Award winning Drinksin.com is looking to rapidly expand its sales team in the UK. We currently are looking to recruit people in the following cities, Windsor, London, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester, Newquay, Reading, Bath, Cambridge, Leicester and Southampton. Our sales teams in other countries are achieving high revenues and commissions of up to £150k. Full marketing and technology support given to all sales staff. Please send CV’s to david@drinksin.com.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Director Magazine recently interviewed David Murray-Hundley for a frank chat  on the value of trust, dotcom madness and why bankruptcy provided a lesson he’ll never forget

You have to be pretty busy to describe your role as CEO of a tech start-up as “part-time”. But that’s exactly how David Murray-Hundley, the recently crowned LinkedIn Business Leader of the Year, views his position at mobile app company Drinksin. Murray-Hundley joined the London start-up in January to help founders Laurence Williams, Mark Wallis and Jaime Keenan monetise the service, which connects pubs and bars with nearby customers.

Murray-Hundley is also managing director of Adaro Red, an IT consultancy. “I don’t mind working every hour of the day as long as it’s fun,” says Murray-Hundley. Enterprise, he adds, feels “like a hobby.”

He says the biggest challenge for Drinksin is demonstrating to the trade that the geolocation app can “get people into pubs and bars”. The service works by combining user preferences with current location to suggest appropriate venues. Artificial intelligence plays a key role, says Murray-Hundley. “Within three to five years, we’ll be at the point where the profile within the site actually knows you better than you know yourself. You’re meeting your wife, she likes this type of pub because that’s where you’ve been before. How about that place round the corner? It’s about helping you decide where you want to be.”

Murray-Hundley describes his career to date as “extremely colourful”. A precocious technophile, he helped develop a game for the BBC Micro aged 11, before moving to Canada to complete a degree in artificial intelligence. He says the British don’t understand how to treat young talent—success makes us envious and resentful, he says. “The reason I went to Canada so young is that no one in the UK wants you to succeed.”

After graduation, Murray-Hundley moved to New York to join Intelisys, craving the kind of success he feels he couldn’t enjoy on the other side of the Atlantic. The strategy worked, propelling him back to Europe, aged 24, to become number three and then number two at Commerce One, a software firm with a onetime market capitalisation of £22bn. But the success he craved came at a price. “I was completely off the rails, he says. “Too much money, living in Monaco: cars, women, and everything else that goes with it.”

The “everything else” turns out to include dating the King of Norway’s niece and smashing a Sunseeker yacht into a jetty, writing off a Ferrari in the process. Founder of Commerce One Europe and mentor Jon Sofield told him: “calm down, you’re losing the plot”. Murray-Hundley blames the glut of the dotcom boom, a collective madness fuelled by an endless torrent of capital and IPOs that only seemed to go up. Until of course, the market peaked: “You were thinking, ‘this is never going to end,’” he says.

Another mentor, Kevin Doyle, whom Murray-Hundley first worked with in 1994, says the outlandish valuations of dotcom companies gave too much money to people with little experience of running businesses at a profit. “We’ve seen quite a few guys over the last few years making lots of money on the back of these types of companies. And I guess what you don’t realise is that very few of them actually got out.” Murray-Hundley accepts he had “no concept of money control. Cars, houses, it got completely nuts. Obviously I lost it all. I went bankrupt at 29.”

Murray-Hundley’s downfall mirrored an industry-wide implosion.  He lost £400,000 on a stockmarket gamble in the time it took his plane to reach London from California. A £300,000 tax bill for Commerce One shares “that were worth nothing” eventually sunk him. “It was bizarre really. The company that made me all the money also bankrupted me.” It taught Murray-Hundley a big lesson. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” he says.

That he managed to turn his life around is testament to an attitude Murray-Hundley says people often mistake for arrogance. “If people tell me I can’t do something, I just go and do it”. He joined Utility One as chief technology officer, “did a few” Web 2.0 start-ups alongside Jon Sofield, and was eventually persuaded to rejoin Doyle at Adaro Group, despite the fact the two often clashed. “In the past maybe he hasn’t necessarily listened to what I’m saying,” says Doyle with a chuckle.

Murray-Hundley considers himself “really lucky” to count Doyle and Sofield as mentors, fellow entrepreneurs he describes as  “the best you can get in technology”.  Doyle’s venture fund Adaro Group has a stake in Murray-Hundley’s Adaro Red, a public sector IT consultancy that specialises in providing technology to NHS trusts. Current clients include North Merseyside Health Informatics Service, Barnet Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust, and Sheffield City Council.

Murray-Hundley says he is both inspired and frustrated by the NHS. The QIPP agenda (QIPP stands for Quality, Innovation, Prevention and Productivity) is a government directive to find between £15bn and £20bn of efficiency savings by the end of 2014—savings that won’t be realised without installing more effective IT. But trusts will find such cost-cutting difficult, he says, partly because “for the last seven years money hasn’t been an issue”, and partly because the procurement process actively encourages a poor deal for the tax payer. “You have to go for the lowest offer, whether or not it’s the right one. So everyone comes in with a low price.” Needless to say, he adds, the contract price often escalates out of control.

“The amount of money that flies around—it’s serious capital with no governance around it.” Many suppliers, he adds, “assume that everyone in the NHS is stupid. They come in to sell a solution, do a great pre-sale job, then 10 years later they’ve got support agreements worth a few hundred thousand a year that have never been used. The guy who sold it must be laughing his head off. It’s crazy.”

Murray-Hundley says he wants to do things differently. As a result, Adaro Red operates an open-book policy. Transparency, he says, is key. “We show them everything, all our margins. I’m an upfront person, and that’s how I want to do business with them.” Murray-Hundley says he provides all NHS trusts with a quarterly report, which shows where the contractor has made a profit “and sometimes where we haven’t.” That way, he says, he can do business with “a clear conscience.”

“It’s about doing fair deals,” says Doyle. “We’re not going to do anything for nothing. It is a for-profit organisation. However, when you think about the public sector, there are so many agencies out there just ripping people off.”

Murray-Hundley is just as keen to turn a profit, but he admits it often feels like running a social enterprise. Is open book a model that could work in other areas of public procurement? Absolutely, he says. Forcing suppliers to become more transparent would immediately qualify their motives. “Are you in it to make a mountain of money? It shows your dedication.” Murray-Hundley says trust is a valuable commodity. “I thought if I can build confidence, people would realise you’re not there to rip them off. That’s the one thing I’ve learned, that if you build trust in one area they will use you forever.”

Unfortunately, says Murray-Hundley, NHS trusts are inconsistent in their treatment of small firms, an attitude that prevents them from winning mutually beneficial contracts. “They say they want more SMEs to supply the NHS, but when you talk to the financial directors [they ask] how big the company is—how old is it? They’re not interested [in start-ups]. Part of the reason we are linked to Adaro is that we can use the group turnover and age. If I hadn’t had that they wouldn’t have touched me.”

Source: Director Magazine (online)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Yesterday saw the launch of an update to Footy Pubs 2010. The Free mobile app available on iPhone and Nokia handsets.

