Mahiki swaps nightclubs for sports catering

Former London nightclub brand Mahiki has revealed it is leaning into event catering through partnerships with various social and sporting events after falling under new management. 

 

Mahiki was founded by Piers Adam, David Phelps and Nick House and opened its flagship “Tiki Paradise” club in London’s Mayfair in 2006.

 

It was frequented by celebrities such as Rihanna, Jay Z, Beyonce and the Royals throughout the noughties but closed its doors in 2021.

 

The Caterer understands the business is now moving away from clubs, with no plans to open any more as of yet.

 

It will instead focus its efforts on hosting pop-ups at “party central” events such as the British Grand Prix.

 

Mahiki is believed to be “in talks with” a range of international sporting events, where it will offer DJs, music, dance and drinks.

 

Its strengthened in-house drinks offering, available for the on and off trade, will play a significant part in the brand restructure.

 

The drinks include a new Mahiki white spiced rum, which has notes of Indonesian vanilla, cinnamon and clove, as well as a 28% abv Mahiki pineapple and coconut liqueur, which has been made with a blend of Caribbean rum.

 

The group is also planning to launch other spirits, such as vodka, as well as soft drinks, over the next 12 months.

 

Keith Goddard, group chief executive of Mahiki Group, said: “Our Mahiki group sales team has recently started talking to the trade about the products and they are getting a really strong and positive response, so we are very excited to start rolling out.”

 

He added: “We are evolving Mahiki 2.0 as a fully-fledged experiences business. Our immediate goals are to rekindle the positive feeling and goodwill that exists towards the Mahiki brand across the UK bar trade and start to build meaningful collaborations and partnerships with social and hospitality events, sports, venues and bar teams and mixologists. Our longer-term goals are to drive the brand internationally.”

 

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