PR and marketing agency, EAST VILLAGE., is getting into the spirit of summer after a number of client wins across the drinks industry and an award win.
The agency has been appointed by one of the world’s most respected Scottish independent distilleries, Ian Macleod Distillers, to generate media coverage for its brands across the Midlands. Through media engagement and a series of public and trade events, the Birmingham-based agency will represent brands including Edinburgh Gin, Glengoyne, Smokehead and Tamdhu in England.
The team of communications professionals will work alongside Claire Sumner-Hughes, Regional Sales Manager (England Midlands) for Ian Macleod Distillers:
“EAST VILLAGE. are a passionate and honest company. They really listen and understand your business, its values and what you are wanting to achieve. We are delighted to be working with such a high energy team for our focus on the Midlands region. And look forward to building a successful partnership.”
EAST VILLAGE., an agency that prides itself on delivering ‘PR with personality’, has also been retained for the second year to deliver PR for Birmingham Cocktail Weekend, which takes place 14-16 June. Celebrating its third year, Birmingham Cocktail Weekend’s growth continues and this year’s event sees 36 venues serving up signature cocktails to an estimated 3,000 people across three days. Last year, the event – which takes place across Birmingham city centre and introduces cocktail fans to a wide range of bars and restaurants – saw almost 20,000 drinks served across the weekend.
This year, Birmingham Cocktail Weekend welcomes a host of new venues including Gaucho and Tom’s Kitchen, which have recently opened in the city, and it sees headline sponsor, Parisian cognac specialist Courvoisier, run The Hub at Hotel du Vin. As part of the event, EAST VILLAGE. is also supporting on a unique ‘Gin Labs’ event, which is already sold out, and will see participants become a Gin Distiller with the support of Edinburgh Gin. They will make and bottle their very own 70cl one-off custom gin in a specially crafted baby still.
But EAST VILLAGE.’s expertise doesn’t just stop at gin and cocktails; the agency has also been appointed by Nickolls and Perks of Stourbridge to run the event management, PR and social media for Midlands Whisky Festival. Organised by one of the UK’s oldest wine and spirits merchants, the event takes place at thestudiobirmingham on 16 September and is set to see over 300 whiskies on offer from brands around the world.
Finally, this trio of client wins is joined by Primitivo Bar & Eatery, which is one of Birmingham’s most celebrated bars and restaurants. Ahead of its return to the city, following an extensive renovation in the heart of the city’s commercial district, Colmore Business District, Primitivo Bar & Eatery engaged EAST VILLAGE. to deliver its re-launch social media campaign.
Managing Director of EAST VILLAGE., Tara Tomes, comments:
“EAST VILLAGE.’s strength in the hospitality sector continues to grow and we absolutely love working with such fantastic clients. I’m delighted to welcome established names like Ian Macleod and Nickolls and Perks of Stourbridge to our client list, as well as be part of one of the most anticipated re-openings in the city for Primitivo Bar & Eatery. Working on Birmingham Cocktail Weekend for the second year is absolutely fantastic for us too; we’re passionate about the city and we certainly love cocktails (although always drink responsibily) so we’re ecstatic to be able to put small independents right through to big name brands together to showcase what Birmingham has to offer.
“As we look ahead towards the business’ fourth anniversary, later this year, I am just overwhelmed by the amount of amazing brands and businesses choosing to work with us. We’re passionate about each and every client, and hope that always shines through. We’re trying to ‘do PR’ differently; bringing together everything that clients need and delivering all that we do with our unique personality. Here’s to another busy summer at EV.HQ.”
These recent client wins join a host of other great F&B clients on the EAST VILLAGE. roster, including Malmaison Birmingham, Chung Ying Group, Itihaas Restaurant, and Cure Leukaemia charity event Glynn Purnell’s Friday Night Kitchen.
It also comes as the agency picked up the ‘Small Business of the Year’ award at the first annual West Midlands Awards.