Fire-breathing Ferdie named best bar manager

Yas Island Rotana Abu Dhabi bar manager, Ferdie Idris, has been named Bar Manager of the Year in the Caterer Middle East Awards 2011.

Judges commended Ferdie on his passion for the job and business mind.

“When he’s not breathing fire or juggling flaming bottles, this bar manager is most likely to have his head in the books, if his increase in annual profits is anything to go by,” they said.

When asked how he balanced being a fun bar manager with the business side, Idris commented: “You must go back to basics; you’re a bar man first and I really enjoy my work and I give a lot behind the bar. A smile is the number one requirement, make the customer feel happy and entertain. And of course we have to take care of our staff and doing that makes me happy.”

Two nominees for the Bar Manager of the year award were highly commended by judges: Stephen Cromie, lounge manager at At.mosphere Lounge, Burj Khalifa, and Jimmy Barrat, bar manager at Zuma, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).