the team
Henry Besant
Managing Director
henry@worldwidecocktailclub.com
Henry Besant has been at the forefront of London's vibrant and fast-paced bar scene for over ten years.
Having started working in bars at the tender age of sixteen, Besant opened Mas Café in Notting Hill in 1993 which he ran for four years before becoming director and general manager of private members club, 57 Jermyn Street in 1997. After two successful years at this exclusive venue, Besant left to join Ian Schrager Hotels, overseeing bar operations at St Martin's Lane and Sanderson hotels.
In November 2001 he took control of the development of Rockwell at the Trafalgar Hotel, running both the bar and restaurant of the Hilton chain's flagship property. From September 2002 Besant became general manager and director of Lonsdale, the award winning destination bar and restaurant in Notting Hill.
Henry Besant is the only venue manager to have ever won TimeOut magazine's Bar of the Year Award for two consecutive years. The "Besant formula" secured this prestigious honour for Rockwell in 2002 and Lonsdale the year after. As well as TimeOut, Besant's management has resulted in numerous other prizes including "Best New Bar" in Class Magazine (2003) and Flava Magazine (2004. In 2005, he added Best Bar Manager UK, in both Class and Flava magazines, to his long list of accomplishments.
Apart from his successes on site, Besant has appeared in numerous national and international style and trade publications as well as participating in various important television and radio programs, sealing his reputation as one Britain's leading bar culture experts.
He, along with Masso, has recently published his first book, Margarita Rocks, featuring 70 bespoke recipes as well as factual information on the history of Tequila and its production methods.
Dre Masso
Creative Director
dre@worldwidecocktailclub.com
Dre Masso has been at the cutting edge of the cocktail industry for over a decade. Having worked at Lonsdale, Salvatore & Amanda, Fifteen, LAB, 10 Room, 10 Tokyo Joe's and the Atlantic Bar & Grill, Masso is undoubtedly one of the world's finest bartenders.
Don't believe us? In the course of his career he has charted up many competition wins, including Best Bartender for Wyborowa vodka, Beefeater gin, Tanqueray gin, Flavour Magazine, Theme Magazine, Jose Cuervo tequila, Sauza Hornitos tequila and the Diageo Exquisite Taste Bartender of the Year that saw him compete in London, Ibiza and New York.
Masso also gained considerable international experience from a stint as the Plymouth Gin Brand Ambassador in the US, as well as working closely with the Ambassador of Tequila to North America, Julio Bermejo.
Like Besant, Masso is no stranger to the media either, having appeared in many national and international publications, including Theme, Class, Flavour, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Observer Food Monthly, Restaurant and Square Meal to name but a few.
Both Besant & Masso can often be seen on television commenting on cocktails, spirits and drinks trends. They have regularly featured on UKTV's Market Kitchen and Good Food Live.
Masso, along with Besant, has recently published his first book, Margarita Rocks, featuring 70 bespoke recipes as well as factual information on the history of Tequila and its production methods. This also led to both men opening their own Tequila bar & Restaurant in London's East End, Green & Red (www.greenred.co.uk) which was recently voted Evening Standard's Bar of the Year.
Masso's experience, style, creativity, passion and respect among his peers make him second to none.
Charles Vexenat
charles@worldwidecocktailclub.com
Charles’ love affair with liquid started when he was only six years old, mixing syrups and lemonade behind the bar at his grandparents’ brasserie in Dijon.
When he moved to London in 2000 to learn English he naturally gravitated to the bar industry to earn his keep. Starting as a kitchen porter and food runner, he worked his way up through the business learning from the best mentors in the industry around the world.
He has since worked in London’s top bars: Hush, Eagle Bar Diner, Che, Lab, La Floridita, and Lonsdale, and also the famed Tres Agaves tequila bar in San Francisco.
He has won many bartending competitions, been awarded twice in 2007 the title of ‘best bartender in UK’ and has visited and worked in different distilleries around the world, notably in Mexico.
Charles is working for Worldwide Cocktail Club as a trainer and bar consultant, delivering inspiring training sessions and creating drinks around the world.
Lucy Besant
lucy@worldwwidecocktailclub.com
Lucy has been working in the bar industry for the past 6 years, for most of that time at the Lonsdale Bar in Notting Hill in the position of Day Manager.
She recently joined Worldwide Cocktail club part-time to help with accounts and company organisation .