Wildhive

Meet the team: Micky

Micky is the Bar Manager at Wildhive, he lives locally with his wife Heather and has a lifelong passion with Spain. He loves to experiment with ingredients and has created an innovative list of cocktails and mocktails which change with the seasons and just have to be sampled! The signature Wildhive Bees Knees is a favourite. When Micky is not busy mixing drinks for guests, he is exploring new restaurants and enjoying the beautiful landscape of Dovedale.

Behind the bar

How did you become interested in mixology and wine, and what led you to pursue a career in bartending?

As a child I loved to visit vineyards and wineries in Spain.

Every spring, my wife Heather and I, make locally foraged elderflower wine. It’s a traditional English wine people have made for a very long time, collecting the flowers from the native blossoming trees which encourage wildlife, have a lovely, earthy fragrance and are also known to be medicinal.

It’s always been a dream of mine to grow and make wine. So the chance to achieve my WSET Level 3 Certificate was amazing. Today, the privilege to make and design cocktails that people enjoy here at Wildhive is a wonderful part of my job.

Are there any trends or developments in the drinks industry that you find particularly exciting or influential?

In recent years, English sparkling wine has come into its own, establishing itself as a serious contender on the global stage. With our cool climate, chalky soil and skilled wine makers, England has proven itself to be a prime location for producing high quality sparkling wine that rivals those from Champagne. We have a great future for the best quality sparkling wine.

Wildhive has created some great partnerships – locally; White Peak Distillery and craft breweries and further afield, Everflyht Winery. A favourite part of my job is working with our suppliers and producers and keeping an eye out for new drinks that our guests will enjoy.

Do you have a favourite 'secret ingredient' that you love to add to your cocktails?

Please ask me when you are next visiting! ? The first cocktail I developed for Wildhive was the Woodland Martini, to create this I needed to develop the woodland bitters from scratch.

Can you share any tips or advice for aspiring bartenders?

Practice at home or with your friends - your friends will love to help you refine your cocktail recipes!

If you could have a drink with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Steve Irwin - because of his passion for conservation and I'd ask him what he was most proud of from his extraordinary life's work.

"Micky has demonstrated a passion of working behind the Bar since the opening of Callow Hall. Micky first started as a bartender and quickly moved up to Bar Manager through his desire of wanting to learn more. Since joining the Wildhive family, Micky is always looking at new ideas to keep the drinks offering fresh and exciting. He has recently completely his WSET Level 3 and shares his love for wine & food every day. We are very excited to see what the future holds for Micky."
Jeremy Whitworth, General Manager

What do you hope guests take away from their experience at the hotel bar?

I hope they feel welcome to sit in the beautiful environment of Wildhive, relax with a wonderful drink, enjoy the complimentary bar snacks, have a friendly chat with the bar team and feel free to ask for their favourite cocktail, even if it’s not on the drinks list.

What’s your favourite aspect about Wildhive?

It’s a beautiful location with great opportunities to find the best local and national products, and getting the opportunity to work with suppliers like Everflyht to visit their vineyard and help with harvesting is inspiring. Also visiting breweries and distilleries, such as White Peak Distillery - it's great to forge these partnerships with like minded businesses.

Dovedale in Winter

What’s your favourite place in the Peaks?

Heather and I are fortunate to live inside the Peak District and our house is right next to Dovedale and the Stepping Stones (picture above). It’s a beautiful spot whatever the season.

How do you relax in your leisure time?

I’m a foodie, so in my time off, I look out for interesting restaurants, street food and local food producers. I also enjoy swimming in a local swimming pool that is fed by a thermal spring.

What would you like to be doing in 5 years from now?

I would absolutely love to run or own a vineyard.