The Churchill Bar & Terrace, has announced the appointment of a new Head Bartender, Christian Maspes.

Maspes has experience working at some of the leading London hotel bars, including the American Bar at The Savoy, Gong Bar at Shangri-La, and Pine Bar at The Biltmore, Mayfair. He joins The Churchill Bar & Terrace at an exciting time, with the recent announcement of a new book in partnership with imperial War Museums, Churchill’s Cocktails, and a new travel-inspired cocktail menu, World of Wanderlust.

Having worked on the London hotel bar scene since 2007, Maspes has risen from mixologist and bartender, bar manager, and now to leading the bartending team at the Churchill Bar & Terrace, which is known for its terrace hidden away on exclusive Portman Square, in the centre of London, as well as its imaginative and visual cocktails. He joins from Quaglino’s Restaurant at St James’s London, where he acted as Bar Manager between October 2019 and March 2020.

In his new role, Maspes will oversee the bar’s team of bartenders, ensuring the day-to-day service runs smoothly, as well as adding his expertise and creative flair to the menu.

“I am so excited to have joined the Churchill Bar & Terrace team. I have known Bar Manager Nelson Bernardes for a few years now, and when he let me know of this opportunity I couldn’t refuse – they are such a prestigious team to work with,” says Christian Maspes. “The Churchill Bar & Terrace has a fantastic reputation and I’m excited to bring my own ideas and passions to grow this even more. I always like to bring things I have learnt in previous roles into my new positions, adapting them so they’re totally unique – from glassware to ingredients, I am a perfectionist in every part of the cocktail and already have many ideas for future menus.”

Maspes is particularly passionate about sustainability in the drinks, bar, and hospitality industry: “I have been a keen conservationist since I was 15 in Italy, when I joined Greenpeace. I do believe the biggest threat facing us is the climate crisis, and we as an industry can do much more to combat this. As a hotel bar, we have access to many ingredients and resources in the kitchen and it is easy to prevent waste – I’ve previously used cleaned out oyster shells from the kitchen as garnishes, pasta shapes as straws, and fermented produce to create liqueurs.”

The new Head Bartender adds: “At the Churchill Bar & Terrace, I’d like to look into growing our own herbs and plants, cultivating beehives to create our own mead, and working with lower carbon spirits providers. All of these things together can make a huge difference in the long run, while still providing delicious and exciting cocktails for guests.”

The Churchill Bar & Terrace is currently offering its World of Wanderlust menu, which launched in May 2021, inspired by the bar team’s bucket list travel memories. The bar also recently announced a partnership with Imperial War Museums, and will be releasing a recipe book, Churchill’s Cocktails, in October to celebrate the bar’s namesake. The Churchill Bar & Terrace offers award-winning cocktails and delicious dining in a glamorous, yet tranquil setting tucked away behind Oxford Street.