Career
In 1993 he opened Mas Café in Notting Hill, which he ran for four years before becoming director and general manager of private members club, 57 Jermyn Street. Three years later, Besant went on to become the operations manager of the Street Martins Lane & Sanderson Hotels for the Ian Schrager Group. After establishing these venues, he went on to take control of food and beverage at Hilton’s Trafalgar Hotel, presiding over the Rockwell Bar and Restaurant which was given the title 2002 Time Our Bar of the Year.
The accolades start to flood in with Henry winning Class magazine (2003) and Flava magazine (2004) best new bar, with both magazines also naming him bar manager of the year in 2005.
Whilst working at Lonsdale, Henry formed Worldwide Cocktail Club with fellow bartender Dre Masso. Worldwide Cocktail Club was a drinks industry consultancy specializing in bartender training and education as well as some on-trade strategies for various beverage brands.
The company were responsible for numerous bar projects such as All Star Lanes, Ronnie Scott’s, Bungalow 8 and Alfred’s Club as well as their own project Green & Red, a Mexican Cocktail Bar and Restaurant. Worldwide Cocktail Club also worked on strategies for Don Julio, Wyborowa, Beefeater and Ocean Spray Cranberry.
In 2010 Henry Besant joined forced with Nick Strangeway and Cairbry Hill and has together created a powerhouse Food & Beverage industry consultancy.
Strange Hill Limited. Besant was the co-creater of Olmeca Altos, a premium 100% agave Tequila. On March 14, 2013 Besant died following a heart attack on the London Underground two weeks earlier.
Mas Café 57 Jermyn Street Street Martins Lane & Sanderson Hoyls Hilton’s Trafalgar Hotel Lonsdale Bar Green & Red.
