BCB 2023 to present most varied Programme ever 

9 to 11 October 2023 will see the international bar community get together again in the German capital: Bar Convent Berlin is calling! In parallel with the trade show comprising  over 500 exhibitors from around 50 countries, there will also be an exciting and informative stage programme served up at Messe Berlin this year – it will even be the most extensive ever featured at BCB.    

On the Main Stage in Hall 10.1, the trade show will kick off with an exciting topic right on the Monday: stress and how to avoid it. In his workshop-type lecture Kris Hall of the “The Burnt Chef Project” will share many valuable tips for more relaxed workflows with his colleagues. In his familiar, infotaining way “crowd pleaser” Danil ‘Cocktailman’ Nevsky will – with his audience – question the allegedly linear career paths in the bar industry on Monday afternoon and provide some advice on how young colleagues can find orientation and develop further in this dynamic business. This year’s main sponsor of the Main Stage is Bar Fabric, while the programme content is curated by BCB Education Board like last year.

Panel Talks lure visitors to the Main Stage

Proving just as interesting should be the “Crafting Sustainable Culture: One Drink at a Time” panel with bar expert Chockie Tom and Alex Francis of “Little Red Door” in Paris. They will address the relationship between sustainability and awareness of indigenous people in the industry and give tips on how to also address uncomfortable subjects within a bar context. Under the title “Spotlight: Women of the Drinks Industry” Kaitlin Wilkes Back of “Celebrate Her”, Margarita Sader, co-owner of “Paradiso” in Barcelona, Gina Barbachano, bar manager at “Hanky Panky” in Mexico City, and Eleni Nikoloulia (BCB Education Board) will discuss female empowerment in the industry. These are just some of the many riveting themes covered by the Main Stage programme, which will also be streamed again this year. The individual sessions will also be available on the BCB website after the event.

Liquid Stage & Taste Forum: catering to every taste

Over the three trade show days, the Liquid Stage in Hall 17 will again be the “port of call” for all bar professionals who want to find out about liquid products, their manufacturing and innovative preparation techniques: the extensive programme with acknowledged experts ranges from Grappa and its mixability and the exciting world of the Chinese Baiju to mixing carbonised drinks as well as tips for quick, high-quality work.  

Event participants can immerse themselves ever deeper in the world of spirits and cocktails at the Taste Forum in the Palais of Messe Berlin: this year, everything will revolve around such topics as refinement by barrel ageing, the mineral nature of cocktails and how the properties of drinks can be positively impacted with the “sixth taste” – fat. On Wednesday afternoon, WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), the leading provider of wine and spirits education and BCB’s education partner, will organise a Tasting Skills Workshop where participants can explore and improve their sensory abilities as well as their communication of this with guests.  

BCB partners to enrich the continuing education programme

This year will see WSET also contribute to educating BCB visitors with its own Main Stage Session (“Respect Yourself: Career Planning for Bartenders”) for the first time.  

Also at the Palais, the international hospitality community “SIP – Share Inspire Pioneer” by Pernod Ricard will extend an invitation to the “BCB x SIP Studio”: in a small, intimate circle BCB guests can exchange views with leading industry experts on current questions and develop ideas for the future of the hospitality business. Topics will include the (bartender) generation Z, approaches to the energy crisis and inflation as well as the positive impact of bars on the business and identity of cities, to name but a few of the numerous roundtable topics.  

The categories cordials and liqueurs, modern brand building as well as agave spirits in Europe will be the themes of the Park Street University in Hall 11.2 on the Tuesday of the trade show. Buzzword agave: trade show visitors can look forward to truly a deep dive into the world of Tequila and Mezcal in the form of interesting drink creations and tips for their own bars at the “Agave Camp by Club Cantina & Barro Negro Athens”. It will be staged in the BCB Agave Embassy (Hall 11.1) with partner Barro Negro Athens. Also in Hall 11.1, the German bartender union (Deutsche Barkeeper Union e.V.) will organise the DBU Workshop Area presenting a plethora of German keynotes from the industry for the industry on all three trade show days. Topics here will range from waste reduction and storytelling at the bar to lobbying and pushing one’s personal potential. On Wednesday, the workshops (the 1x1 of bar craftmanship, Mindful Drinking, the bar as career path and flair basics) will especially address young talents and trainees in the hospitality sector.   

The stage and workshop programme of BCB and its partners caters to just about every wish in 2023, offering inspirations galore for all bar industry professionals, from career starters to seasoned professionals and from mixologists to spirit entrepreneurs.  

For detailed information on the BCB 2023 programme click here.

About BCB

BCB is one of the leading international trade shows for the bar and beverage industry. Every year, this is where a veritable who’s who of the German and European bar and beverage industry gets together to make new contacts, find out about the latest product innovations and attend educational seminars.

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