Users can now find pubs showing the World Cup by searching for venue name, street, town, city and postcode as well as all the usual nice stuff such as hitting matches nearby to find a list of pubs near to your location.

The second big improvement to the app, is a new feature called Offers. This brings up all pubs nearby with offers and special World Cup promotions, helping you not only pick the best spot to watch the footy this summer but also save money – nice! Unfortunately we can’t promise that Capello’s boy’s sparkle on the pitch, but here’s hoping the next match blows us all away…at least you’ll have a nice pint in your hand

Download Footy Pubs 2010 today for your iPhone or Nokia here

Popularity: 4% [?]

What on earth have you been smoking? Ohh your Dutch...

You can almost taste the World Cup in the air, you can feel the excitement building in the nations bones, you can hear ill informed idiots suddenly thinking they know it all just because they read a story in a Sunday paper.

As we all know football is a game of two halves and a pint is made up of two halves – coincidence? Well we don’t think so and as a result here are another 16 fine drinks* relating to this year’s World Cup nations (the first 16 can be found here).

So get pouring, get cheering and get ready to make a fortune in tips if England make it all the way!!

*BarLifeUK cannot be held responsible if these drinks turn out to be shit – BarLifeUK Legal Team

GROUP E

Netherlands
Ahhh the Dutch, surely most supporters favourite ‘second’ team! The men in orange invented Total Football and still play with a joy and freedom that is better to watch than an Amsterdam shop window. They also have a history of mighty fine booze and the Heineken Brewery is one of the must see tourist attractions (providing you still can see of course), so it has to be:

Drink: Heineken

Denmark
The great Danes aren’t expected to do a whole lot this year and will do well to qualify from this tough group. It is also a close fight for best beer in this group and Denmark’s trademark brew is none less than Carlsberg.
Drink: Carlsberg

Japan
You have to have a bit of a soft spot for the Japanese, such enthusiasm should be rewarded and they do properly love their footy. They also love good drinks and more and more excellent bars are popping up across the country. When it comes to beer they wade in with the lovely Kirin and for the ladies look no further than some Midori

Drink: Kirin and Midori

Cameroon
Remember Roger Milla? The oldest bloke to score in a World Cup Finals? Well this drink has nothing to do with him at all. I know the Mojito is Cuban but bear with me! A lot of historians say it was invented by African slaves working the sugar cane fields of Cuba and Cameroon makes a killer Sugar Cane Wine so this, to me, makes perfect sense! The Cameroon Mojito
Mojito
30ml Rum
3 wedges fresh lime
12 fresh mint leaves
2 bar spoons sugar cane juice or sugar syrup
Soda water
Muddle together the mint and lime briefly in a Collins Glass, chuck in the rum and sugar syrup and give it another quick muddle. Half-fill glass with crushed ice. Give it a damn good stirring, top up with more crushed ice and add soda to fill. Garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.

GROUP F

Italy
The Italians care more about their hair than their football, which makes it even more depressing that they are still better than us. When it comes to booze they have given us some classics and if the sun is shining then break out a bottle of Tuaca and offer shots or even jugs of Tuscan Mules (Tuaca, Ginger Ale and fresh Lime juice)

Drink: Tuaca or Peroni

New Zealand
No this isn’t a late April fool’s joke, New Zealand really are in the World Cup. They are a crazy bunch with their bridge jumping and white water jet boating but probably the oddest thing they have given the world is Feijoa. Tried it? Tastes like Peter Stringfellow’s posing pouch. They did however give us 42 Below vodka and if you can find them some awesome beers

Drink: 42 Below & beer (try tracking down Monteiths or Speights)

Paraguay
Before I started this mission I didn’t know much about Paraguay…. I still don’t but I do know that their national drinks is a brewed beverage using dried leaves from the yerba tea plant called Mate (it does have more authentic sounding names but Mate works too and I can spell it!). You can’t get that here and quite frankly who wants a cup of tea when watching the football? Luckily for us they also make a rather nice beer.
Drink: Pilsen

Slovakia
Slovakia has always struck me as one of those words that is actually easier to say after a few beers – the slur helps the pronunciation. It appears they agree and have gone a step further in giving their nations favourite beer a name which follows the same rule.

Drink: Zlaty Bazant

GROUP G

Brazil
As a friend once exclaimed ‘Is there anything hotter than a girl in a tight Brazil footy top?’ Well no, in the same way there is nothing sadder than a 35 yo man dribbling at a 19 yo girl in a tight Brazilian footy top!! They also manage to liven up all world cups and any beach they come in contact with. They haven’t forgotten about booze either – this is an oldie but a goodie.

Drink: Caipirinha
60ml Cachaca (Sagatiba for example)
Half lime (wedged)
2 bar spoons white sugar
Muddle up the lime and sugar in the bottom of a shaker glass, add ice, shake like you’re doing the samba then chuck the whole lot into a rocks glass.

Ivory Coast
Whilst scratching my head about a drink for these folk I found myself humming Ebony & Ivory, then it hit me (I really shouldn’t call my wife ‘it’ that’s why she keeps hitting me!), a black a white shot. Mini Guinness. Excellent!
Drink: Mini Guinness
Grab a shot glass, fill it with 2/3rds Kaluha and then top up with Bailey’s!

North Korea
I’ll be honest all my Korea knowledge was used up in my South Korea drink so I thought I would just put in a favourite cocktail of mine, at random, picked out of a hat, any relation the name has to racial stereotypes about eating habits is purely coincidental…… The Salty Dog like the martini creates arguments about ratios that can go on forever. Personally I use one part gin (gin NOT vodka) and 2 parts grapefruit juice – ohh and a martini glass!!

Drink: Salty Dog
30ml Gin
60ml Grapefruit Juice
Lime wedge
Salt
Rim the glass edge using the lime and salt. Shake the gin and grapefruit with ice and fine strain into the chilled and rimmed martini glass. Perhaps offer a discount for anyone who can Cane Nine!!!

Portugal
Let’s face it, 11 bow legged toddlers on a bouncy castle covered in baby oil have got more chance of staying upright for 90 minutes than the Portuguese football team. Chief of the jelly legs is The Winker Christiano Ronaldo. As for beer well it has to be their best selling brew Sagres.
Drink: Sagres

GROUP H

Chile
The good people of Chile have become one of the major exporters of wine across the world when no-one was looking. As a result why not celebrate Chile’s games by offer a bottle of lovely Chilean white wine and 4 glasses to groups. Remembering to serve it Chilled!!!!
Drink: Chilean White Wine

Honduras
Honduras in the WC reminds me of Jamaica in the bobsleigh, unfortunately I can’t remember the end of Cool Runnings so I have no idea if this bodes well for them or not. I did however learn that the fantastic Rum which is Flor de Cana is made in Honduras as well as Nicaragua! So grab a shot and enjoy.
Drink: Flor de Cana

Spain

Spain always remind me of England, a fantastic league with fantastic teams full of foreigners! Just like England they will probably flatter to deceive. As for booze nothing says Spain like Sangria and there is very few drinks in the world easier to bulk pre-prepare. So make the Sangria mix the night before ideally (minus the club soda) and store in fridge. Serve it in jugs to groups. Alternatively grab a few palates of Estrella beer and relax.

