BARTENDER

Born in Norfolk, England 1973, Richie studied Egyptian Archaeology at University College London, specializing in underwater archaeological photography and ancient shipwrecks. After graduating, he became a photographer for well-known lifestyle publications such as FHM, Loaded, Mix Mag and DJ Magazines in London during the 1990’s.

After some years spent travelling the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean as cruise ship photographer, he returned to London in 2000 and started his cocktail bartending journey. He quickly became involved in the emerging cocktail scene in the capital at the time and moved to the then newly opened “hush” in Mayfair owned by the late Sir Roger Moore.

Since leaving hush and London, Richie has had a varied nomadic life in hospitality. Well noted for his creative cocktail skills, and training ability, Richie has set up and influenced some of the World’s best bars from Hong Kong, London and now Saigon.

He moved to Saigon to establish the cocktail scene here over 9 years ago from Hong Kong and is very well known as setting up, designing and running some of Saigons’ iconic bars and restaurants. He has trained many of the best bartenders in the city and his multi-talented skills combined with local market knowledge and his self-taught Vietnamese make him one of the most sought-after bar consultants and influencers in the country.

His clients include, Six Senses, Raffles, Intercontinental Saigon, Park Hyatt, Caravelle Saigon,  Shri, Sorae,  an an, Glow Sky bar and hyde, Macallan, Glenfiddich, Alchemy Asia, Diageo, Wink hotels,  and Savills Vietnam to name but a few.

 ARTIST

 In his signature sketches of the city skyline, his technique is to return to the same position on the street for many days to capture the feeling of the street scene.  He always carries a small sketchbook filled with thumbnail sketches of the cyclo riders, street vendors and characters that he encounters on his travels.

He has published a cocktail, art and history book about Vietnam, “Cocktail Art of Saigon” especially focusing on the street scenes of Saigon which is also the menu at Shri restaurant and lounge and is hugely popular with locals and tourists alike. Volume 2 is published this year with 45 cocktail recipes and street drawings representing 45 years of peace after 1975.

In April 2017, Richie opened his own gallery with adjoining hidden invitation only bar, “The Studio Saigon” where he creates new art works and displays them in the gallery on a seasonal basis. In addition he makes cocktails inspired by the country’s history using ingredients native to Vietnam.

His work features in numerous private collections around the World, and is easily found in Saigon as illustratrated menus, together with permanent  collections on display at  an an restaurant, Wink hotels, The Park Hyatt Saigon, Savills Vietnam, RGF office boardroom, KOTO Hanoi and Saigon, The Caravelle Saigon, Shri restaurant, and of course The Studio Saigon.

More recently Richie has started to create live sketch events that combine cocktails, music and live performance art that is projected live via a go-pro to an audience.

Guest Artist in residence at the Irrawaddy literary festival in Myanmar included a live art performance with all proceeds from the auction of the art going towards the literary fund.

 In 2019 Richie raised over 10,000USD for charity with the auction sale of his work in this way in Vietnam and Myanmar.

He is available for commission both private and commercial.

Please call him to make an appointment to see his art work and try his cocktails,

 where he will welcome you in person at The Studio Saigon.