Oscar Vallance, Founder of Cocoon Bars in Horsham (©AAH/Toby Phillips)
GOOD SPIR COCKTAIL MASTERCLASSES PROVE A HIT FOR COCOON BARS MARTYN EDWARDS
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hen Oscar Vallance launched Cocoon Bars, his vision was to run a mobile cocktail bar, as well as host mixing masterclasses. Naturally, he didn’t account for a global pandemic that would wipe out social gatherings and the events calendar. However, Oscar adapted and his online masterclasses proved a hit during lockdown. The success has inspired a new direction for the fledgling business, as Oscar explains…
Starting Out... As well as being Assistant Manager at Piries Bar in Horsham, I have previous experience of working at cocktail bars and distilleries. I have also taken exams with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and become a specialist in cocktails and spirits.
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As I spend an awful lot of time thinking about flavour combinations, ingredients and measures, I felt my skills were best suited to starting a cocktail bar business! I launched Cocoon at the start of the year. The business is named after a song by Catfish and the Bottlemen, although it also ties in with the natural ethos of the business. We promote brands that focus on sustainability, using spirits and fresh ingredients from eco-friendly producers including Ketel One vodka and Chimney Fire Coffee in Surrey. I finished building my first cocktail bar at the end of January. The idea was to host masterclasses, where people could learn to make cocktails and have fun at the same time. Thanks partly to the gin craze, people are thinking more about what they drink. They’re not just ordering Jack Daniels and
