Shaker UK is taking bartenders back to school with Birmingham's first ever Barschool, the once drab city has slowly transformed from industrial powerhouse to a bar-lover's paradise.

Nestled amid the few remaining listed buildings which ring the city centre is a state-of-the-art bartending school dedicated to providing bartending, cocktail and flair related training courses. It's a big jump for Shaker UK, which started life as one bartending course in January 2001. The new BarSchool sits in good company - close to the new ?50 million Bull Ring Shopping Centre and ultra-swanky Selfridges Department Store.

The 1000 square foot HQ, which sits within Birmingham's proposed cultural Eastside re-development, is the new base of Shaker operations. A short walk from both New Street Station and Moor Street Station, the Shaker BarSchool boasts a fully stocked cocktail bar, with an impressive collection of liquor.

Shaker delivers practical hands-on training, which leads to industry recognised qualifications. The International Bartenders Course, (I BC), explores all the essential skills needed to be contemporary bartender. Modules focus on the customer, the bar environment, the products, the mechanics of bartending and the review, with sub-sections taking delegates through the history of cocktails, bar preparation and keep, product knowledge, sales, tools of the trade, and most importantly, classic and contemporary cocktails.

The IBC course is designed to give a solid foundation for professional bartending, and is useful for both beginners and seasoned bartenders. Supported by a well-researched theoretical depth, the flexibility of the course means there is something for everyone, the beginner, the budding bartender and the artful Mixologist. Shaker launches two additional courses, including; Introduction to Cocktails and the Advanced Mixology Course, both one day courses. Shaker now deliver six courses from their headquarters; these are;

• An Introduction to Cocktails
• International Bartenders Course
• Advanced Mixology Course FlairSchool
• Introduction to Flair Bartending
• Intermediate Flair Course
• Advanced Flair Course

The courses have already welcomed hundreds of bartenders through the doors during the first three years of operation. The team has trained students from some of the UK's biggest leisure companies from hotel staff, to cruise ship staff, to nightclub bartenders. Notable names in the list of alumni include Hilton Group, Scottish & Newcastle, Sheraton Hotels, Cunard Ocean Liners and Luminar Leisure Plc. Shaker has also trained bartenders that reside amongst notable independent operators throughout the UK.

Knowing that Shaker UK is measured on the success of graduates from the school, senior Shaker Instructor, Anil Sabharwal, said: "we pride ourselves on the success of our students, it gives us a great buzz when we see people working their way through the industry and doing well."

Shaker's Managing Director, Adam Freeth, is happy with the new central HQ and said: "it's an industry sweet shop, this learning and resource centre will be our bar industry university, a place to learn, experiment and nurture new talent."

"We are trying to promote professionalism and recognition in the industry. This new location will cater for the entire UK, accessible by all and open to all. Bartenders from around the country will be encouraged to use the BarSchool, especially those local to Birmingham".

www.shaker-uk.com