How are you finding your new role as GM of Discount Suit Company?
Yeah absolutely loving it! Having worked here as a bartender for a while, the transition into management was really smooth and painless, working with such great company has really inspired me to take DSC to the next level. We have a great team down here with both Tommy and Connor really running the show from the bar, and some amazing guests that make it all worthwhile, so yeah, this is home for a while to come!
Did Dorian leave you any words of wisdom?
Keep Andy on a tight leash!
Ha, in all seriousness Dorian is a very wise man and over the year has imparted many useful bits of sage, but the one that sticks – his favourite phrase, “don’t panic”!
What is your favourite drink off the new menu?
That’s a tough one. The menu was designed so that all the drinks were different thus there’s something for everybody. I’d have to say right now though; a “Koffie?” goes down excellently. It’s kind of like a big boys espresso martini made with Bols Genever (a Dutch juniper spirit), Galliano Ristretto, amaretto, a drop of Fernet Branca (bitter Italian aperitif) and cold brew coffee. Strong, bittersweet and the perfect pick-me-up!
What else are you into besides cocktails?
I’m very into sleep. I’m pretty good at sleeping, if it was a sport, I’d probably have some bronze medals knocking around. I’m a pretty avid gamer as well, and usually fire up the Playstation for a couple of hours after work before I get into my bed. I find it very therapeutic and have been a bit of a gamer kid since I was, well, a kid. If I’m not gaming after work it’s usually because I’m engrossed in a TV show, at the minute True Detective is working for me.
But I’m not just a sofa sportsman!
If I can get a couple of days off together, I absolutely love to go camping. Just thinking about sleeping out under the stars, cooking over an open fire and taking a morning dip in a river is enough to mentally take me out of the hustle and bustle of London for a couple of minutes! I also love board sports, I haven’t skated or surfed in a few years but I went snowboarding in February, and it rocked! And speaking of rock, I fucking love it! Anything with loud guitars and drums and I’m all over it.
How annoying on a scale of 1 to 10 is Andy Kerr?
It’s hard to quantify with human numbers, or even words how annoying Andy can be. He has his own way of annoyingness, unlike any other I’ve ever laid witness to. It’s that kind of annoying that buries under your skin and starts playing your nerves like a violin with a rusty nail as a bow, but worse. This normally ends with a crescendo of beautifully orchestrated, yet painfully annoying menace, and some broken glasses.
He’s not going to see this right? Oh he is?? OK scrub that, Andy is a massive dude and being part of his company is a great privilege. What may seem as annoying to others, is nothing but attention to detail and drive to be the best, coolest bar in London, which we all understand down here in the bar. The accent just sort of fades from your mind after a while, so yeah, not annoying at all!
