The Grand Prix / Trailer Happiness

We know that most of you agree that a bar is only as good as its bartenders. Knowledgeable and friendly bar staff can elevate the simplest of cocktails, and an expert professional can transform your experience making you feel like traveling in another time and place. This week, we would like you to meet a gifted bartender who guides his regulars into the intoxicating atmosphere of the tropics on a nightly basis. Needless to say that his bar, the Trailer Happiness in London, is one of our favorite places to sip a well-made Tiki cocktail.  

Richard “Rikki” Brodrick has been general manager at Trailer Happiness since 2005. Born in South Africa, Rikki first became interested in bartending after he met one of South Africa’s best flairtenders. A computer-programming student at the time in need of extra cash, Brodrick recalls thinking, "this could work well for me!" He promptly got a part-time job at a sports bar, unaware that this experience would change the course of his future. One day he found himself thinking, "is this supposed to be work?" and realized that he had found his true calling. Brodrick gave up his studies and decided to focus on bartending.  

He picked up and moved to the UK and soon began honing his skills at London’s pionner cocktail bar venue The Match Bar.  However, as soon as he heard of an opening at Trailer Happiness, Brodrick “was straight back [out] and looking for the job!” Why Trailer Happiness? The decision was based on the high exigency of the bar when it comes to the selection of its liquors. He touts the importance of quality over quantity in bar ingredients by insisting on only a select few high-quality types of liquor in his bar. As Brodrick explains, “one rum brand vs. 200, well we know which will be more fun to work with. Variety is the spice of life? No!”  

The strength of Trailer Happiness, and what sets it apart from other rum bars, is its menu. Brodrick sees it as “a combination of classic trailer originals and great big fun Tiki drinks”. The menu evolves regularly as the team is “always working on new concoctions; we change the menu as soon as we have a new set of great and refreshing drinks to go out”. We agree with Brodrick when he also asserts that the atmosphere of the place is also one of its great assets. “We have a very relaxed style of service, so you get great drinks in a friendly and fun environment. The drinks are meant to be fun and this helps people to relax and let their hair down”, he explains.  

Tiki bars are clearly becoming a worldwide trend with the resurgence in popularity of tropical, rum-based cocktails, and, as Brodrick puts it, “it has been a hard journey. I believe now they are becoming very cool to have and show in your bar. Rum is on the up and what a better way to introduce people to rum than through a great Tiki drink that takes them away on holiday again?” We couldn’t agree more, but what is his advice to newcomers not yet initiated in the delicious craftsmanship of a Tiki cocktail? “Choose your poison carefully or just go mad and taste a bit of each!”  

Most importantly, Brodrick believes, is the power of the bartender to create an experience for the customer. He explains that, “love should come from the heart, so feel the drink! Don’t let the recipe be the law; sometimes you need to let the drink guide you. I know it sounds like something out of an Indiana Jones movie, but it works!” If you are ever in the neighborhood in your favorite aloha shirt, just walk down the stairs of 177 Portobello Road, order one of these big, impressive drinks in the fancy ceramic vessels, lay back and see for yourself. Mahalo!