James has the experience of managing multiple venues, independent traders and working in partnership with key stakeholders such as business owners, landlords, property developers and councils. With the ability to implement commercial solutions which focus on customer experience and driving footfall to provide long-term ROI.

Working under Jamie Stephenson at Harvey Nichols was a an eye opener in professional bartending. Something James loved, learning so much about the art of mixing drinks and entering his first cocktail competition (and winning!). James then went onto working at Lowry Hotel, Ithaca and Corridor before setting up Fluid, a mobile bar company. With his own mobile bars, a van, a warehouse unit in Ancoats and a lot of hard work Fluid became one of the leading North-West leading mobile bar companies. Clients such as Northern Restaurant & Bar Show (asked to run the VIP Bar and manage the cocktail competition at the show for numerous years), Bacardi, Pernod Ricard, Manchester United and numerous event companies.

James then went onto setting up DockBar at MediaCityUK a bar solution and placemaking scheme in 2011. This led to semi-permanent venues InBloom and Hibernate which achieved great success. Hibernate was voted in the top 5 best winter pop-up’s either side of the Atlantic by Topshop and best winter pop-up up by Stylist Magazine. The Lawn Club was pitched to Allied London as a semi-permanent bar in Spinningfields which we operated for over 4 years before the Ivy came to Manchester with their big bucks! James then went onto providing consultancy and the good co was born.

With great people skills, the experience of implementing successful concepts, the ability to understand the key issues, develop teams and culture, creating commercial solutions which focus on customer experience and driving results.

The customer has always been the focus in everything he has delivered over the years. Food and drink and service is a passion.

Due to the number of projects and venue openings, we have built up a black book of reliable, professional and clever suppliers who we work with as required. These trusted suppliers have allowed us to give added value to openings through tapping into shared experiences and supporting to deliver the best possible solution.