About us

Amanda Thomson

Managing Director

I don’t want a super-power, but a time-machine would be very handy. I’d have a pint with Boudicca, fearsome and fearless lady! And I reckon Meryl Streep would play me in a movie of my life – she can’t sing that well either…

Michael Harper

Head of Operations

My superpower would be to read minds, though this might be less a blessing and more a curse at times. I’d love to have a beer with Churchill as my inspirational figure, and if someone’s going to play me in a film about my life, well that has to be Nick Frost – no time in make-up for him!

Butler

Head of Meet & Greet

I’ve got cuteness as a super-power completely licked. If someone were to play me in a film of my life it would have to be Liam Neeson to channel my inner Irishness.

Debbie Watson

Sales Administrator

My superpower would have to be Super Nan as my grandchildren think I am their best mate and can do everything with them including climbing trees, playing sports and all the Barbie and Ken voices. The Bodyguard is my favourite film, I have always loved the story & of course Kevin Costner. However, my second favourite is Shrek so you can see I am not a connoisseur. I would like to go for a pint with Winston Churchill as back through time I admired the way he ran the country through the 2nd World War. Although I would rather have a nice glass of Bordeaux or Merlot with him.

Tula

Wellbeing Officer

Hi, I’m Tula a lively, energetic 1-year-old CavaPoo. Everyone is my friend, even the vet.
My superpower has to be persuasion as I can get any dog to part with a toy or treat as I’m so cute. It works on humans with biscuits too. If I had to choose a human to play me in a film it would have to be Kylie as she’s vivacious. If I had to choose a dog for this role it would be Fluffles from the Wallace & Gromit movie “A Matter of Loaf & Death”.”

Jackie Williamson

Office Administrator

If I could go for a pint with any historical figure, it would have to be George Best. We could talk about football and he was easy on the eye! My favourite film is the Knights Tale, all of my family love this film. Lastly, my superpower would be invisibility. I could be so nosey!

Louie

Head of Security

Hi, I am Louie, Head of Security in the Avani office.
I may be small but don’t be fooled as I can do some damage to any ankle that offends me!
My favourite things in the world are Tula, walks, balls, balls and more balls. Hates are the vets, groomers and being left at home.
If a human was to play me in a film, then it would have to be Danny DeVito as we are virtually the same size!

Becky Olbison

Team Administrator

My favourite drink and my dream drinking partner would be a G&T with Marilyn Monroe. It’s my drink of choice whenever I am in the pub.
The 3 dream dinner party guests would be Karen Carpenter, Lee Mack and Chris Pratt. Jennifer Aniston would play me in a movie of my life and if I could take anything with me to a desert island, it would be a picture of my children.

Matt Russell

Head of UK Sales

My super power would have to be enhanced intelligence and my favourite movie is Pulp Fiction, classic Tarantino. If I could have a drink with any deceased figure it would have to be Elvis as we could sing and drink for hours! Lastly, if I could take any item to a desert island it would have to be a hammock, for that perfect nights sleep.

Michelle Spratt

Accounts

If I could be any animal for a day, I would have to be a red panda, they are my favourite and they look so cute and cuddly! It also ties nicely into my dream of living in somewhere like Kenya and running a wildlife sanctuary looking after sick and injured animals. And my super power would have to be the ability to clean my house and garden with the click of my finger, who doesn’t want that!

Rob Parham

Senior Beer Quality Technician - South East

I’d want Jedi powers – and a beer with Carrie Fisher. If stranded on a desert island I’d like a power boat but that’s probably not playing the game, so a Swiss Army knife would be the next option. Who’d play me? Lee Mack.

Allan McKellar

Regional Operations Manager - Scotland

My favourite film is Top Gun. Great cinematography, great soundtrack & ‘The Cruise’ before he went weird. Have you watched Bear Grylls, The Island? I’d need a lighter – got to get that fire going. And to play me, I feel Simon Pegg would do a great job.

Chris Cowey

Beer Quality Technician - Scotland

I’d like absolute infallibility as a super-power, but that might make the “Desert Island Survival For Dummies” book a bit redundant. Best film ever, The Usual Suspects, with that cinematic middle finger of an ending. I think Jason Mamoa should play me, but he’d have to slim down a bit first.

