Sheepfolds Stables announces cocktail entrepreneurs joining their line up

Cocktail fans in Sunderland will be raising a glass, as Sheepfolds Stables announces that a contemporary cocktail operator will join its diverse line-up.

Founded by life-long best friends Daniel Lemon and Ashton Williamson, who were both born in Sunderland, Yem aims to be the region’s best cocktail bar offering a unique concept that merges the classical and contemporary, the international and the local. The venue will deliver high-end cocktails with a North East spirit, but inspired by world-famous cocktail bars.

Ashton, who embarked on his cocktail-making career at Revolution, where he climbed the ranks to Head of Brand and Training, said: “While working in and managing some of the best bars in London, Edinburgh and abroad, we always asked ourselves ‘why can’t we have this back yem?’. We were always incredibly keen to return to our roots and bring something new and unique to our hometown.”

Ashton has managed international cocktail venues in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, including the world-famous Portobello Star Cocktail Bar in Notting Hill and Dandelyan in London, which was named World’s Best Bar in 2018 during Ashton’s tenure.

The pair are working together to create their new flagship cocktail venue in the Grade II listed venue – located in Riverside Sunderland - which is currently being transformed by Sunderland headquartered architecture and engineering practice Building Design Northern (BDN).

Daniel said: “Our vision is to create a modern, forward-thinking, high-quality destination that can truly put Sunderland on the map as a city of culture, cuisine and now drinks. Yem will be a grand, beautiful venue, with a touch of class and a welcoming feel. We want all of our customers to feel at Yem.”

Yem will serve a range of classic and original drinks using local inspiration and ingredients and has plans to partner with another Sheepfolds tenant, Speyside Distillers, to create a unique whisky and gin experience for customers. The venue will also host cocktail masterclasses and tasting events.

He said: “Jetchill has been at the forefront of innovation in the leisure trade for 10 years, with our Jetchill system and our new Flavour Blaster, created and shipped from our base in Sunderland. We are really excited to collaborate with Yem to deliver our award-winning drinks systems to their cocktail concepts at Sheepfolds Stables.

“It is an incredibly exciting time for Sunderland, and as a local business, it is great to see the positive seismic changes that are taking place in the city. With Flavour Blaster now selling over 40,000 units in 143 countries around the world, we look forward to working with Yem to raise the bar for drinks in the North East.”

Yem is expected to create new full-time and part-time job opportunities for the area when it opens, and is looking to employ local people and provide long-term training and development in bar tendering, service and management.

The cocktail creatives will complement the diverse line-up of food, drink and leisure operators moving into the vibrant leisure venue, including Hairy Bikers star Si King, Speyside Distillers, The Calabash Tree and Southpaw Dance Company.

Rochelle Richardson, a director at Building Design Northern which has an office in Ulverston as well as Sunderland, said, “We have such a diverse range of ambitious business owners and entrepreneurs on board at Sheepfolds Stables, all with a passion to bring something really special to Sunderland.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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