Helping small traders Thrive: Strongman's Tipple

Thrive is an affordable work and makerspace in Surrey Quays that helps local start-ups and entrepreneurs set up and grow their businesses. Powered by business charity Tree Shepherd in partnership with British Land, Thrive supports a range of businesses from beauty and wellbeing services to media production and food and drinks.   

Ahead of Small Business Saturday on 3rd December, we’re celebrating some of the companies who have found success at Thrive. 

Tomas founded the business as a side hustle before moving in to Thrive three years ago

Fancy a cocktail? Maybe you should call Strongman’s Tipple, an innovative company masterminded by drinks experts Tomas and Lukas. The award-winning duo use their 20+ years of experience in the beverage industry to advise bars and restaurants and host a range of high-end cocktail events for luxury brands across the UK. They also produce their own line of pre-mixed bottled cocktails in their “lab” at Thrive in Canada Water.  

Tomas founded Strongman’s Tipple back in 2017, and discovered Thrive when searching for an affordable space in which to expand his operations. He moved in three years ago, teaming up with Lukas at the same time.  

Lukas works on pre-mixed cocktails at the duo’s “lab” at Thrive 

Tomas says: “Thrive has been an absolute godsend in helping my business to grow. We have use of a large space at the rear of the building (which used to be the beer cellar when the building was an operational restaurant), which gives us lots of room to store our products. We were recently able to upgrade our machines to ones which automate the production and bottling process, helping with our future expansion plans. 

“Covid was really hard for our business with events being cancelled and bars and restaurants closed, but the team at Tree Shepherd have been fantastic at providing professional advice and support throughout. It’s a wonderful incubator space for start-ups like ours, giving us a network we’d never have had access to otherwise. Without Thrive I don’t think we’d have survived, let alone grow like we have done.” 

Tomas and Lukas plan to find larger premises for the business next year, with a shopfront – ideally in south east London. “I live close by and am excited to see the regeneration of Canada Water,” he says. “If we can be a part of that eventually even better!” 

If you like to do your Christmas shopping local, one of their cocktail sets would make a Christmas gift with a personal touch.

For more information on Strongman’s Tipple, visit their website: www.strongmanstipple.com or follow them on Instagram.