Described as “the drink industry’s answer to Heston Blumenthal”, Rich Woods aka ‘The Cocktail Guy’, is an award-winning Bartender and Drinks Consultant, prized for his pioneering, avant-garde approach to mixology.
Known for his boundary-pushing combinations and unique flavour creations, at the heart of Rich’s creative process is an in-depth understanding and exploration of flavour. This insight has made him a sought-after Drinks Consultant, shaping the cocktail menus of numerous leading London bars and restaurants; and currently consulting at Gold in Notting Hill.
This season Woods has teamed up with Charles Trywhitt to launch clothing retailer’s latest campaign, No More Rules – a versatile, hybrid collection, designed to take you through formal and casual spaces throughout the working day. Men need flexible outfits for flexible working. Since we’ve abandoned the full-time home office (read: sofa), we now have reasons to dress up again.
Whether Rich is managing bars, creating new recipes or meeting investors, style plays a vital part in his business endeavors. Rich says “when it comes to my own style, I use my wardrobe as another outlet for creativity – whether that’s in or out of the bar”.
We caught up with Rich Woods for the latest edition of our ‘My London’ interview series.
Favourite neighbourhood:
I’m really appreciating East London right now – areas like Hackney, Hackney Wick and Leyton… plus Shoreditch, for its vibe!
Favourite place for brunch:
Gold In Notting Hill. A simply stunning space with excellent brunch dishes and cocktails by moi.
Best coffee in London:
This is tricky, because there are a lot of places I like. Allpress in Hackney is great, as is Watch House in Shoreditch. I also like Ozone and Kaffeine in central London.
Favourite gallery or museum:
I have very fond memories of the children’s museum in Bethnal Green, as I used to go there a lot growing up. But now, I’d have to say the Natural History Museum.
Tell us a secret:
I’m going to say ‘no’, because then it wouldn’t be a secret…
Favourite place to shop:
Aside from Charles Tyrwhitt?! I like to shop around, so somewhere like Selfridges is great for the sheer variety number of different styles and fashions they have on offer. I also have an unhealthy habit for collecting trainers – that I wear. I’m not one of those types who just leaves them in their boxes.
Favourite place to find inspiration:
I love foraging, so I like the outdoors. I love long walks of contemplation… as they give me a bit of a time out to grab a coffee or two, and reflect on what I’ve been doing that week and what goals I’ve set for the next.
Best London destination for a date:
I like an activity – something fun but not too taxing, so maybe Flight Club or Junkyard Golf. A bit of light-hearted competition, followed by a drink and then dinner.
Favourite park:
Victoria Park. Great wide open, green spaces with a food market on the weekends, plus plenty of places to gather with friends and local to a couple of great pubs.
Favourite food market:
I’m not sure I have one, but I do love food and appreciate trying new things. Does TASTE of London count? There’s 100’s of vendors, and restaurants serving such a variety of different dishes.
Your sanctuary in the city:
Does the gym count! If not I’d have to say one of our great parks… or walking along the river.
What inspires you?
Everything! A song, a smell, a memory, an article or a podcast. Inspiration is all around us. We just have to be quiet sometimes and look out for it.
This season I’m loving:
Spring for sure. I love the emergence of blossoms, followed by fruits. You can almost smell the change in the air and its a sign of a wardrobe change and of warmer and longer evenings…
