling who will take the Monin Bartenders’ Challenge Cup at the grand final. With Punch Pong, anything can happen!”
JJ Goodman said: “Our Punch Pong finalists represent the best of the best, but there can only be one winning team. We want as big and raucous a crowd possible to cheer on the finalists so come down to the Arts Theatre on October 7 and support your bartending brethren.”
The Grand Final of the Underground Punch Pong League – Monin Bartenders’ Challenge Cup kicks off at the Arts Theatre London at 5pm on Monday October 7; entry is free of charge. For more information, click here.
UPPL Finalists
| Bristol | The Big Chill | Colin Macy | Nick Jones |
| Central London | LCC | James Hopkins | Kate Sharpe |
| West London | The Rum Kitchen | Thomas Ward | Al Mcmurdo |
| Birmingham | Island Bar | Mike Beedon | Ed Shawcross |
| Liverpool | El Bandito | Gwen Prior | Tony Ynot Roland |
| Manchester | The Liquor Store | Danny Bigg-Wither | Andrew Knapper |
| Leeds | Roadhouse | Oliver Pluck | Ross Millar |
| Edinburgh | Missoula | Scott Belcher | Duncan Robb |
| Belfast | Love & Death Inc | Patrick Logue | Matt Knight |
| Dublin | The Gibson Hotel | Cian Connellan | Sean Allen |
| Wild Card – Cardiff | Pourfection | David Whitford | Bret Sullivan-Bissett |
| Wild Card – West London | Portobello Star | Adam Mcleen | Michael Koechlin |
| Wild Card – Liverpool | ALOHA | Ryan Mcmahon |
Simon Taylor |
| Wild Card – Manchester | Hula | Chris Mosey |
Paul Hutton
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DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 