Meet the team

Adam Freeth

Founder and Managing Director of Shaker UK Limited. Adam set up Shaker UK as part of a BA and MSc in Business Management coupled with his bartending exploits throughout Europe. With over a decade of experience throughout the bar industry Adam Freeth has developed Shaker into being one of the authorities on training and bartending. Having tended bar for the rich and famous, Freeth has also appeared on TV as an authority on drinks and appeared in national and trade press.  Adam Freeth met Nick Cursi early 2006 in Birmingham and is responsible for bringing the Shaker brand to South Africa.

Adam has been responsible for training over 2000 bartenders over the several years and has taken the Shaker brand globally, from Hong Kong to St Lucia.

Adam is responsible for the development and strategy of Shaker UK and oversees developments.

Nickname: Freethy
Shoe Size: 11
What do you do: Strategy & Marketing
What do you like: travel
What don't you like: driving
Fav Tipple: rum and coke light
Fav Cocktail: daiquiri classic
Fav Record: fast car
Fav Film: kill bill I
Happiness is: spending time with family
Hero: my bro
Where would you rather be: camps bay
What do you know?: beer is regarded as a staple food in bavaria??? 

Theresa Marie Brown

Theresa has been the backbone of the Shaker UK operation since 2002.  Having graduated with a BA (Hons) in Leisure Management she became involved in the organisation and sales of events with partner Adam. Theresa has been involved in organising over 1000 events over the last 4 years and is responsible for the Finance, Sales and Logistics of Shaker Events.

Nickname: T & tree
Shoe Size: 5
What do you do: Sales & Finance
What do you like: music, drink & friends!
What don't you like: being alone in a quiet room with no drink
Fav Tipple: Nice & chilled White Chenin
Fav Cocktail: Espresso martini
Fav Record: Mr Brightside - Killers
Fav Film: Elf
Happiness is: Chilling out 
Hero: my mum
Where would you rather be: working in Cape Town branch during UK winter!
What do you know?: banging your head against a wall for 1 hour burns off 150 calories!

Anil Sabharwal

Anil was pivotal in setting up the Shaker BarSchool and FlairSchool in the UK and has trained more than 2000 budding bartenders since 2001. As a competition bartender he has been a finalist many times including, Winning TGI Fridays Birmingham Flair, Roadhouse World Flair Finalist on several occasions, Northern Flair League Champion (2004) and National Bartenders Challenge (2000), which he won. His flair training has taken him worldwide. He is currently ranked amongst the best flair bartenders on the planet.  A real bartenders bartender, you will rarely see anil not working a shift or flairing.  Anil oversees all operations in Cape Town.

Nickname: er...anil?
Shoe Size: 8
What do you do: run cape town ops
What do you like: flairing and 700's
What don't you like: people who don't say please
Fav Tipple: quite enjoying a nice glass of red
Fav Cocktail: sailor jerry mojito
Fav Record: depends on mood
Fav Film: Shawshank redemption & anchorman
Happiness is: making people smile
Hero: spiderman
Where would you rather be: chilling in the jacuzzi at lordy mansion watching the sunset
What do you know?: apparently 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population  

myles cunliffe

Myles is a Drinks specialist having spent the last 10 years working in a multitude of different venues from Babington House, Blanch House, and Fifth Floor at every level. Myles has been involved with the many aspects of the media from radio work for regional radio stations to internet cocktail shows and photo shoots. His experience from grassroots levels to management and finally representing brands has left him with a vast knowledge of all things spirit and cocktail related.

Myles has also been involved in overseeing operations and training from Cape Town to London as well as event managing for numerous events ranging from private parties to corporate team building days.

Since joining Shaker in 2004 Myles has become one of the UK's foremost  trainers of bartenders, training hundreds of  bartenders from all corners of the world with many going on to win regional and national competitions. Some of his protégées can be found on the planets finest cruise ships and top-end bars.

Myles also has a HND in Wine studies from Brighton University and a WSET Diploma.

 

Nickname: milo

Shoe Size: 10 1/2

What do you do: educate and inspire, run london ops

What do you like: wine, food and fishing

What don't you like: wet days

Fav Tipple: sancerre sauvignon blanc

Fav Cocktail: bramble

Fav Record: no roots - faithless

Fav Film: usual suspects

Happiness is: beach, cocktail and my lovely lady

Hero: wolvereen

Where would you rather be: zanzibar

What do you know?: the meaning of life 

Ellie Leacroft

Ellie joined the Shaker team having previously worked in marketing and events. In 2007 Ellie graduated with an MSc in Marketing and currently heads the role of marketing manager and key account manager.

Ms Leacroft keen eye for detail and flair for creativity has been the backbone of marketing strategy.

Nickname: Ellie, Smelly, El, Bell
Shoe Size: 8
What do you do:account management
What do you like: cheese sandwiches with salad cream, everyday!!!
What don't you like: people who judge too quickly!
Fav Tipple: Pink Champagne
Fav Cocktail: French Martini
Fav Record: Ryan Adams - Gold
Fav Film: Stardust
Happiness is: Lazy days with the one you love!
Hero: Mum and Dad
Where would you rather be: On Holiday
What do you know?: Topless female sales assistants are aloud in Liverpool but only in Tropical Fish shops!

Scott Walker

Scott has been bartending and managing bars for over 10 years, starting his career out in Hong Kong . Mr Walker is an all-rounder having been involved in some award winning bars and conducting training seminars for Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray 10 and Johnny Walker.

Walker has been involved in dozens of bartending and mixology competitions and is is the newest addition to the Shaker brigade.