A series of events from SLTN, providing an opportunity for bar operators and staff to come together and share ideas on a range of topics impacting the industry.
In Conversation with SLTN
Events Schedule
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Inclusivity in Venues
2nd September 2024
This event will look at practical steps hospitality operators can take to make their venue more welcoming to a broader range of people – in terms of both customers and staff.
How important is it that venues are as inclusive and welcoming to as many people as possible? What are some simple, practical steps they can take to achieve this? And what needs to change from a wider industry perspective to attract a more diverse customer base and workforce?
Past Speakers
Vicky Ilankovan
Executive Director, Equal Measures UKVicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.
Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.
Vicky Ilankovan
Executive Director, Equal Measures UKVicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.
Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.
Elyse Von Ruinn
Bartender, The GateA rising star of the Scottish hospo scene, Elyse is an award-winning bartender and former creative director at Charlie Brown’s.
As well as creating and serving smashable drinks, Elyse is passionate about curating inclusive environments and experiences where everyone feels welcome, connected, cared for, catered to and celebrated.
Elyse Von Ruinn
Bartender, The GateA rising star of the Scottish hospo scene, Elyse is an award-winning bartender and former creative director at Charlie Brown’s.
As well as creating and serving smashable drinks, Elyse is passionate about curating inclusive environments and experiences where everyone feels welcome, connected, cared for, catered to and celebrated.
This event was sponsored by
Inclusivity in Whisky
4th September 2023
'In Conversation with SLTN: Inclusivity in Whisky’ set out to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the whisky sector in its efforts to attract both a broader range of customers and a more inclusive workforce.
Thanks to our three excellent speakers – Kirsten Blackburn of The Borders Distillery, Charlotte Barker of Diageo GB, and Danielle David of Kromanti Rum – and our highly engaged audience of bar operators, the event surpassed every expectation, culminating in an electrifying discussion of inclusivity issues and opportunities across the spectrum of gender, age, ethnicity and sexuality.
Past speakers
Danielle David
Co-Founder, Kromanti RumDani is the co-founder of Kromanti Rum, a unique spirit infused with tamarind. From a career in commercial shipping, she stepped into the world of rum a little over a year ago, propelled by the emotional connection to rum via her Caribbean heritage.
She’s driven to bring her voice to the drinks industry and foster a community of genuine, like-minded people: “It was a great privilege to be part of the first Inclusivity in Whisky Event – a necessary platform to stir some important discussions about how we can change the industry for those underrepresented at all levels, and decide for ourselves what the future could look like.
Charlotte Barker
Malts Ambassador for GB - DiageoFrom a non-alc start-up to pouring pints at football stadiums, and serving luxury whisky at five-star hotels, Charlotte now gets to talk about her favourite whisky portfolio at Diageo, inspiring and informing using myths, stories, and science to bring life to every distillery.
Her most recent adventure took her to running the whisky bar at Milroy’s of Spitalfields where she curated a menu of 1000 whiskies (which she still maintains is not enough). Whilst there, she started running Women’s+ Whisky Night: evenings dedicated to the exploration of female+ focused brands and providing an alternative space to enjoy and learn about whisky.
Kirsten Blackburn
Head of Marketing, The Borders DistilleryThe Borders Distillery is the first Scotch Whisky distillery to operate in the Scottish Borders since 1837. Working with twelve local farms, TBD uses barley grown within 35 miles of the distillery to produce new make spirit, which goes on to become Whisky, Gin and Vodka.
It’s all about Borders barley, Borders water, and Borders people. TBD are passionate about bringing whisky-making back to this region of Scotland. Their hometown of Hawick is built on an ethos of manufacturing, using their river source to feed the production of Tweed, Cashmere and now Whisky. With centuries of engineering carved into the town’s past, it comes as no surprise that distilling comes as second nature to their young and growing team. TBD has introduced an industry back into the Scottish Borders, creating opportunities to build careers in whisky-making, marketing, and global export.
This event was sponsored by
Past speakers
Danielle David
Co-Founder, Kromanti RumDani is the co-founder of Kromanti Rum, a unique spirit infused with tamarind. From a career in commercial shipping, she stepped into the world of rum a little over a year ago, propelled by the emotional connection to rum via her Caribbean heritage.
She’s driven to bring her voice to the drinks industry and foster a community of genuine, like-minded people: “It’s a great privilege to be part of the first Inclusivity in Whisky Event – a necessary platform to stir some important discussions about how we can change the industry for those underrepresented at all levels, and decide for ourselves what the future could look like.
Charlotte Barker
Malts Ambassador for GB - DiageoFrom a non-alc start-up to pouring pints at football stadiums, and serving luxury whisky at five-star hotels, Charlotte now gets to talk about her favourite whisky portfolio at Diageo, inspiring and informing using myths, stories, and science to bring life to every distillery.
Her most recent adventure took her to running the whisky bar at Milroy’s of Spitalfields where she curated a menu of 1000 whiskies (which she still maintains is not enough). Whilst there, she started running Women’s+ Whisky Night: evenings dedicated to the exploration of female+ focused brands and providing an alternative space to enjoy and learn about whisky.
Kirsten Blackburn
Head of Marketing, The Borders DistilleryThe Borders Distillery is the first Scotch Whisky distillery to operate in the Scottish Borders since 1837. Working with twelve local farms, TBD uses barley grown within 35 miles of the distillery to produce new make spirit, which goes on to become Whisky, Gin and Vodka.
It’s all about Borders barley, Borders water, and Borders people. TBD are passionate about bringing whisky-making back to this region of Scotland. Their hometown of Hawick is built on an ethos of manufacturing, using their river source to feed the production of Tweed, Cashmere and now Whisky. With centuries of engineering carved into the town’s past, it comes as no surprise that distilling comes as second nature to their young and growing team. TBD has introduced an industry back into the Scottish Borders, creating opportunities to build careers in whisky-making, marketing, and global export.
In Conversation with SLTN is a series of events organised by Scottish Licensed Trade News, Scotland’s leading hospitality trade magazine. (SLTN is part of Peebles Media Group Ltd).
