Stories

Francesco Putignano

14 November 2019

My Story

Bar Manager

Nationality: Italian
Occupation: Bar Manager
Workplace: The Hoxton Hotel, London UK
Favorite Cocktail: Boulevardier
Favorite Spirit: Whisky

What inspired you to become a bartender:

Gaining people’s trust and becoming familiar to them has always been my first goal. Second to that, it’s the art of mixing ingredients. Creativity, innovation and the ability to understand just through a conversation, what mix might suit best for your guest. Getting to know the personality of your guest from a short exchange of words is something that only a few professionals consider the most important skill in this industry.

Tell me about your bartending journey and how you got to where you are now:

I landed in London in 2013 and I didn’t speak a single word of English. I threw myself straight into washing and polishing glasses in one of the biggest hospitality companies. I didn’t know anything about the job but I was fully willing to learn, to sacrifice and to put the job before everything in my life. That’s what has brought me to where I am now. I started from the bottom and I got to know what it means to dedicate your life to something. Today I am a Bar Manager of the Hoxton Hotel and I couldn’t be happier about it because it means that life doesn’t forget to pay you back for your efforts. However, I am not yet satisfied as I still think I have a lot more to give.

What stamp would you like to leave on the industry:

Nothing in particular, I don’t mean to become one of the world’s best bartenders. I want my name to be considered professional and reputable.

Can you explain your personal process for creating a cocktail:

Everything in life could inspire you to create a drink. Bad or good times could play an important role in creating a mix. However, when you have the inspiration and a story to tell, you’ve done already 60% of the job.

What is the most important part of what you do and what does it mean to you:

At the present moment what I think is the most important part is definitely leading my team to improve personally and professionally. If you could manage to do this while being a family too, then you have definitely won. Your team needs guidance – a mentor. I love to be that kind of figure for them and I spend the majority of my life trying to succeed in this.

What do you think will be the future of the F&B industry:

You won’t find much positivity from me on this one. Unfortunately I believe that nowadays only social media popularity and contacts matters more than anything else. That means that you don’t do it for the love of making drinks anymore, but for the money and popularity.

Anything that would you like to add?

Keep strong and follow your dreams, always. Even when everything seems to be going wrong.

Most bizarre client request:

Virgin Daiquiri.