Philippa Guy, who has recently been appointed as senior bartender at The Savoy’s famous American Bar, the first female in this role for 100 years. This prestigious role, which was held previously by the renowned cocktail figure Ada Coleman, was awarded to the Branbury- born 24 year old after she spent two years working her way up the ranks in this world famous bar.
During the time preceding The Savoy, Pippa honed her bar tending skills initially working part time at Leeds University for Arc Inspirations. Here, she learnt how to make cocktails and over two years was promoted to bar supervisor by the time she graduated.
Fully immersed into the Leeds bar scene, Pippa decided to move to Oporto, a bar industry institution which for the last 21 years has produced many of the UK’s finest bar tenders, before embarking on a year’s travels throughout the Southern Hemisphere. Upon returning to Leeds, she secured the role of bar manager.
Whilst hosting for ‘Leeds Loves Cocktails’ (LLC) 2015, Pippa met Declan McGurk and, impressed with her hospitality, he offered her a job at the American Bar a few weeks later. Pippa started at The Savoy’s American Bar on the 17th August 2015 and worked as a server learning five-star service, increasing her knowledge and honing her skills. In December 2016, she was appointed the role of junior bartender and began working behind the bar.
In a city where female bartenders are the minority, impressively, Pippa has managed to break gender barriers at such a young age, through sheer determination and considerable passion.