Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight will introduce its first-ever Trade Day this year, created specifically for the city’s bartending and hospitality sector. The one-day programme will take place on Monday 29 September and has been designed to support, educate and celebrate Glasgow’s bar professionals.
The free event will feature seminars, tastings, discussions and hands-on sessions, running across venues including The DAM and Absent Ear. The day begins with breakfast at Dear Green, hosted by The Social Hub, where attendees will be welcomed to the event with bacon rolls and coffee.
Festival organiser Nicola Gemmell Moir has developed the programme with teams from Scoop Restaurants, Absent Ear, The DAM, The Social Hub, drinks consultant Ian Melville, and several leading drinks brands.
Events include “Not Another Espresso Martini” a coffee-focused session led by bartenders, baristas and representatives from Crossbrew and Brugal 1888 Rum, exploring how to take coffee cocktails beyond the classic serve, and “The Art of Competition”, brings together past and present entrants to share strategies for success, with insight from Elie Raeside of Patrón Perfectionist.
A workshop on social content creation will be led by Jenny Cree and Natalie Moran of PR agency Atomic10, focusing on how bartenders can use Instagram and TikTok more effectively, while the final seminar of the day will look at health-conscious serves, with Liam Grogan and Schweppes discussing flavour development in a lower-sugar, low-ABV context.
The day will also include tastings, demonstrations, a trade quiz hosted by Ian Melville, and surprise additions throughout. It will close with a fifth birthday celebration at Absent Ear, where London bar Murder Inc. will take over the venue for one night only with a special cocktail menu.
Ian Melville said, “This programme is packed with variety – from serious learning to hands-on fun, and I can’t wait to see Glasgow’s bartending community come together for it. Hospitality can be a tough industry, so having a free day dedicated to learning, networking, and celebrating feels incredibly valuable.”
(source: Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight press release, September 2025)
Festival organiser Nicola Gemmell Moir added, “This year, we wanted to do something really meaningful for the bartending community. Glasgow’s hospitality scene is bursting with creativity and talent, and this new Trade Day is our way of giving back and offering inspiration, new skills, and a chance to come together and celebrate what makes this city’s bar scene so special.”
Picture: (L-R ) Liam Grogan, Nicola Gemmell Moir, Alex Riches, Ian Melville