Lewis Peacock

Beer Quality Technician - South, Home Counties & London

My superpower would be the ability fly – basically to avoid the M25 traffic. If I were deserted on a desert island, I’d want a good book to read, then I’d fly home using my superpower… My favourite film is most definitely Shawshank Redemption and if I could have a pint with anyone from the past, it would be Nikola Tesla.

Tom Griffiths

Beer Quality Technician - Scotland

James Cowley

Regional Operations Manager - Midlands

I know this is a popular one, but my superpower would be to fly, just to get to places fast. On a desert island I would take the one thing I need in life – a rugby ball. And I think Will Ferrell would play me in a movie, he’s funny but daft and he’s got a terrible curly top, so just like me then.

David Chandler

Regional Operations Manager - South West

Mark Trathen

Beer Quality Technician - Devon/Cornwall

If I was stuck on a desert island, I would like a fermentation kit so I could make rum, although I don’t know if that counts as one item! My favourite film is Spy Game, I just love it, the twists keep you fixated even after you have watched it a dozen times. And who would play me in a movie? It would have to be Mark Ruffalo.

Tony Keen

Beer Quality Technician - South

Well, I am a Marvel nut so I would have to have a pint with Stan Lee! Give me a machete if I was ever marooned on a desert island. I would like to be able to fashion some tools and live comfortably. If I could have any super power it would definitely be invisibility as it would be perfect for playing pranks!

Dan Turner

Beer Quality Technician - Midlands

My favourite film is “Gladiator” why… because Maximus is an absolute machine! I would probably go for a pint with Churchill as I’m sure he would have a good story or two and Dolph Lundren would play me in a movie, he’s big and blonde but not quite as good looking as me. Lastly, if I was stranded on a desert island my item would have to be a volleyball called Wilson.

Sean Betts

Senior Beer Quality Technician - Wales

My superpower would be like the character, Magneto. The ability to control metals! I think that would be a pretty awesome superpower to have.Favourite movie(s) would be Lord of the Rings. 11 Oscars for Fellowship of the Ring alone. Enough said! If I was unfortunate enough to be stranded on a desert island, I’d want a water purification kit to hand! If I could have a pint with any historical figure, it would probably be J.R.R Tolkien. With an imagination like his, I bet he’d have some amazing stories to tell!

Lewis Snowling

Regional Operations Manager - London

If I was stranded on a desert island I would take a huge bottle of rum so I could make pina coladas with all the coconuts on the island. My favourite film is Human Traffic because it reminds me of all the music I grew up with and the rave scene I missed out on. Kurt Cobain would be someone I would love to have a drink with and hopefully we will end the night rocking out! Lastly, Ryan Gosling would play me in a film as I am regularly told I look like him.

Danny Wroe

Beer Quality Technician - North

If I had a superpower, mine would be the classic ability to fly. I could then go where ever I wanted whenever I wanted! I would take an axe with me onto a desert island as it’s amazing what you can achieve with one. Chef is my favourite film, partly because it’s a feel good film and the soundtrack is amazing. Lastly, Johnny Depp would play me in a film as we look quite similar.

Vincenzo Leone

Beer Quality Technician - London

If I had a superpower I’d love to be able to instantly teleport from one place to another! My favourite movie is Cocktail with Tom Cruise. I’ve spent half my life behind the bar mixing, shaking, and creating things, and my dream is to open a bar in Jamaica.  If I were stuck on a desert island I’d take a freezer load of ice creams and chocolate. I would love to go for a beer with Vincent Van Gogh, and I’d want Johnny Depp to play me in a movie.

Adam Culley

Regional Operations Manager - East Anglia

If I could have any drink with anyone, I would have a pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord with T.E Lawrence and listen fascinated to stories of his war exploits and genius. This leads me perfectly onto my favourite movie quote of all time: William Potter: “Ooh, it damn well hurts” burning his finger on a match.
T.E. Lawrence: “Certainly it hurts”
William Potter: “What’s the trick then?”
T.E. Lawrence: “The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts”
Finally, Jason Statham would play me in my biopic, because we share the same hairstylist, when I wish we shared the same physique.

Justin Henson

Beer Quality Technician - East Anglia

I have over 30 years’ experience working in the beer industry; however, I would love to go for a martini with James Bond rather than a pint, then of course a spin in his Aston Martin! I would have to take my dog Marlie a Shar Pei with me to a desert island, the perfect company, although the children might complain. And my favourite movie quote is Samuel L Jackson from Pulp Fiction:
“Hamburgers, the cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast” well he’s not wrong is he!

