Rich aims to be the best, bar none

11:19am Tuesday 19th September 2006

ONE Hampshire bartender is ready to cause a stir and shake up the competition in his quest to win the world bartender crown.

Rich Carter, right, from Shirley, Southampton, will be up against five other competitors at the national final of the TGI Friday's Bartender Challenge.

The 27-year-old demonstrated his cocktail-making skills in the freestyle round and wowed judges with his cocktail knowledge at the regional finals.

Rich, who has worked at TGI Friday's for seven years, said: "It was brilliant and I am really excited about the final. I am currently going through the manual making sure I know all 600 different cocktails. It's quite a struggle but the final will be a great opportunity to show off in front of the company bosses."

The successful bartender will win a place in the European final with a chance of reaching the grand final and becoming the best bartender in the business at a glitzy showdown in Las Vegas.

Rich said: "It would be such an achievement to get to the international final and at this level there is no room for error."

The final takes place at TGI Covent Garden, London, on September 25.