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Liverpool bar entrepreneurs open their first venue in London

The two Liverpool bar stalwarts behind Graffiti Spirits Group have exported their tequila-based bar concept to London for the first time on the back of six successful venues on Merseyside.

Business partners John Ennis and Matt Farrell have opened their El Bandito brand at Victory Mansion on Stoke Newington High Street.

Dubbed El Bandito LDN, the new bar features around fifty tequilas and 25 different mezcals, figures which the pair say includes drinks not available anywhere else in the country.

The bar, which is styled like an illicit drinking den, also includes a menu of drinks and cocktails designed by their in-house team.

Ennis and Farrell, who run venues including El Bandito, Santa Chupitos and 81 in Liverpool, have spent the last seven years researching the tequila market, including trips to distilleries in Mexico to support the opening of their Mexican-inflected bars.

Ennis commented: “With our focus on rare and high-quality Tequilas and Mezcals, El Bandito aims to educate and inspire drinkers about these often-misunderstood spirits.

“Via our trips to Mexico, we’ve been able through developing great business relationships, help transfer an in-depth knowledge of specific drinks to our team and ultimately our guests.”