LONDON – The SCAE UK Chapter is thrilled to announce the merging of the regional UKBC heats in the run up to the UKBC finals, which will be held, as last year, at The London Coffee Festival (03rd – 06th April), to form one week-long ‘super heat’. It was thought that in previous years the regional heats have been diluted by competitors travelling from all over the country to compete, thus diminishing the prestige of the regional heat winners.
By bringing the heats together, we can steer competitors to the correct heats based on their current places of work, and thus bring prestige back to the title of regional heat winner in the UKBC. In addition, it is felt a a joint event will be more efficiently organised with significantly greater scope to be able to generate a real buzz around more of a festival feel.
An added advantage of a lengthier, grouped format is that it will allow a range of extra curricular activities to be organised around the schedule of competitions; from talks and seminars, from leading figures within the coffee industry, to cuppings and inspiring barista events and competitions.
In essence, an opportunity for all involved to prepare, network, learn and generally get into the spirit of the competitions in the run up to the UKBC finals – an equally fun, coffee conference event for both competitors and those wishing to spectate.
We’ve managed to secure a fantastic venue for the ‘super heat’ at Birmingham’s Millenium Point, just ten minutes walk from Birmingham Moor Street station.
Not only is the location central and easy to get to, it has great parking facilities and fabulous, modern practice and competition spaces. Almost more importantly though is the fact that they’re really keen to have us meaning they’re being highly accommodating of our requirements and happy for us to make use of their state of the art sound and vision facilities. Dates for the ‘super heat’ are 9th – 14th February.
Managing Director of Sanremo – the Machine Sponsor for the UKBC 2009-2014 – Andrew Tucker said “After all the recent uncertainty surrounding the SCAE and UKBC arrangements, it is great to see a new committee forming and particularly, to see them come up with a bold new format for the regional events.
We think this will be a great week, and think a competition that is likely to attract more competitors than the UKBC has ever seen before”.
Sanremo have a number of their Verona machines available for practice at the following locations – please contact the hosts directly to book a time slot:
- Sanremo UK, Buckfastleigh Devon
- Sanremo UK, Watford
- Coffee West, Hayle Cornwall
- Extract Coffee, Bristol
- Union Hand Roasted, London
- Prufrock, London
- Has Bean Coffee, Stafford
- Roasted, Brighton
- Casa Espresso, Shipley Yorkshire
- Pumphreys, Newcastle
- Heavenly Coffee, Dinnington Yorkshire
- Arden Coffee, Derbyshire
- Rombouts Coffee GB, Berkshire
- Kimbo, London
As it was such a success last year, registration for 2014 UK Barista Championship competitors will be managed online once again and will be opening imminently. Registration will be free for all SCAE members or £75 for those without but will also include annual membership.
Further announcements to be released ASAP.
National committee now in place
The SCAE UK National committee is now in place as follows:
- National Coordinator: Steve Leighton
- Membership Coordinator. Jonathan Wadham
- Education Coordinators: Tim Sturk and Ben Townsend
- Events Coordinator: Denise Hall
- Communication Coordinator: Chloe Callow
Source: SCAE UK
