Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne are to acquire London Cocktail Week and London Wine Week from Speciality Drinks, owned by Pernod Ricard.
Having just completed the 16th London Cocktail Week, the deal (finalised February 1st 2026) will see the organisers and figureheads fully own the drinks festivals for the first time, having previously controlled minority shares. The fee is undisclosed.
In 2021 Pernod Ricard bought Speciality Drinks, the parent company of The Whisky Exchange, acquiring the Whisky Exchange's e-commerce site, three London shops, Whisky.Auction, and ABV Global (London Cocktail Week).
Sharman-Cox (pictured right) and Payne (left) said: “London Cocktail Week is an endeavour we’re incredibly proud of, and we’re delighted to be taking it into a new chapter from 2026. As the festival has grown, we’ve showcased the best of London’s cocktail culture on the international stage.
“We’ve also supported our city’s bars with new revenue opportunities and educational content such as the Bartender Knowledge Exchange. We plan to keep listening to the on-trade and evolving the festival to make sure it continues to be the world’s leading cocktail celebration for years to come.”
Natalie Tennent, managing director of The Whisky Exchange, said: “As we move into our new chapter and our exciting new look for The Whisky Exchange, this felt like the right time to release London Cocktail Week into the capable hands of Hannah and Siobhán. They have always been the driving force behind the festival and we’re excited to watch it continue to blossom in the coming years.”
London Cocktail Week began in 2010 with a pop-up event at Selfridges and a cocktail tour of 50 bars in the city. Over the next two decades it rose to become one of the world’s best known cocktail festivals.