Grosvenor House celebrated the end of an era this week as its veteran head barman, Joe Creighton, finally hung up his cocktail shaker after 42 years’ service. Scores of associates and guests packed the hotel’s Red Bar to bid a fond farewell to Creighton who was a popular member of the Grosvenor House team.

Creighton joined Grosvenor House aged 19, intending to leave after a few months to work on the cruise ships. Instead he built one of the most solid teams in the industry - of his staff of five, two were together for 23 years, and four for 11 years.

Over the years Creighton has seen his fair share of the great and the good. Overseeing the Red Bar he would serve countless celebrities attending the numerous glitzy events that take place in the hotel’s Great Room. From Bono and Kylie to Sean Connery and Mick Jagger, Creighton was rarely phased though admits he failed to recognise some of the younger celebrity faces!

One of Creighton’s strengths was the rapport he built up with regular guests, whether they came in weekly, monthly or annually on trips to London. Latterly he kept the Red Bar atmosphere alive during its refurbishment, part of the £100 million restoration of the entire hotel.

Acknowledging his popularity amongst fellow associates and loyalty to Grosvenor House, General Manager Anthony Stewart-Moore commented, “Few London hotels can boast the loyalty and long service that we have at Grosvenor House. Fewer still can claim such a character as Joe Creighton. Those who have had the privilege of working with Joe will know what an important part he played. He had an extraordinary ability to remember guests who returned to the hotel years apart and without exception they all fell for his good humour and Irish charm. He will be greatly missed, but he has left us with an incredible legacy that I know his colleagues will strive to continue.”

Stewart-Moore presented Creighton with an engraved silver cocktail shaker, a cheque and a bottle of Dom Perignon Rosé 1992 in recognition of his extraordinary career.