Pilsner Urquell, the world’s first golden beer, has crowned Chris Bailey with the title of UK Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender of the Year.

Chris from The Mall in Clifton Village, Bristol will now join 18 other bartenders from across the globe to represent the UK at the birthplace of Pilsner Urquell, Pilsen in the Czech Republic.  The bartenders will face a series of challenging tests and interviews, in the depths of the historic brewery, including the perfect pour and presentation of the distinctive, full-bodied beer. 

The four-day experience will culminate in a glittering awards ceremony held in Prague where the winner will be announced and awarded with the coveted title of Pilsner Urquell International Master Bartender of the Year and prize money of €10,000.

Joining Chris will be Wozz Oliphant licensee of the Mall.  For the first time in the competition, the licensee will be joining the UK Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender to experience the rich heritage of Pilsner Urquell for themselves, taking in the brewery and the historic city of Prague.

The announcement of the UK Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender was made at an awards ceremony last night (20th September) where ten finalists, including Chris Milner from Browns Bar & Brasserie in Leeds, the previous holder of the title, celebrated after an intensive afternoon of judging.

Gillian Loudon from Miller Brands said, “The Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender programme grows in popularity with our customers with over 1000 bartenders registering and we’re delighted with the calibre of finalists this year.  The standards were exceptionally high and it’s great to see so much passion and professionalism in our industry.

“Chris will have a truly memorable experience in the Czech Republic and we are confident that he, as a true advocate of the brand, will once again bring home the title of Pilsner Urquell International Master Bartender to the UK.”

-ENDS-

 Notes to editors:-

The Pilsner Urquell Master Bartender Programme

The Master Bartender programme was launched on the back of research commissioned by Miller Brands to understand the current levels of bartending and training needs.  Only 6% of bartenders asked said that they had received training from a beer brand, compared to 49% from other drinks brands (spirits and wine). Of those beer training sessions, all had been about storage and service, not about the way the beer was brewed and why they taste the way they do

Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell is the world’s first, clear golden beer, created in 1842. Pilsner Urquell means ‘pilsner from the original source’. It is the flagship brand of SABMiller’s international brand portfolio and is the company’s premier contender in the premium status segment of the market.

 Named after the town in which it was created, the beer came to define a whole category (Pilsners) and set the standard for all lagers.  At the brewery in Pilsen, Pilsner Urquell is still brewed to its original recipe (unchanged for over 165 years) using the parallel brewing process to ensure that the taste of the beer stays true.  By brewing a sample batch of the beer in the traditional way, using original-style equipment, the beer can then be compared to that which is made using modern equipment to make sure the beers match perfectly – no other brewer in the world does this.

Using the finest ingredients: Saaz hops, malt and Pilsen water, Pilsner Urquell is an intensely hoppy beer with a crisp body and a balance of subtle sweetness with velvety bitterness.

For further information

Emma Currin                                                     

Leisure PR & Communications                                   

(M) 07753 838 490

Email: emmacurrin@leisurepr.co.uk