Monthly Archives: December 2014

Tattoos and bartending are a blend of two profound subcultures

Posted on December 30, 2014 by

“They’re a very personal scrapbook”, Nathan Shearer says of his tattoos. “I got my first when I was 19. It was a small act of rebellion and a bold step into a new subculture. Since then they have become markers … Continue reading →

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Hanna Bixo & The Spirit of Art 2014

Posted on December 23, 2014 by

“My surname is Portugese, I was born in Gothenburg, to Swedish parents and raised in the chilly north of Sweden. I also have a native North American ancestor and I celebrate that with a geometric arrow tattoo”, says Hanna Bixo. … Continue reading →

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The Warmest Welcome in Islington

Posted on December 22, 2014 by

The first things we noticed about Zilouf’s were the smiles. We were at the bar early on a Monday morning in November, not exactly cocktail hour but that time of the day when you see a bar for what it … Continue reading →

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Mum said, if you’re going to spend most of your life in a bar, you may as well get paid for your time

Posted on December 19, 2014 by

Born into a family line of bartenders, Iain Griffiths learned his trade in Brisbane, improved it in Melbourne, polished it in Sydney and brought it to perfection in London via a stint in Edinburgh. Why trek half way around the … Continue reading →

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“London’s shockwave of creative energy overwhelms and redefines you”.

Posted on December 18, 2014 by

At 16 years old the image of a reclining lady started to emerge on Jay Doy’s forearm and a tattoo grand plan started to take shape in his mind. “I’ve now got cat like images of David Bowie, Bryan Ferry, … Continue reading →

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Sarah Mitchell and The Spirit of Art

Posted on December 15, 2014 by

“It was a gradual realisation that what I really wanted was to be a top bartender, at a top joint”, says Sarah Mitchell, a Sydneysider with all the enthusiasm and energy we have come to expect from Australians abroad. “I’m … Continue reading →

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Jake Blanch & The Spirit of Art 2014

Posted on December 12, 2014 by

The first of 11 featured bartenders in this year’s Spirit of Art is Jake Blanch. Jake has been interested in cocktails for as long as he can remember and as soon as he hit 18 he turned his interest into his … Continue reading →

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Introducing the New Giffard Spirit of Art

Posted on December 11, 2014 by

One Monday morning in November, as the rain poured down on Upper Street, 11 of London’s finest and most colourful bartenders met at Zilouf’s, in Islington, for a photoshoot with renowned photographer Theo Chalmers. Last year the Giffard Spirit of … Continue reading →

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