Following a series of regional heats throughout June, Franklin & Sons has announced the finalists for its nationwide bartender competition, Flavour in Motion 2026.
The highly anticipated final will take place on 11th August, bringing together ten of the UK’s most innovative and talented bartenders for one final showdown.
As Franklin & Sons marks its 140th anniversary in 2026, this year’s competition theme draws inspiration from the brand’s heritage while looking firmly towards the future.
Now in its third year, Flavour in Motion continues to celebrate the journey of bartenders across the UK, inviting them to revisit the first cocktail they ever learned to make, reimagined through the technique and skills they have developed over the years.
After receiving an overwhelming number of entries, the following finalists have been selected:
- Thomas Mialhe – Cocktail Trading Company, London
- Lili Johnston – El Siete, London
- Heidi Scott – Little Bat, London
- Alice Ford – Opium, London
- David Purkiss – Lab22, Cardiff
- Ben Wilson – The Milk Thistle, Bristol
- Chris Azarim – Nectar, Edinburgh
- Alex Woods – Farrands Bar, Leeds
- Yash Tarfe – Mollies, Manchester
- Millie Evans – Publiq, Sheffield
All ten finalists will compete for the winning prize fund of £2,500 towards their career development, with 2nd and 3rd place also being awarded £500 and £250 respectively.
Tommaso Cicala, Franklin & Sons’ UK Brand Ambassador, commented: “It’s fantastic to be celebrating three years of Flavour in Motion and the incredible bartending talent the competition has helped shine a spotlight on. The creativity, passion and flair shown by our finalists have brought them this far, and we can’t wait to welcome them to London in August as they present their final serves and we crown this year’s winner.”
The Franklin & Son’s Flavour in Motion finale will be held in London, at Shoreditch’s award-winning cocktail bar, Callooh Callay.
For more information on the competition, please visit:
https://franklinandsons.co.uk/flavour-in-motion/