New drinks collective to help put county on the map

A new group has been launched in Staffordshire with the aim of promoting the county's hospitality industry.

The Staffordshire Drinks Collective wants to bring together bartenders, venue operators and producers to celebrate the region's identity.

Founder, Dereece Gardner of Desire Cocktail Bar in Hanley, said the initiative came from highlighting creativity already thriving within the hospitality sector locally.

He added: "This is an opportunity to create a platform for the whole region. If we work together, we can build something that puts Staffordshire firmly on the map".

The collective was unveiled at an event in Hanley.

Guests were introduced to a signature cocktail launched at Desire's bar, called the oatcake Martin - which it said celebrated local food heritage by reimagining the county's classic bacon-and-cheese oatcake.

Future events by the collective will include tastings, networking, talks and bartender-led sessions which will be aimed at strengthening connections across the industry and showcasing the region's potential.

Gardner added: "There's a huge amount of talent here, but historically the region hasn't always been part of the wider conversation around drinks culture.

"We want to change that by bringing people together, sharing ideas and building something that feels representative of where we're from."

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