With 20 years experience, we are sure he knows a drink or 2!

Meet David!

When 16 year old, David stood behind his grampas rugby club bar. His first ever customer come up to him and said “can I have half a lager please love?” to which he turned to his mother also behind the bar and asked her “what’s a lager?” his short journey glass colleting at Ynysfach rugby club come to an end. Offered a glass collecting roll in Play night club Merthyr, jumping at the chance, David showed keen interest. As soon as he was 18 and old enough to serve alcohol, David was straight behind that bar, and the world opened for him taking Play nightclub Merthyr by storm making cocktails and shots! There his interest grew even more whilst working along side nightclub manager James Evans. James received training from Giovanni Burdi, Alex Turner and Dick Bradshell (inventor of the Bramble and espresso martini to name a couple). Passing this knowledge onto David, he soon excelled quickly with his mixologist and flaring skills like John Bandy, including drinks on fire and Dreaming of owning his own bar/nightclub.

After a couple of years at Play nightclub, David moved onto J.D Wetherspoon becoming shift supervisor, quickly moving to duty manager and kitchen manager roles. Few years later after a few stints in Canada and Europe teaching snowboarding, David moved onto his new adventure and helped Jorge Dascencao and family open The New Crown Inn Merthyr, helping their journey and placing it to be one of the finest music and cocktail venues in Wales! Whilst working there he gave “The Land & Sea” dish it’s name! If you ever visit there though, David recommends trying the Francesinha dish off their food menu!

Many jobs in between jobs, David gained a lot of experience working in many different establishments and then moved onto BikePark Wales where he started off serving in their café but quickly become their Visitor Welcome team & First responder team leader. David returned to The New Crown Inn 9 years later for a few months and was back shaking, doing what he does best! Picking up where he left off, whilst falling back in love with the shaker! 20 years later, from when he originally started behind a bar, here he is again making and creating cocktails, mocktails, and shots for you!! Mobile mixologist at your service!!