Drink: Sangria or Estrella

Switzerland
I have never understood Switzerland – everyone hides their money there yet their army defends itself with a Scouts prized possession, although I guess their horses would never go lame! Anyway ignoring this security issue Switzerland is very bling and in the world of spirits surely the most bling thing has to be Goldschlager. Also it turns out that despite Goldschlager being produced in Italy these days has its roots in Switzerland!
Drink: Goldschlager

So there we are at the end of the list and I must say I learnt a lot about the worlds drinking habits researching this one. It seems that booze like football can bring the world together, then bad jokes in search of a cheap laugh can ruin it for everyone!!

I hope that this inspires you to make the most out of this years World Cup and I’ll have a Union Jack!

If you missed the first half of this extravaganza check them out here.

Popularity: 7% [?]

With just 2 weeks to go until the biggest sporting event of the season. Drinksin are gearing up to bring you two killer Free applications to ensure you don’t get stuck trying to convince unfriendly landlords that they really should turn over for the big games.

Our teams have searched the length and breadth of the country to bring you pubs showing all the World Cup action in time for kick off. We’re adding pub data every day to make sure that you have the info you need at your fingertips in time for the big games and a summer of great football down the pub with friends.

If you want your local to get listed, be sure to tell them they can be on the app for Free in as little as  5 straight forward minutes by registering at www.drinksin.com/worldcup

The iPhone app is now live on the app store and can be downloaded here, the Nokia app for map enabled smartphones is also now available from the Ovi Store

So what does it do?

Footy Pubs 2010, available on iPhone’s and Nokia’s new map optimised smart phones gives you directions to all the pubs and bars showing this summer’s big games.

Get fixtures and kick-off times in venues round the corner or anywhere you’re going. Pick a match then pick your spot.

Let Footy Pubs 2010 do all the work for you and let your mobile take you there with turn-by-turn directions straight to the bar – and the crucial games. Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, never miss a goal, never miss the best seats – never be without Footy Pubs 2010 for a great summer of football!

Registered pubs are also showcasing some amazing footy offers within the apps, for a sample of some of the amazing stuff on offer, take a look at our London Best World Cup pubs article here

Popularity: 6% [?]

To celebrate the launch of Ovi maps and to help get customers in the mood this footbal season,   Drinksin has partnered with Nokia to bring the ‘Footy Pubs 2010’ application to Nokia’s new navigation optimised phones.

Popularity: 8% [?]

In less than 3 weeks the greatest sporting competition in the world kicks off and I’m not talking about the Rotterham Working Men’s Club annual Badger Baiting extravaganza. No I’m talking about the FIFA World Cup.

Whether you are a big footy pub or just an avid pub visitor, you can guarantee that conversations in your local pub will quickly change from Clegg and Cameron to Rooney and Ronaldo.

A strange thing happens during the World Cup (besides Croydon becoming more dangerous than Bagdad), peoples nationalism suddenly comes to the fore. You quickly find out that your favourite brummy accented barmaid was born in Italy or your regular Man Utd supporting friend’s mum was born in Holland and is low and behold a crazed fan of the men in orange.

As a result it can be time to capitalise on these nationalistic leanings, and on the occasion of the World Cup in general, so BarLifeUK has come up with a World Cup of Drinks (if Walkers Crisps can do it then so can we!) – no country is left untouched. So watch the specials board get dusted off and during each game see specials from the countries playing, people love to get into the spirit (or beer) of things.

GROUP A

South Africa

The host nation will be looking to feed off the home advantage to cause an upset or two, failing that they can always sit back with Castle Lager and Biltong. As for a national drink? Well it doesn’t get more South African than Amarula Cream and it is going to keep the ladies happy (it’s a bit like Bailey’s).

Drink: Amarula Cream

Mexico
Whilst their football team may not be the team they once were their Tequila just keeps getting better. So when the men in green are on your screen head for a bottle of….. Tequila! Whether it is the classic shot with lime and salt or your feeling more adventurous with a Margarita go crazy.

Drink: Tequila

Uruguay
This one is a bit tougher but Uruguay has two preferences when it comes to booze. The first is a local drink known as medio y medio which is a mix of White wine and champagne, they also love cider based punches so feel free to go down either of those routes. We would however suggest that you stick with either White wine or normal cider!

Drink: White wine or cider

France
Well let’s face it besides maybe Germany there is no-one we would rather beat in the final than France. Everyone is gonna think champagne so why disappoint but you can always give Absinthe a go! Or of course chuck a frog, garlic and onions in a blender and whizz away!!

Drink: Champagne or Absinthe

GROUP B

Argentina
So they cheat right? And they have long girly hair! On the plus side they do great steaks and have hugely successful beer called Quilmes which comes in a bottle to match their footy kit and is easily orderable on-line.

Drink: Quilmes

Nigeria
Right? Nigeria? It’s a mainly Muslim country you see so they aren’t too keen on alcohol. They do however have a soft spot for Ginger Beer and with a couple of excellent Alcoholic Ginger Beers on the market these days give them a go.

Drink: Alcoholic Ginger Beer

South Korea
It is becoming tradition in the World Cup nowadays that an Asian country does well, is this Koreas turn? As for drinking you might think they strain the juice from dogs but in fact they do a very nice local brew called Soju. The chances are you won’t be able to get that easily but it is basically a potato vodka so get your hands on that instead.

Drink: Potato Vodka (or Soju if you can)

Greece
Let’s assume for the purposes of this exercise that they can afford the flight to South Africa and move on! You say Greece you think Ouzo. You say Ouzo you think first holiday with your mates and a rather embarrassing incident with an ‘off duty’ policeman (or is that just me?). Either way everyone has an Ouzo memory.

Drink: Ouzo

GROUP C

England
We’ve searched high and low and yet haven’t been able to find a drink which tastes like disappointment and crumbling dreams, if we had it would be here. It doesn’t get more English than a pint of ale or a gin and tonic but if you do want to push the boat out here is a very patriotic and easy cocktail for you to make.

Drink: Ale, Gin OR Union Jack Cocktial
Union Jack Cocktail
45ml gin
20ml sloe gin
1/2 tsp grenadine syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice, strain into a martini glass. Go on garnish it with a mini union jack flag – you know you want to

USA
They are still learning how to play a game that is over in just 1.5 hours but they’re getting better. Their beers may not be the worlds best but their whiskies are up there. If you’re gonna push an American beer then Budweiser have a lot of World Cup clout and as for whiskey well you can’t go wrong with Bourbon (or Jack Daniels!).

Drink: Budweiser or Bourbon

Algeria
Not the home of great drinks or great football, but who knows what they could do to England? Being a Muslim country booze is a bit thin on the ground so being as their second language is French and they do drink beer – Kronenbourg 1664 will do for now!

