March is all about the women. And good job too. Here are just a few of the many cocktail-related events taking place to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8th March. Show your support and get involved, however you identify… #AccelerateAction
8th March:
Voco Grand Central, Glasgow
The Pot Still’s Whisky Girls, 10th Women In Whisky Lunch
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, The Pot Stills Whisky Girls are donating the funds from their annual Women in Whisky Lunch to the OurWhisky Foundation. Tickets include a drinks reception, 3-course lunch with whisky with each course, wine and guest speaker.
9th March:
Equal Parts, London
6pm-12am: You’ll find four very different, much welcome faces from UK bars behind the stick at Equal Parts this Sunday. Kim Barrit from Penny Royal and Charlotte Malin from Lab 22, both in Cardiff; Elyse Von Ruinn from The Gate Glasgow and Amelie Diaz from Mixologya Guide app will be on drinks, thanks to the support of Franklin & Sons, Fielden Whisky and No. 3 Gin. On the decks, expect banging tunes from an array of female DJs.
£1 from all drinks sales will go to Equal Measures, the leading UK non-profit driving equity, diversity and inclusion in the drinks and hospitality sectors.
9th March:
Avra, Four Seasons, Athens
3.30-4.30pm: Celebrate Her x Avra
Avra’s Bar Manager Manon Kapfer and Anna Sebastian host a TED Talk-style panel with a stellar lineup all sharing their experience of working in the industry. The line-up takes in Manal Ouardane (Twist de Naranja. Madrid); Aurelie Panhelleux (CopperBay, Paris); Eleni Nikoloulia (Academy Chair of The World’s 50 Best Bars and Founder of Athens Rum Whisky Festival), and Phaedra Kali (business and life coach ).
From 5pm: The International Women’s Day theme continues in Avra Bar with the first Great Sunday Club of 2025. The all-female bartending talent features Agapi Petropoulou (A for Athens); Georgia Georgakopoulou (Etiquette Clumsies, Athens); Aurelie Panhelleux (CopperBay, Paris), Manal Ouardane (Salmon Guru, Madrid) and Avra’s Manon Kapfer. On the menu, 10 cocktails made with Axia Mastiha Spirit, Straydog Wild Gin and Merlet with entertainment by Christos Sotiropoulos.
9th March:
Sonora Cocktail Bar, Amsterdam
3-6pm: Celebrate Her x Sonora
The team at Celebrate Her are up again, doing what they do best – focusing on building community, educating and supporting women in hospitality, with a focus on drinks. In this session the various insights and experiences of shining lights will share how they each take action in their roles to drive change and accelerate action. In the hotseat: Kat Stanley-Whyte, freelance bartender, photographer and artist; Lauren Mote, Global Director of On-Trade Excellence at PATRÓN Tequila and Co-chair of The Tales of The Cocktail Education Committee; Katie Rouse, owner of Couch, UK and Tess Posthumus, co-owner The Flying Dutchmen, Dutch Courage Cocktails and Belly of the Beast, as well as sitting on the Board of Directors of The Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. They’ll be joined by Jade Ismail, beverage consultant, content creator, bartender and part of the Celebrate Her team.
8-11pm: Guest bartending shift with all of the above at Sonora making drinks with PATRÓN tequila.
10th March:
Barbican Centre, London
2.30-5.30pm: JKS Presents The Women Who Make Us
Engaging discussions across the big questions raised by womxn working in hospitality, including The art of self-advocacy and the perfectionism trap; Handing the mic to Gen Z: the future of hospitality and Accelerate Action: Financial empowerment for women.
10th March:
Scarfes Bar, London
12-5pm: Celebrate Her x Scarfes Bar
Nóra Földvari and the team at Scarfes Bar partner up with Celebrate Her for an afternoon of talks and education. On the agenda, discussions on the Women’s Night Safety Charter and what’s being done to make London’s hospitality scene safer for Women; on the panel, Monica Berg, co-owner of Tayer+Elementary and number one on The Bar World 100 list, discussing creativity, leadership and giving those all-important tips on building and nurturing an award-winning team; Natasha Zone, founder of One Zone, speaking on navigating the start-up world, personal branding and impactful public speaking. They’re joined by Mandy Naglich, journalist and author of How To Taste, sharing her insights on storytelling and sensory expertise.
5pm onwards: Networking and drinks in Scarfes Bar from the ace crew at Paradiso in Barcelona. Drinks sponsored by Diageo and The London Essence Company.
20th March:
Happiness Forgets, London
In celebration of Women’s Day and International Happiness Day (March 20th), Happiness Forgets is dedicating 20th March to honouring the incredible journeys of women.
2-4pm: Afternoon seminars & tastings
A series of bite-sized seminars featuring Amélie Diaz from Satan’s Whiskers on social media; Kat Stanley-Whyte, bartender/photographer on art, drinks styling and opportunities in the field; Margaux Picard (ex-Happiness) on founding a hospitality brand outside of the bar, and Kyra Elton on her career path and tasting of Widow Jane, a woman-led brand.
RSVP: manager@happinessforgets.com
Evening Takeover – 6 PM till Late
Enjoy an exclusive menu of five cocktails crafted by some of the amazing former women employees at Happiness Forgets, including Chelsie Bailey, Kyra Elton, Margaux Picard, Marta Gronowska and Anna Dunne with Benedetta Paris on cheerleading duties and support from Beefeater, FEW Whisky and Ocho Tequila.
In case you missed it…
Tune in to this week’s special International Women’s Day episode of The Cocktail Lovers podcast available to listen to here
COMING UP
1-2 June:
Women & Hospitality, Barcelona
Some of the most influential women in the industry come together in an exciting selection of hands-on workshops, panels and mentoring sessions, curated by Margarita Sáder, co-founder of the award-winning Paradiso. The final day culminates in a closing party featuring guest shifts from leading female bartenders from some of The Worlds’ 50 Best Bars.
Date tbc
Se Busca Barmaid Week
Se Busca Barmaid Week returns to Barcelona for its second edition later this year. The six-day event will take in tastings, presentations, masterclasses and a roundtable led by the brand and the main personalities of the cocktail industry, plus an array of evening events with local exchange of guest shifts featuring the best female mixologists in Barcelona.
More details to follow.
