About Us
Wild West Group was founded by Louis Lewis-Smith in 2015 with the opening of The Dark Horse bar in Bath. The following year The Dark Horse was shortlisted amongst the ‘top 4 best cocktail bars in the world’, and in 2017 received a ‘top 10 bars in Europe’ nomination. This success was followed by the opening of Crying Wolf bar in Bristol, and they now set their sights on further expansion.
With the ranks now bolstered by brothers Alex and Angus Winchester, Wild West Group’s mission is to establish itself as a leading force in UK bar and restaurant operations and consultancy, whilst championing the best of West Country produce and products.
Louis Lewis-Smith
Founder & Creative Director
Starting his career in hospitality in Bristol in the late ’90s, Louis rose quickly through the ranks into bar management in his late teens, before branching out into events and consultancy in London in the early 2000s. After a stint bartending at the prestigious Milk & Honey, Louis was headhunted to help launch and grow Hendrick’s Gin as their UK Ambassador; a role that would see him awarded Class Magazine’s ‘Ambassador of The Year’ award in 2009. Promotion then took Louis into an international role, launching the then US-based lifestyle and rum brand ‘Sailor Jerry’ in 35 countries across the globe.
Whether it’s hosting beach parties in Hawaii, DJing Mexican radio stations, or playing banjo for Massive Attack, Louis has always lived life in the fast lane. He now turns his fastidious attention to detail and flair for innovation towards the creative elements of Wild West Group, overseeing bar design, branding, and the much-loved playlists at The Dark Horse and Crying Wolf.
Alex Winchester
Managing Director
Alex’s 30-year career in hospitality started with Hilton Hotels in Hong Kong and has since included working with the most prestigious operators in London and beyond. From the heyday of Planet Hollywood to several of Oliver Peyton’s operations, he went on to open Will Ricker’s widely acclaimed pan-Asian restaurant, E&O, as general manager.
Alex has since gone from strength to strength taking on wider strategic and operational roles as well as his own consultancy business, sharing his skills and passion in the world of hospitality working on start-ups, turn arounds and conceptual corporate hospitality projects.
Alex brings his innate sense of hospitality to his coaching and consulting projects, and when not helping others to wine and dine enjoys both himself as well as spending time with his family and various sporting activities. His considerable skills and expertise now serve to oversee Wild West Group’s operations as Managing Director.
Angus Winchester
Director of Drinks & People
Angus Winchester’s contacts and knowledge have been built up in over 33 years of interaction with the best bars and bartenders in the world. As founder member of one of the first global bar consultancies, and now running Alconomics Asia based in Hong Kong, Angus has provided on-premise consultancy, profit enhancement advice and training to trend setting outlets from Washington D.C. to Hong Kong, including Salvatore at Fifty and Trailer Happiness in London, Mandarin Oriental Hotels in Hong Kong, Hainan and Bangkok, the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach, Nimb Hotel in Copenhagen, MGM Resorts in Las Vegas and Intercontinental Hotels globally.
Angus’ phenomenal grasp of the heart and the heritage of spirits and cocktails is respected by bartending gurus and media around the world. He appears regularly in the pages of consumer and trade magazines as well as being quoted in many books to comment on drinks industry trends both current and future.
Like Louis and Alex, Angus has an acute eye for detail. As Director of Drinks and People, he looks over all elements of our beverage programs and provides world-class training, mentorship and education of our teams.
Contact us on alex@wildwestgroup.co.uk