Drink: Kronenbourg 1664

Slovenia
You may not know this but Slovenia have a great history of brandy making which they call žganje (they have a honey brandy called medica don’t you know!). So in a nod to some of the more refined clientele let’s give Brandy a go (maybe get some cigars in to match with it?).

Drink: Brandy

GROUP D

Germany
Ahhh the old enemy, not the team of the 80’s but they’re still German so let’s go get them. As far as a drink goes they are famed for their Herbal Liqueurs like Jagermeister and in a nod to the war you could always have Jager Bombs! If you’re not feeling that politically incorrect then take your pick from an amazing array of beer.

Drink: Jager Bomb or good german beer

Australia
Ahhh our friends from down under – hate their cricket team, love their football team. As for their booze? Everyone knows Fosters and Bundaburg Rum and there is nothing wrong with either but if you want to be a bit more adventeurous ask your Landlord to get hold of Coopers Beer.

Drink: Coopers (or Fosters) and Bundy

Serbia
Not a lot to work with here folks but they are well known for producing a wide variety of flavoured Brandies called Rajika. It might be tricky to track down the real stuff but I bet your Landlord  has a bottle of fruit brandy knocking round the pub somewhere. Ask him/her to dust it down and get it on that specials board.

Drink: Fruit Brandy

Ghana
The Ghanaian’s football team could be the ones to do a Cameroon this year but did you know they make some really good gin’s? No neither did we but it’s true so let’s celebrate with a good old Gin & Tonic.

Drink: G&T

Groups E – H next week.

Article provided to Drinksin from BarlifeUK. The homepage of the Pub and Bar Community

Popularity: 13% [?]

For those of you asking yourselves the following questions – Where should I watch the World Cup 2010? Which pubs are the best World Cup pubs ? Drinksin have been scouring London to find some World Cup Pub winners for you this summer. Here, for your delectation some of the finest pubs and bars to watch the World Cup this 2010.

To see the dates and times of the matches being shown and offers available at these outlets check out the Footy Pubs 2010 app available now on the app store and on 1st June, Nokia Ovi store.

1. The Big Chill House, Kings Cross, London

The Big Chill House will be throwing open the doors to football lovers from Friday 11th June, to Saturday 11th July, as the Fifa World Cup kicks off!

Joining the proceedings at The Big Chill House for the England matches will be the Heritage Orchestra brass section repeating their famous mariachi-hype-routines.

There’s no such thing as a boring match when the brass and drums get going, blasting out the theme tunes such as Rocky, The Great Escape, or Dam Busters! The atmosphere will be electric, possibly even better than being in South Africa.With HUGE screens indoors and out (weather permitting) and a booming sound system, a massive selection of food and drinks plus bags of space to watch the matches The Big Chill House is the ideal place for a full day of entertainment for all matches.

2. The Walkabout, Covent Garden, London

Walkabout is proud to present its new 3D television packages for live football. For the rest of the season the Walkabout has confirmed up to 5 premiership games being shown in 3D and the play off finals.THE ONLY PUB IN COVENT GARDEN TO HAVE THIS NEW TOP CLASS FACILITY!

For more details and schedules of Walkabout’s  3D World Cup games contact – 02073795555 or alternativley drop them an email to coventgarden@walkabout.eu.com (be sure to tell them where you heard it from, of course

3. The Pembroke, Earls Court, London

The Pembroke, formerly known as The Coleherne, was for many years a landmark gay pub. In December 2008, The Pembroke had a major refurbishment and now welcomes you as a stylish pub and dining room.

If you fancy watching the World Cup this year in luxurious comfort whilst soaking up the atmosphere, and enjoying some fine pub grub, The Pembroke is your place. Get a free jug of ale or beer of your choice when you come in using the Footy Pubs 2010 app

4. Jewel, Covent Garden, London

If you fancy your footy a little fancy then head to Jewel. Jewel Covent Garden has fast become one of the areas most popular destination venues, hidden away in the cobbled back streets of old Covent Garden, located just behind the Piazza. Once you’ve discovered it’s location you’ll wonder if you’ll be able to keep the secret to yourself.

Throughought the FIFA World Cup games, Jewel will be offering Happy Hour from 5 to 8 with beers for £2.50, cocktails for for £3.95 and  50% off bottles of wine. Food platters for groups of hungry footy fans only £7.95.

5. The Loop Bar,just off Oxford Street, London

The famous Loop club, restaurant and bar is situated in central London, just off Oxford Street, closest tube station Oxford circus. The venue spans across three floors, offering a variety of spaces to enjoy. With wide screens positioned around the bar, you are guaranteed a great view wherever you’re standing. There are also a range of packages available to allow you to watch the matches in style from your very own booth with refreshments and snacks brought right to your table. Contact the sales team on 020 7493 0483 for further details.

6. The Underdog Bar,Clapham, London

The Underdog is the place to watch the big sporting fixtures in South London. Watch in the comfort of a venue that knows what it’s doing.

Cool soft furnishings, great drinks and table-service with a smile makes The Underdog a cut above the rest.

Giant plasma screenswill be showing all the World Cup games in full High Definition. Great food and drink specials throughout the the World Cup and a complimentary World Cup cocktail trophy to share for group bookings of 20 people.

7. Adam & Eve, just off Oxford Street, London

The Adam and Eve is a perfect example of the atmosphere, fine food and general bonhomie you can expect to find at a Geronimo pub.  With influences from the cosmopolitan surrounding of Soho and the delights of Oxford street, the design team have created a stunning pub with the emphasis on both style and comfort, whilst also giving the nod to some great British icons.

All World Cup matches will be shown at the Adam & Eve, as well as Geronimo Inn’s 27 other Pubs including The Bull at Westfield. Private function rooms are available at a selection of Geronimo Inns this World Cup, for more info and to book visit here

8. Meza, Soho, London

At Meza World Cup footy fans can book exclusive private areas – with no hire fee and no minimum spends!* Each of the areas have an amazing 61 inch plasma screen for a perfect view of the game and a team of waiters standing by to take your orders (So no need to queue at the bar!). Entertain clients, celebrate with colleagues or cheer with your friends! All drinks packages are accompanied by complimentary half time food. For more information please visit; www.mezaworldcup.com or call 020 7314 4002

9. Cityhouse, Bishopsgate, London

Cityhouse will be offering full table service to all its guests so you won’t have to miss a minute of the game by waiting at the bar! Food will be available all day. There will be a full range of bar meals and a great selection of platters for you to share with your friends and wash it down with a pitcher of cold draught lager! BOOK NOW to guarantee your table! Call Cityhouse on 0207 6283371 for more details or to discuss your individual requirements. Exclusive venue hire also available at weekends.

10. The Star of Bethnal Green, Bethnal Green, London

The Star of Bethnal Green offers great food and entertainment for a friendly and creative clientele.

For the FIFA World Cup games, private screening room is available to hire for up to 10 people. £100/game includes 10 bottles of beer and 3 half time pizzas. Private function room available for larger groups. Email info@starofbethnalgreen.com for prices.

Popularity: 100% [?]

The Drinksin ‘Footy Pubs 2010’ mobile app helps customers plan where to watch this summer’s football, and will lead them directly to your door.

