This weekend saw the Roadhouse in Covent Garden, London, don its patriotic pants with the UK Final. Although the UK Final is almost exactly the same as the World Open in terms of the competition format and scoring, where it differs is on who is eligible to enter. This Roadhouse Heat allows entry to any of the Top 30 bartenders who have competed and earned points in the UK league. This doesn’t mean you have to be British, just that you are currently residing in the UK – whether that is on a temporary or permanent basis.
This year’s UK Final was certainly set to be a good battle with the 4-time UK Champion Marian ‘Sikky’ Chmel (@marianchmel) returning looking to make it a 5th title – as well as WFA Black Grade Oliver Deak (@oliverdeak), and well-known flair bartenders Ravi Camadoo (@ravicamadoo) and Bryan Levato (@bryanlevato). Last month we saw the unique and impressive Tandem Flair Competiton, where Bar Story Show quite literally stole the show and took the title. With a return to individual competition in this UK Final that also means three more mouth-watering places up for grabs in the one bartending competition every flair bartender wants to win at least once, The Roadhouse Grand Finals. Let’s find out who got them…
The Result
We knew our current UK Champion Sikky was returning to defend his title and try to win for a record 5th year in a row – and well, he’s only gone and done it! Congratulations to Sikky who retains the UK Championship for another year pockets a tasty £850 in prize money and adds another coveted Roadhouse glass globe trophy to his collection! Second place was closely contested between Oliver Deak and Bryan Levato, with Bryan taking the second spot and Oliver the third. Fourth, fifth and sixth went to Mattia Giromel (@matgyron), Ravi Camadoo and Rob Gilks (@robertgilks), respectively.
However, there is a twist in the tale – as all of Marian, Bryan and Oliver have qualified for the Grand Finals that means that Mattia, Ravi and Rob all gain a ticket to take on the world’s best on the Roadhouse stage in November. Congratulations guys!
What is next?
The next Roadhouse heat, in September, is all about the ladies. It is, of course, the return of Chicks with Flicks. Only female flair bartenders can enter this competition and the top 3 will gain themselves a spot in the Roadhouse Grand Finals, as long as they haven’t already qualified. Another £850 and a coveted Roadhouse trophy will be up for grabs. In the last 3 years, Chicks with Flicks has seen 3 different champions so it will be interesting to see who takes the top spot this year!
Check out more details on the upcoming Chicks with Flicks competition, including who’s competing, here: https://test-wfa-vs4.pantheonsite.io/events/rwf-chicks-with-flicks-september-heat-2019/
Highlights
To watch the full highlights of the UK Final, including every flair performance and the results ceremony, please visit our livestream page: