A couple from Aberdeen is celebrating after securing new commercial premises for their catering business.
Reynolds Corporate and Cocktail has operated from Chris and Lauren Reynolds’ family home in Bridge of Don for around two years.
However, they recently took to social media to announce they will start operating from a new unit near Kinellar within the next few months to expand the company, something that will prove “a game-changer” for the pair.
Reynolds Corporate and Cocktail offers a catering and cocktail bar service for corporate and private events and recently started manufacturing and producing its own ready-to-drink cocktail pouches.
Dark kitchen
The unit will be used as a ‘dark kitchen’ for event catering purposes and act as a space for their cocktail manufacturing and cocktail pouches.
Each cocktail is handcrafted and designed for sharing and is ready in a matter of seconds.
Flavours include a bramble, cosmo, pornstar martini, margarita, strawberry daiquiri, mojito and belini.
“With our weddings and events, we can typically serve anything from 100 to 1,000 cocktails,” says Chris, 34. “It all just depends on the event and number of guests.”
The unit will allow Chris, a former chef in the Royal Navy, and Lauren to increase productivity.
It also means they will have the capacity to take on more events and orders.
Lauren currently works at Robert Gordon University but will be joining Reynolds Corporate and Cocktail full-time come the summer.
Raise a toast to business growth
Chris went on to say: “We have been looking for somewhere suitable for a while now but could never find the right place, in the right location.”
Picking up the keys on Sunday May 15, the couple hopes to be producing their products from the unit by mid-July onwards.
“There is a lot of work to do to make it into a suitable food and drink preparation area,” Chris added.
“But we’re working with Aberdeen Council for food safety and alcohol licencing.
“The new space will significantly help our business to grow. We have so many enquiries that, at the minute, we just don’t have the capacity to cater for.
“So, once we are moved in and settled, we will hopefully be able to open our diary up for more bookings.
“The pandemic certainly knocked the wind out of our sails for a bit, but now all the hard work and dedication over the years is paying off.”
The couple will be aiming to offer collections for their cocktail and catering products in the near future, too, and plan on expanding their team.
Think local
Reynolds Corporate and Cocktail was originally operated on a part-time basis from 2016, before Chris took it on full-time in June 2020.
As a local business that has grown from the ground up, they are keen to showcase other north-east producers, too.
“We are currently working with local gins, rums, and liquors,” Chris said.
“So, continuing to support the wider drinks industry in the north-east of Scotland is big on our agenda.”
Taste of Grampian
The business’ events calendar is also proving exciting for the entrepreneurs, who have confirmed they will be attending a series of them in the months to come.
They include the highly-anticipated return of Taste of Grampian, at P&J Live in Aberdeen, Turriff Show and Portsoy Boats Festival.
Chris says: “Our biggest dream is happening this year – we are attending Taste of Grampian, showcasing our brand new cocktail pouches and the new and improved recipes.
“We have attended the event many times over the years and have always said that I would love to be there one day – and now we are doing it!
“Going forward, our main goal is to continue to provide a high-class event catering and cocktail bar service for all our wonderful customers.
“And if we can contribute and help give training and pass on our experience to the rising future of the hospitality world, then we will be overjoyed.”
Conversation