Drinksin, are offering all publicans FREE use of the application to ensure the UK’s 2 million iPhone users and 3 million Nokia smartphone users can access the best pubs and bars available to watch the football this summer.

1 - Register your venue

2 - Tick the box against the games you are showing

3 – Add any Footy promotions and offers

4 – Await your Welcome Email onto the application

5 - Customers in your area will be led via GPS directions straight to your door, not your competition

To register your pub or bar for Free, go to: www.drinksin.com/worldcup

How does it work:

The app developed by Drinksin, will work anywhere in the UK and offer fully up-to-date venue and match information, special offers and promotions from registered outlets.

The Match Planner tool will help users plan which pubs to watch crucial matches in – users can just select their city and match they want to see for a list of participating pubs.

Or if out and about with mates, users can tap the Matches Nearby button, which uses GPS to locate them, for immediate access to a list of pubs showing the game just around the corner from where they’re stood.

To drive as many visitors as possible. The app provides directions, so users can just look at the map, follow the arrows, and arrive at your outlet to order that drink. The application’s share features also makes it easy for users to tell their friends to come and meet them.

To make the most of this FREE opportunity to drive more customers into your pub for the World’s Greatest Football Tournament.

Register your Pub in just 2 minutes, for free today at http://www.drinksin.com/worldcup

iPhone Screenshots:

Nokia Screenshots:

Register your Pub in just 2 minutes, for free today at http://www.drinksin.com/worldcup

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Drinksin and The Dealmap, two leading local websites have partnered up in the UK to bring people even closer to the best pub and bar deals in their neighborhood and beyond.

Drinksin, the location-based pub and bar community, connects people to pubs and bars they’ll love via their mobile.

Publicly launched today, The Dealmap is the most comprehensive source for consumers to find and share local deals on the Web.  In conjunction with the launch of its service, The Dealmap has created publicly available APIs that Drinksin will use to add unique local deal content to its sites.

Drinksin is focused around technology, in particular the latest in mobile location based services and personalised customisation. Drinksin’s tools learn what you like and provide personalised recommendations for pubs, bars and events to visit based on location

Using Drinksin, people can explore new places, grab money saving deals and discover the hottest events happening right now just round the corner from where you’re stood.

Owning over 120 domains and with a number of new technology services being made available this year, Drinksin will connect people to drinking establishments of interest wherever they are located in the world via the Internet or mobile device.

Drinksin’s city-based web sites such as Drinksinlondon.com and Drinksinreading.com are currently available in 18 UK cities, and 1 European city, Zagreb.

• Drinksin London achieving 120,000 views a month.
• Other domains achieving between 50,000 average a month.
• 120 Drinksin domains owned.
• Drinksin as a brand achieving 650,000 per month.

Drinksin is a privately funded start up based in London and co-founded by Laurence Williams, Mark Wallis, and Jaime Keenan. David Murray-Hundley, LinkedIn Business Leader of the Year 2010, serves as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, David is responsible for driving Drinkin’s product and monetisation road map, acquiring funding and expansion of partner and customer networks.

For more visit www.drinksin.com.

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The drinksin team descended upon Reading town early on Friday night for a bit of exploratory work, oh and a few drinkies along the way! OK it’s true, a few too many drinkies along the way.

First stop Global RISC Cafe Bar on London Street. In retrospect it was this moment that crystalised the direction for the rest of the evening. Oh why oh why didn’t we line our stomachs with some of their delicious Ethiopian fare. I confess the organic wine was good but food would of been a better option.

The 3B's, Reading

Empty stomached and excitable next stop The 3B’s, more wine consumed but less chatter as we were whisked away on an epic musical journey by an Ella Fitzgerald inspired and beautiful vintage-clad lady on the decks.

After this we made a quick and fairly unmemorable sprint through Reading’s bar street. Yates’, Walkabout and Bar Four. Didn’t realise till now that this is the home of ‘BBC Introducing’ live music night celebrating the local band scene. Find out more here http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/articles/2008/05/12/session_introducing_gig_feature.shtml

Next stop The Oakford Social Club, Blagrave Street. My kind of place and yours if your Mod isnpired and into music – proper! The Oakford is brought to you by the same family that run the infamous Lock Tavern and Start the Bus, Bristol

It is probably here the last train to sensible sleep time should of beckoned but as with every inebriated decision it’s not until the next morning you realise it’s the wrong one.

So forge on we did to Afrobar, which was alas closed so in a last ditch attempt to bring some tranquility back to the evening, the call of the sleek and sophisticated led us to Malmaison where we were charmed by the very delectable South African mixologist Beyers. He makes a mean Caipirinha!

Malmaison, Reading

A few refreshingly strong cocktails later, and post last train back as with most good Reading night’s out The After Dark welcomed us with open arms for £10 entry. Unbelievably this also included three free drinks, but I think I lost the tickets – please tell me I lost the tickets and I wasn’t still drinking!

As always a pleasant and fashion forward crowd. Decidedly young but that’s just me talking as I’m worried I’m becoming decidedly old after some charming but inappropriate use of the word Mum came into a conversation. Just for the record I’m 28…thank you.

Yep and I think that was about it…ooops no it’s not there was more so in true Pulp Fiction style this was the beginning at the end Mix Bar, how could I forget.

Pretty bar at Mix

Well I know how actually. Killer caiprinhas. I think this may have been third or fourth bar, whatever. Good cocktails there too and pretty flower bar oh yes and mustn’t forget the barman, ladies beware.

Cocktails at Mix Bar

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Now your probably thinking Reading in the South East of England is the least likely place for a good St Patrick’s Day celebration, but your wrong. This Tuesday Reading’s pubs and it’s inhabitants did the Irish proud.

In search of the perfect St Patrick’s Day craic, the drinksin crew put on their shamrock socks and went on a mid-week quest. First stop The Lyndhurst on Queens Road. We arrived at about 6:30 and took rest at one of the nicely candlelit wooden tables. The pub was busy in an after-work mellow way with a mixture of regular IT after-workers and hungry bookish third year students.

The smell of good food was overwhelming and the low level Irish folk music, half-drunk Guiness glasses dotted around the place and Potato Champ on the Specials Menu gave the sense of a subtle nod to The Green Isle festivities without being crass. The Lyndhurst under it’s new management is going from strength to strength and it seems The Warwick with it’s far eastern influence is likely to set the same kind of pace.

After a quick drink we headed across to the area of Jackson’s Corner where the mood was decidedly sombre and quiet. Worried that we may be missing out on the action we decided to skip a drink in the relatively new bar Copa (good for free wi-fi by the way) and go in the obvious direction of O’Neils by the Town Hall.

Now I’d expected there would be a few more people than usual in town but seeing O’Neils even from the distance we could see it was absolutely heaving with people in silly hats. We even had to queue before eventually being allowed to get in on the action. Behind the bar the staff were suitably fancy dressed up and the Guiness was well and truly flowing. The live band in the corner pulled quite a crowd and you could tell that there was going to be more than one IT bod asleep at their desk following morning.

