Durban Good Food and Wine Show
As the premium event in South Africa's culinary calendar, the Good Food and Wine show this year became a truly national event with the staging of the inaugural Durban extravaganza. Exceeding all expectations, the Durban public turned out in force to sample the drinks, delicacies and new developments in the world of food and beverages. The impact infrastructure of choice was Barcode's trademark mobile bars, utilised for their visual and practical effect by various exhibitors, including Fry's Foods and Tropica. A large square bar - built using Barcode's new generation Infinity bars and manned by professional Barcode bartenders - formed the centrepiece of the Durban Bites arena: a gourmet food court exhibiting the best restaurants and drinks purveyors Durban has to offer. Also built from Barcode bars, the Kahlua lounge bar was manned by students of the Barcode Bar Academy who applied their growing knowledge and expertise to flawless service of sumptuous cocktails. In cocktail-making demonstrations throughout the weekend, stars of the recently launched academy displayed the skills and experience that form the foundation of the institution's training and development programs.
Tri-Nations Rugby
As the excusive bar services supplier to major event organisers Warwick Hospitality and Events, Barcode was in attendance at the Durban and Johannesburg matches in the recent Tri-Nations rugby competition. Catering to an exclusive selection of 1000 guests at Durban's ABSA stadum, Barcode provided VIP treatment across 15 luxury suites. Though similarly focussed on visually arresting bar setups and professional service, Johannesburg's event was three times larger and three times more frenetic, but as smoothly managed as all Barcode's large-scale events. Such efficient management of events this size can only come from extensive experience and planning - all of which was needed in a weekend that included a major international rugby event and the annual Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival.
Joy of Jazz
With its uniquely eclectic mix of major local and international artists, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, has quickly developed the profile of one of South Africa's premium jazz events. Staged in Jo'burg's art-driven Newtown precinct, the festival aims to bring world-class music to broad and receptive audience of music lovers. Barcode's services were employed in various guises, beginning with a 100 person VVIP gala dinner to open the weekend, followed by bar infrastructure, management and service in nine VIP marquees throughout the four days. Balancing this private and exclusive approach with large-scale efficiency, Barcode also ran specialist cash bar services that satisfied the desires of the 15 000 members of the general public. Rolling out and managing 120 metres of bar on the same weekend as another major event at Ellis Park was a challenge, but enjoyable, well-executed and a great note to end August on.
