Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Peter Dorelli has worked in UK hospitality for 65 years, having moved from Rome in the 1950's when he was 18. He is best known as the sixth head bartender of the American Bar at the Savoy (arguably the top bar job in the world) where he worked for over two decades. Despite his 'retirement' in 2003, Peter is still a regular feature on the London and international bar scene, serving as a judge for World Class and often seen at parties with his partner in crime, Salvatore Calabrese (who has also been on the show).
On the episode Peter shares stories from his early years as an illegal immigrant in the UK, which include drinking competitions with Scottish trawler men, how a surprise fire burnt down the hotel he was working at in Leamington, and what it was like working under the legendary Joe Gilmore at the Savoy. We also get into a bit of a debate about whether bartenders should taste drinks before serving them. It was a great pleasure to interview Peter and I'm grateful to him for lending his time to the show.
If you like these conversations, please consider subscribing, liking it, and sharing with other people who will like it too. This genuinely helps grow and support the show, and will allow me to continue recording conversations with people like Peter.
00:00 The Last of the Dinosaurs - How Has Bartending Changed? The Cycle of Classic Cocktails, Creating Stories
07:45 Has Bartending Lost Some of its Romance? Ambition and Pace of Younger Bartenders, Knowledgee Acquisition
14:20 Peter’s Early Career - Arriving in UK, Pendower Hotel, Becoming a bartender
27:00 Becoming a Fugitive, Challenging a Scottish Trawler Man to a Drinking Competition*
40:35 Burnt Down Hotels in Leamington & Becoming a Butler, Going Legal
53:00 Stones Restaurant, Pebbles Bar: Roger Moore, Alec Guinness
1:02:55 The American Bar & Joe Gilmore: Art of Hospitality, Becoming a Master
1:15:50 The American Bar in the 1980’s: Team, Operations, Cocktails, Savoy Cocktail Book, Harry Craddock & Ada Coleman, Being a Custodian, Peter’s Style
1:34:30 DEBATE: Is it Necessary to Taste Every Drink Before Serving?
1:47:40 The UKBG: Founding and Function
1:51:20 Cocktail Competitions, Ego, Lessons Learned: Shoes
2:00:00 Retiring & Closure of the Savoy (2004 - 2010), American Bar Stories, Death
📷 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/tristanstephenson
📚 I've written quite a few books on spirits and cocktails - thecuriousbartender.com
Peter Dorelli has worked in UK hospitality for 65 years, having moved from Rome in the 1950's when he was 18. He is best known as the sixth head bartender of the American Bar at the Savoy (arguably the top bar job in the world) where he worked for over two decades. Despite his 'retirement' in 2003, Peter is still a regular feature on the London and international bar scene, serving as a judge for World Class and often seen at parties with his partner in crime, Salvatore Calabrese (who has also been on the show).
On the episode Peter shares stories from his early years as an illegal immigrant in the UK, which include drinking competitions with Scottish trawler men, how a surprise fire burnt down the hotel he was working at in Leamington, and what it was like working under the legendary Joe Gilmore at the Savoy. We also get into a bit of a debate about whether bartenders should taste drinks before serving them. It was a great pleasure to interview Peter and I'm grateful to him for lending his time to the show.
If you like these conversations, please consider subscribing, liking it, and sharing with other people who will like it too. This genuinely helps grow and support the show, and will allow me to continue recording conversations with people like Peter.
00:00 The Last of the Dinosaurs - How Has Bartending Changed? The Cycle of Classic Cocktails, Creating Stories
07:45 Has Bartending Lost Some of its Romance? Ambition and Pace of Younger Bartenders, Knowledgee Acquisition
14:20 Peter’s Early Career - Arriving in UK, Pendower Hotel, Becoming a bartender
27:00 Becoming a Fugitive, Challenging a Scottish Trawler Man to a Drinking Competition*
40:35 Burnt Down Hotels in Leamington & Becoming a Butler, Going Legal
53:00 Stones Restaurant, Pebbles Bar: Roger Moore, Alec Guinness
1:02:55 The American Bar & Joe Gilmore: Art of Hospitality, Becoming a Master
1:15:50 The American Bar in the 1980’s: Team, Operations, Cocktails, Savoy Cocktail Book, Harry Craddock & Ada Coleman, Being a Custodian, Peter’s Style
1:34:30 DEBATE: Is it Necessary to Taste Every Drink Before Serving?
1:47:40 The UKBG: Founding and Function
1:51:20 Cocktail Competitions, Ego, Lessons Learned: Shoes
2:00:00 Retiring & Closure of the Savoy (2004 - 2010), American Bar Stories, Death
📷 Follow me on Instagram - instagram.com/tristanstephenson
📚 I've written quite a few books on spirits and cocktails - thecuriousbartender.com