O'Neils Pub, Reading

Enjoying the craic at O'Neils, Reading

Guiness Extra Cold and Extra Cool

After a few pints of the Black Stuff and uplifted by the festive mood, we decided to head for one last drink in Reading’s famous beardy pub The Hobgoblin and beardy it was but in a good way. Long live The Hobgoblin and all it’s beer mats and beards and boffins and beer. I did have to laugh when I spotted the poster in the toilet though, great message but slightly incongruous setting being at The Hob, couldn’t imagine any of them gentlemanly fellows in the bar being described in this way.

For all you men reading this blog, this is the kind of stuff us girls see when we go into the toilet so if you ever notice us acting a little odd post-toilet break this may be why. Well that and the fact that we’ve just caught sight of ourselves in the mirror and are worried our bum looks big.

Funny toilet poster

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Prince of Wales, Caversham

Mike Cobb and his son Nick are now the proud tenants of The Prince of Wales pub in Caversham. The duo, are fairly local hailing from Newbury. Their plans for the pub seem promising with a Ska night held last Saturday and plans for regular quiz nights. Wish them every success with their new venture

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In an effort to bring the people of Reading a bit better connected to some of the amazing establishments located in the more tranquil surrounds of the area. The drinksin collective spent a pretty pleasant afternoon visiting the pubs and their numerous landlords around Playhatch, Caversham, Sonning and Twyford.

If you haven’t ventured further than The Oracle or the end of The Oxford Road for some time, do it, there are little gems at every turn.

Our first visit took us just a stones throw to Caversham Bridge. After months in ‘The Ding’ thought best to take it slowly, for fear of town centre withdrawl symptoms. First stop The Island Bar (ok, this doesn’t really fall into the Traditional or Pub category, but it was freeking hot outside and it gives you that sexy holiday vibe, in spades)

Island Bar, Caversham

Then off to a more suitable trad, pub venue The Griffin which doesn’t dissapoint. The Griffin is said to be a home away from home for many locals and regulars, and according to Chef and Brewer ‘is renowned throughout the Reading area for good food and a varied menu’.

The Bull Inn, Sonning

The Bull Inn, Sonning, wow!!!! This quintessentially English inn is mentioned in the novel “Three Men in a Boat”.

Sonning is the most fairylike little nook on the whole river. If you stop at Sonning, put up at The Bull, behind the Church. It is a veritable picture of an English country inn”.
(Jerome K Jerome)

All of the above is true. Food looks spot on as well and the staff along with the decor are oh so warm and welcoming. If your planning a ‘take the parents’ out day soon, family treat or some other ‘I must go to a Country pub for this occasion’ visits, try it out, it won’t dissapoint.

Some other recommended countryside spots around Reading:

1. The Shoulder of Mutton, Playhatch

2. The New Inn, Kidmore End, Reading

3. The Cunning Man, Burghfield Bridge, Reading

4. The Cross Keys, Pangbourne

If you know of any other cracking spots a little outside of Reading, please mention in the comments section so we and others can check them out.

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We have launched a new Special Offers section on the site this month, to help the people of Reading beat the cash-strapped blues when out and about. Just like it says on the box, the section will showcase money-saving specials from drinksinReading.com participating venues.

We are starting to see some amazing offers added such as Sakura’s complimentary bottle of champagne for groups of six, when visiting Sakura on Friday from 12pm to 7pm with a drinksinReading.com voucher. Offer ends 14th August, so be quick.

See all Special Offers here

Check the Special Offers regularly, as they are changing on a daily basis and if you’d like to see offers from other venues please make sure to mention us to them on your next visit.

Some special offers will be exclusive to regsitered users ONLY, so if you haven’t yet registered for a free user account you can do so here. As well as members only offers, you’ll also get a host of other goodies and features. Hope to see you on the site soon.

Have a good weekend,

Jaime x

Special Offers on drinksinReading.com

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‘This is Techno…’ is a new club night opening in Reading starting 5th September ‘09. The promoter’s aim is to bring to Reading, the finest underground Techno DJ’s and Live acts from around the world, as well as some of the best up and coming DJ’s from in and around Reading and the south of England.

The Launch party is to be held at Plug ‘n’ Play Studios in Reading. For the launch party ‘This is Techno’ has secured a mouth watering lineup, headlining the event will be London based DJ/Producer PERC and top Swedish DJ/Producer Mikael Jonasson who will be flying in from Stockholm to play LIVE!

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Last week drinksin got vocal and joined Phil Kennedy over at the BBC Berkshire studio’s in Caversham to talk pubs on Phil’s weekday slot, you can watch the interview here: Jaime talks pubs on BBC Berkshire

The drive to Caversham was the ride from hell, 1st radio interview nerves were rife but despite that sickening feeling, the questions went well and not too many erms and aaarghs in sight, well apart from the do you know the pub by the bridge question.

On the way to BBC Berkshire

For anyone that knows me, directions send me into a vegetative state of shock. The ‘yes’ to Phil’s question of ‘do you know the pub that’s down there, to the left, by the bridge’ was actually ‘Noooooooooh I haven’t a clue but I’m on the radio and I’m an idiot, can’t believe this is happening, i’m sure I know it but I can’t think straight, just say yes anyway, they’ll never know’. ‘YES’

For those, who like me freeze when directions are used the pub in question was The Rising Sun’

As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, we’ve also been featured in last weeks Reading Chronicle.

A big thanks to BBC Berkshire letting me join them for the excitement in the studio, and Reading Chronicle for featuring an excellent write-up on drinksinreading.com.

drinksin hit the headlines

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This month we gave away two guestlist passes to the sell-out Fusion presents Norman Jay night at Bar Mango, along with a free bar tab. The winners Malgorzata Brzezicka and friend are set for a night to remember.

For those that aren’t familiar Norman Jay is stuff of legend, his last set at Big Chill made the festival for many and throughout his career he has amassed a huge following.

The early days

A self confessed ‘Beatle baby’ born in Notting Hill, London of West Indian parents, the young Jay had unwittingly displayed latent deejaying talents even from the tender age of eight. By then, encouraged by his music loving parents, he had bought his first record and played at his first gig – a 10th birthday party for one his female cousins – displaying for the first time, a precocious talent that was later to become the stuff of deejaying legend.

As young as he was, Norman eventually became hooked on all aspects of black music, becoming increasingly influenced by his father’s huge collection of original 60’s Jazz, blu beat, ska and rock steady reggae from Jamaica.

By the late 70’s he had become an avid follower of contemporary Afro-American music styles including soul, funk and jazz fusion – enthusiastically collecting classic urban record labels like MOTOWN, ATLANTIC and STAX.

New York, 1979

Whilst on a first time visit to relatives in BROOKLYN, New York around the same time – he was invited to play at his very first bona fide ‘block party’ alongside his uncle who – as it turned out, was also an accomplished deejay and sound system owner/operator of repute himself. Jay decided there and then to take his deejaying career more seriously.

