Photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
(1) Red Stripe Managing Director Allan Barnes (left) jokes around with Dave DaCosta, head of the team that helped with the creation of Red Stripe Bold, which had its Kingston launch at Spanish Town Road on Friday, August 14. Meanwhile, Safia Cooper gets busy on her BlackBerry.
(2) Red Stripe Managing Director Allan Barnes (left) gives a keen ear to Garth Henriques, father of DJ Sean Paul.
(3) Teika Samuda (second right) jokes with Roberto Samuda (left), Ghana Hyatt and Red Stripe's Distribution and Logistics Manager Brian Pengelley.
Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
It has to be a sign of raining on the competition's parade, right? That's because the second time Red Stripe profiled its new Red Stripe Bold beer, it rained. But both times - the first, in Negril during Dream Weekend, and the second on Friday, August 14 for those who weren't able to head west. But rain did not stop the party.
The lawns of the Red Stripe headquarters on Spanish Town Road may have been soggy with the downpour but nobody was rushing to get home. The beer people simply moved the party inside the hospitality tent or over to the company's fun spot, Vibes. Either way, the Bold was flowing at both locations (along with the other favourites) and the mood was one of pure festivity.
The Red Stripe folks unwittingly made good on their promise to double the fun. Throw in a few thanks for the showers (really, the Corporate Area needed some) and the cloudbursts were just not going to dampen the festivities.
Positive vibes
Red Stripe's new managing director Allan Barnes got the positive vibes going earlier when he declared that Red Stripe was back. He said he was tired of hearing talk that Red Stripe was done, declaring in defiance that Red Stripe was big, proud and bold. He said he wanted to see new innovations every three or four months and said Red Stripe would be challenging the marketplace and the paradigm and breaking new ground. But after that it was party time, rain or no rain!
Guests out included: Dianne Ashton-Smith, Volker Habig, Wayne Lawrence, Courtney Walsh, Kamal Bankay, Darren Virtue, Shaffia Mendez, Anushca Haughton, Grace Spence, Debbie-Lee Baker and Sade Buckeridge.
daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com