Cocktail competition
Calvados Busnel is sponsoring a new membership drive for the UK Bartenders Guild. The first 50 who sign up will get a free bottle of Calvados Busnel - but they also have to participate in the UK round of the Calvados cocktail competition called the Trophe«es Internationaux des Calvados Nouvelle Vogue. This offers a chance to represent the UK in a final shake-off in Deauville, France, at the end of April. For more information contact Jim Slavin at the UK Bartenders Guild: 01506 834448.
Gastropub wine award
Champagne Gosset is breaking with tradition and including gastropubs in this year's Trophe«e Celebris wine list awards. "The UK market is very different from the rest of Europe," explains Be«atrice Cointreau, chairman of the judges and chief executive of Champagne Gosset. The closing date is 1 May and the shortlist will be announced in June. For entry details contact Alison Jee at Golley Slater on 020 8744 2630, or e-mail her at gosset@golleyslater.co.uk.
The perfect pint
Pub company Innspired has launched a competition to find the perfect pint. With a little help from sponsor Interbrew, it plans to reward pubs across its 1,100-strong estate that serve great beer. Over the next two months, everything from cellar management to beer temperature, head size and glass quality will be scrutinised by head office in a quest to raise standards, says chief executive Peter Brook.