Good Times Sound System

Upon his return to the uk – he teamed up with his brother JOEY and built the now legendary GOOD TIMES SOUND SYSTEM – where he embarked upon a mission to fulfill a long held childhood ambition to play at the infamous NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL – where he played FUNK, SOUL and DISCO (something completey unheard of in those days). This he did in the face of fierce opposition and considerable hostility to his initial efforts. His dogged determination to succeed saw him eventually triumph – ultimately winning him critical acclaim from his peers and fans in the process.

Arguably Reading’s freshest and most talked about club night

Fusion are proud to announce the launch of their new Club night at the award winning Bar Mango. The opening night is Friday 14th August with the legend that is Norman Jay MBE arguably one of the finest and most respected deejays in the world today. FUSION’s new regular monthly Reading night at Bar Mango, Reading will bring together a blend of two or more styles of FUNKY, DEEP, DIRTY ELECTRO & DIRTY BIG BEATS HOUSE MUSIC.

Stay Connected

To make sure you get the most out of your Reading social life, why not sign-up to the drinksin community? Regsitrations FREE, takes 2 minutes and will make planning your social life simple. drinksin learns what you like and suggests bars, events and offers based on your interest via your own diary myDrinksin. It’s like having your very own personal assistant dedcated to fun

When you register you also get included on any inside scoop and members only pub, bar and club deals for Reading. Come in an join us!

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Reading Twestivallers descend upon Mix Bar in Reading tonight. The Twestival taking place is one of 100’s of similar events taking place worldwide.

For the uninitiated a Twestival is a Festival organised for Twitter users, but in Reading’s case all are welcome. For advance tickets you can purchase them here, or there will be a limited amount available on the door.

Event is being held at Mix Bar from 7:30pm, Thursday 10th Sept.

Proceeds raised during the night going to Daisys Dream, a free service supporting bereaved children and their families in Berkshire and the surrounding areas.

Thanks to Dedipower, one of the UK’s fastest growing managed hosting providers for their generous donation as Gold Sponsor.

Some great competitions and giveaways throughout the night plus a free glass of bubbly on arrival courtesy of @tweetmeme and live music from local band Chasing Vegas.

drinksinreading.com (that’s us) will be handing out 3 bottles of champagne through the night too with a top secret retweet competition. Make sure to follow @drinksinreading to get involved in winning the champagne on the night.

The Cocktailists at Mix have also put together a saucy selection of Twitteresque cocktails.

For more on Reading Twestival and a sneak preview at the specially blended Cocktail’s on offer, check out the official site http://reading.twestival.com/

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It’s been a whirlwind few weeks at drinksin HQ. We’ve now settled in all snuggly into our new office in Windsor and for the past few weeks have been gathering feedback, feedback and more feedback from users of drinksinreading.com as well as the pubs and bars we support.

As always some amazing suggestions. We’d love to get a few more replies before we go into our next development meeting so if you have any suggestions, would love to hear what you think. You can enter here

We ran a competition to win 3 bottles of Veuve Cliquot at Reading’s Twestival too. Congrats to the winners and shame on you for saving for special occasions. Ok, I’m only saying that because I fancied a glass. Nonetheless, Mojito’s went down a treat. Thanks to Chris and his team at Mix Bar and Twestival organisers, definitely a night to remember.

What else has been going on, oh yes the drinksin messenger pigeon dissapeared off to Bestival! We were worried until we saw sightings. He has unreservedly aoplogised for going missing in action.

We’ve also met Rob Wilson, Reading’s Conservative MP to talk about our plans for the future and to see how we may be able to further support Reading’s publican community. Great to meet him and some excellent all round advice received.

There are some fantastic support schemes and campaigns out there at the moment to help support the British Pub, who is, as we all know having a bit of a bad time at the moment. So if you haven’t already pledged your support for Britains favourite pastime, you can do so on any of these sites:

• Axe the Beer Tax
• Save the Great British Pub

In Reading Bar News:

• New club Sub89 launched, you can take the Virtual Tour here
• Bamboo is under new management and re-opened on Friday 25th Sept. Nearby Manakoo also a recent addition
• Xensations on Friar Street is in the process of becoming a new bar called Ruby Sky. With state of the art lighting and sound system, two-levels, 3 rooms, 4 bars, VIP areas, Ruby Sky will offer live shows and DJ music every night of the week, with weekly special events on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Oh and how can we forget, it’s Freshers time in Reading. Big wave to all new Reading Uni students. We’ll be out for a few upcoming student events snapping your beautiful faces, so hope to see you out and about.

To stay better in touch with good stuff happening at pubs and bars in Reading, why not join us today and get a user account. When you join, you can create your own personlised social diary, to help you set your social life free. So you never have to scratch your head and wonder where all the good stuff’s happening tonight, tomorrow, next week. Just login to drinksin!

May the rest of your week be fun filled xx

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On Tuesday, the drinksin team were invited along to the Winter Menu sampling event at Friar Street’s newest bar and eatery Muse. If you have not yet had the pleasure Muse is a brand new treasure to Friar Street, based at the old Bar Four premises.

One thing you notice when you enter Muse is it’s warm, relaxed and welcoming interior. The deep reds and opulent furnishings are sure to help melt away any built up tension from a long day in the office or a busy day’s shopping. What’s really special about Muse is it is a break from the norm from what many would expect from a Friar Street premises – a little sanctuary for those seeking the smooth and sophisticated.

The new Winter Menu officially launches this week and offers an amuse-bouche of perfectly crafted plates and a cocktail menu with a playful nod to the 70’s as well as reverance for traditional classics.

We were lucky enough to sample a pick and mix of the new menu during the event, and the food is really good.

The chef at Muse has a strict policy on fine and fresh food, which means everything on premises is made from scratch – you can tell.

The food menu like the new cocktail menu shows a playful nod to some of the 70’s classics with dishes like chicken in a basket and bangers and mash. The chef has also clerverly constructed a pick and mix menu, similar to a tapas experience but with influences from all over the globe. Really great if eating light before a big night out or after work drinks with colleagues and friends.

For the conscientous amongst us, Muse have paid attention to health with a great offering of healthy options – the super food salads look fantastic, and the menu even comes with calorie count to make life eaiser.

The Express Menu also works really well for lunchtime workers with an eye on the time. Each express dish is marked and is guaranteed service within 20 minutes.

http://www.muse-reading.com/

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Last week, drinksin bricked it by donating £50.00 towards the Buy A Brick campaign for the Child’s I Foundation.

The foundation’s mission is to help put an end to the endemic problem of child abandonment in Uganda. Developed with leading experts in social care in the UK and Uganda, this unique model has three parts: a support programme to help mothers at risk of abandoning their babies; a transitional home to provide short-term life-saving care; and a family placement

In Uganda the horrors of HIV/Aids and violent conflict results in hundreds of babies often only a few hours hold being dumped by their desperate mothers in toilets, car parks or on the roadside. And with all the current care homes full life often looks bleak and short – for these vulnerable children. The Child’s i Foundation wants to change all that.

Watch the video here

To see how you can help, there is a to do list.

