Published 4 April 2011
Guinness World Record for TGI crew
Five bartenders from T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant in Manchester’s Trafford Centre helped to start the company’s 25th birthday celebrations with a challenge that only Friday’s could take on – setting a new Guinness World Record for the Most People in a Simultaneous Cocktail Flair on 28 March in London’s Covent Garden.
Routine
101 professional bartenders from T.G.I. Friday’s nationwide, including Tom Stewart, Steve Darwin, Gaz Williams, Warren Parsonage and Adi Astley from the Trafford Centre restaurant carried out a skilfully coordinated routine which lasted for over two minutes without dropping a bottle or falling out of sync. Guinness World Record officials adjudicated the record attempt and confirmed that a new world record title has been set.
T.G.I. Friday’s popularised the art of bar flair, which is all about creating entertainment and excitement around the bar experience. Friday’s bartenders have long been recognised as world-class performers - they even trained Tom Cruise to perform all of his amazing flair tricks in the iconic film ‘Cocktail’.
"Fun"
The Guinness World Records routine was choreographed by Adi Astley, T.G.I. Friday’s 2010 UK Flairing Champion. Adi, who travels the globe training Friday’s staff in bar flair, commented, “Wow, what an incredible day. I’m so proud of everyone, and to have set this new Guinness World Records title cements our reputation as the best in the world. Flair is about creating theatre and fun around the bar experience, and we certainly had plenty of fun breaking the record.”
Karen Forrester, T.G.I. Friday’s UK Managing Director commented, “Our bartenders have done an incredible job and amazed me yet again with their passion and talent. This is a year of celebration for Friday’s and what better way to start it than with a fantastic spectacle and achievement like this. And we’ve got more to come, from a special 25th cocktail to delicious new food and drink which will be introduced to our restaurants in April. We want everyone to share our celebrations with us and have as much fun as we are in this momentous year.”
To watch the record breaking display or to find your nearest T.G.I. Friday’s and see the bartenders show off their skills in person visit http://www.tgifridays.co.uk or
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/case-studies/tgi-fridays/
ENDS
For more information on T.G.I. Friday’s please contact Chris Bull or Samantha Henry on
0207 009 3100 / tgifridays@3-monkeys.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
T.G.I. Friday's offers great food, innovative drinks and a unique experience filled with flair and a Thank Goodness It's Friday's™ attitude. As the original casual dining restaurant, T.G.I. Friday's has a rich food and beverage heritage, which includes being credited with popularising Happy Hour, the Long Island Iced Tea and Loaded Potato Skins. T.G.I. Friday's is also famous for its flair bartenders, approximately 7,000 of who compete annually for the title of T.G.I. Friday's World Bartender Champion.
Carlson Restaurants, the parent company of TGI Friday’s Inc., is a privately held company owned by Minneapolis-based Carlson, a world leader in the hospitality and travel industries. Carlson Restaurants owns, operates, franchises or licenses more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries.
And did you know?
• You’ll see a lot of cocktails on the menu of many bars across the world - which were first created at Friday’s, including the Long Island Iced Tea! Friday’s has over 500 cocktails on its menu and the bartenders know every single one
• By 2012, T.G.I. Friday’s food waste management policy will be ‘100% No Landfill’. We are already close to our target, with 88% of our waste being recycled or sent to make energy. By September 2011, all T.G.I. Friday’s stores will use certified ‘green electricity’ - which means we are recognised as going the extra mile to reduce our carbon emissions
• The Make-A-Wish Foundation is T.G.I. Friday’s charity partner. Friday’s is involved with making wishes come true, fundraising and donations to the charity
• You can’t find the food we serve anywhere else in the world, and it’s only our juicy burgers, tender ribs and hearty steaks that can deliver that legendary, unique Friday’s taste
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