To do list

Time, love and money are all welcome so whatever you can spare will go along way in supporting the foundation in their goals. If you like us, would like to Buy a Brick, you can make your donation easily online by following the link below:

http://buyabrick.childsifoundation.org/bricks/t9bn

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We’ve just heard the good news that drinksin.com’s new Chief Technology Officer, David Murray-Hundley has been shortlisted for Business Leader of the Year category, LinkedIn European Business Awards 2010. Hand picked by LinkedIn’s expert panel of judges David is one of only 10 in Europeto make the shortlist.

Please show your support for David, by voting here

Linkedin is the world’s biggest network and business hub and was started by the co-founder of Ebay and PayPal.

David who also acts as CTO for Adaro Group recently became involved with Drinksin taking on the role as CTO to take the team through funding and hitting the rest of the UK and US market.

“David’s out of the box mentality and ability to push boundaries in delivering technology solutions is providing us  with an undeniable increase in operational strength and focus, he undoubtedly deserves to win this accolade.”

We’re very pleased to formally welcome David to the drinksin.com team, and wish him every success for this award.

Winners will be announced via a live WebEx on March 24th 2010.

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drinksin has been chosen by a judging panel including Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs such as Bebo Founder Michael Birch as a winner of Smarta.com’s inaugural ‘Smarta 100’.

The Smarta 100 is the ultimate business accolade, recognizing the UK’s smartest small businesses. Smarta.com has uncovered remarkable companies who have gone the extra mile to differentiate themselves from the market or found clever ways to compete, from their marketing plan to their ethical stance. The result is a fascinating insight into the unique business ideas that are thriving in the current economic climate.

The finalists proved to the judges that they have what it takes to run a successful venture, from spotting a new opportunity to making it a reality. And the high-profile panel were delighted to see that ambitious people are saving hard and raising finances to turn their ideas into flourishing businesses.

Deborah Meaden commented:

“Discovering great new businesses is a passion of mine as is encouraging businesses to think and work better.  The Smarta 100 does both of these things – and celebrates the best of British business at the same time. I was delighted to see ambitious people saving hard and raising finances to turn their ideas into flourishing businesses ”

Smarta.com founder Sháá Wasmund said:

“Socially conscious, disruptive businesses that are not afraid to challenge the status quo are being set up in the four corners of the country. I founded Smarta to make sure these enterprises are supported at any stage of development. The results speak for themselves – the Smarta 100 list is a collection of remarkable success stories.”

The full results and details of the winning companies can be found at smarta.com/smarta100.

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It’s been a  busy month to say the least at Drinksin HQ, what with winning Smarta 100, the award for the UK’s most disruptive small businesses, having a few articles published in the press and learning the media interview ropes, we’ve also got some exciting stealth developments afoot and the latest is that David, Drinksin’s Chief Technology Officer is one of only three finalists for LinkedIn’s Business Leader of the Year Award.

If you fancy tuning in, the awards will be presented via Webex on Wednesday 24th March at 4pm GMT. You can register here.

Some serious nail biting, finger and toe crossing going on at our desks…wishing you luck David.

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Last Wednesday our Chief Technical Officer to Drinksin, David Murray-Hundley won European Business Leader of the Year 2010 at LinkedIn’s European Business Awards. The award designed to celebrate a business leader who has created an outstanding workplace based on a set of values that has led to a commited, effective and motivated workforce.

When I caught up with David this morning over coffee, I asked his feelings on the award, “Obviously very happy to have won the award and also so thankful to everyone who supported me. I still find it all crazy and still think I am no different to anyone else. Been an exciting year so far at Drinksin and the next 6 months will be a crucial window for us. We are shortly looking forward to launching our mobile application, as well as the World cup around the corner and of course I along with the rest of England am looking forward to us winning!

Drinksin is also growing as a company and we are currently looking for a new CEO and further funding of the business. Going to be a busy year for the team but know we can do it.”

Drinksin’s Technical award was judged and presented by PY Gerbeau, the ex Chief Executive of the Dome, VP of Disneyland Paris and current CEO of X Leisure. Reid Hoffman the chairman of LinkedIn, and ex Vice President of Paypal and Apple. Reid Hoffman also serves on the board of SixPart, Kiva and Mozilla. James Campanini the Managing Director of Cisco Webex and Cisco Systems Ltd.

PY Gerbeau in his announcement speech mentioned “the difference with David is his approach as a team player and his thinking out the box mentality. He has been quoted by a supporter as an inspired perfectionist. He’s not only trying to achieve things in business but to make a difference to people”.

Watch the announcement recorded via live Webex here

For more on the LinkedIn European Business Awards 2010 in asscoiation with Cisco Webex, visit the site

A big thanks to all who have supported Drinksin’s David Murray Hundley on this journey.

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Drinksin®, the location-based Pub and Bar Community, revolutionising the way people interact with pubs and bars online will shortly be releasing an iPhone application, to help users find Pubs and Bars closest to them to watch the World’s Greatest Football Tournament this Summer.

The app developed by Drinksin, will work anywhere in the UK and offer fully up-to-date match information from independent pubs, to the larger chain outlets, showing your nations matches.

The Match Planner tool will help users plan which pubs to watch crucial 2010 matches in – just select your city and match you want to see for a list of suitable pubs.

Or if out and about with mates, ensure you don’t waste time wondering the streets trying to find somewhere,  just tap the Matches Nearby button, which uses GPS to locate you, for immediate access to a list of pubs showing the game just around the corner.

To make sure your the first to hear about it’s release,  follow our news on Twitter @worldcuppubs

If your a venue looking to promote your matches this summer, email us at support@drinksin.com

Sneak Preview:

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Drinksin – the online pub and bar community changing the way Publicans can interact with customers online, via mobile applications and social networks and Bar industry website, BarLifeUK‘s media partnership creates vital on-trade resource.

Who are BarLifeUK and Drinksin?

The Drinksin network gives on-trade outlets access to a network of customers who account for over half a million page views per month, and allows venue managers to target their offering to local users via the Drinksin websites and mobile applications to drive customers through the door.

Venues can advertise upcoming events and special offers, promote private hire facilities as well as offerings such as free Wi-Fi, child-friendly play areas or big screen entertainment to users who are specifically searching for them in their area online or using their mobile.

BarLifeUK provides bar, premium pub and drinks industry professionals with news, product information and expert opinion from domestic and international contributors, with the specific aim of helping venue operators improve their offering and develop their businesses through good service, practice and innovation.

Why is this Partnership Good for the On-Trade?

The worlds of social media, online marketing and trade publishing have a natural synergy.  While the Drinksin network provides access to a network of ready-made customers, BarLIfeUK editorial and industry knowledge provides advice and guidance on how to exploit that network.

This partnership gives the on-trade something it has never had before: access to customers specifically looking for what they offer and vital industry information and advice in the same place and with a common vision – helping venues become more profitable.

How do I get Involved?

That’s the easy part. Visit www.drinksin.com and list your venue. Then visit www.barlifeuk.com and subscribe to their fortnightly BarBulletin emails.

Everything else will appear in your inbox, as if by magic.

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