Nathan Taylor

Beer Quality Technician - Essex and Cambridgeshire

My dream dinner guests would be Dave Mira, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, I think it would be an incredible evening. It also leads nicely into my hobbies of MTB, BMX and the world of modified cars.
If I could have a superpower, I would want the ability of flight. I can then fly to enjoy my favourite alcoholic drink Aspall cider, it’s perfect for a warm sunny day.

Hardik Panchal

Beer Quality Technician - London

If I could be an animal for 24 hours, I would like to be a lion. I could have all the power strategies and tactics to get everything under control. This would be extremely helpful!
My superpower would be to have the ability to make everyone happy around the globe. Whisky is my favourite drink; I love all types of whisky and my ideal drinking partners would be the entire Avani team.

Brad Homans

Beer Quality Technician - East Midlands

I am a big lover of golf, if I’m not working I will probably be out on the golf course or as much as I can anyway. I would love to have a drink with Tiger Woods, just to hear some of his golf stories, get some tips and hopefully he will pay as well! My favourite film series is Star Wars, I’m a bit of a nerd at heart and I think having a lightsaber would help me if I was stranded on a desert island.
I would like to think someone like Brad Pitt could play me in a movie, but maybe he is a bit too cool for that. I would love the ability to teleport if I had a superpower as I’m a huge lover of travelling and I would love to see more of the world!

Sean Coutain

Beer Quality Technician- Wales

My three dream dinner guests would be: Bob Marley, Denzel Washington and Robert De Niro. Which leads me nicely onto the point that Denzel Washington would play me in a movie of my life as he is adaptable, wise and humble. If I were an animal, I would like to be an eagle so I can spread my wings wide and glide. And see the world from a different perspective. Lastly, my Super power would be Flash so I can move faster than light and not waste any time.

Mat Maginn

Beer Quality Technician - East Anglia

My ideal superpower would be pausing time, and granting extra beach days on my holidays. My favourite film is ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ which represents storytelling excellence over CGI. If stranded on a desert island I’d want a Swiss Army Knife for maximum versatility. I’d love to go for a pint with Christopher Columbus – it would be intriguing. Ricky Gervais could play me in a movie about my life.

Damian Langley

Beer Quality Technician - Midlands/Leeds

If I could have one superpower I’d choose super speed to escape traffic and always arrive swiftly. Predator is one of my favourite films and stands out as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s finest and Arnie is my favorite action hero. If marooned on a desert island I’d want a Leatherman multi-tool for pure practicality. If I could have a beer with anyone I’d pick Winston Churchill. The stories he could tell! Luke Evans could play me in a movie. He’s Welsh and from my hometown of Pontypool.

Scott Morley

Beer Quality Technician - Scotland

My chosen superpower would be mind control. I could get the kids to tidy up their rooms for once! I loved ‘Batman: The Dark Knight’ and thought Heath Ledger’s performance was epic. I’d want my iPhone on a desert island. Essential for music, games, and potentially calls for help! As a Man Utd fan, I wish I could have gone for a pint with Bobby Charlton, and James McAvoy could play me in a movie. He’s such a versatile actor and he particularly impressed me in ‘Split,’ and he’s Scottish, too!

Jack Cutmore

Beer Quality Technician & Technical Administrator - East Anglia

My dream superpower would be altering my vision to any point in the past and enjoying time travel intrigue without the classic risks. Stranded on a desert island, I’d opt for a full bookshelf for leisurely beach reading, and a drink with Oscar Wilde intrigues me. I expect he would have some sensational put-downs! My top movie is ‘The Cat and the Canary,’ a childhood scare turned Halloween staple. For a film about my life, I’d cast Clive Owen.

Ella Hawes

Beer Quality Technician - London

If granted a superpower, I’d choose to control the weather so that I could make it sunny every day and snow every Christmas. My favourite film is “A Few Good Men,” It’s intense and has the best lines, particularly Jack Nicholson’s. On a desert island, my must-have item would be my Throne of Glass book collection, offering uninterrupted reading on a sunny beach. I’d go for a pint with Cleopatra, a very important powerful female figure in history. In a movie about my life, Jennifer Lawrence could play me. She’s funny, quirky, random, and Oscar-winning!

Glen Olsen

Beer Quality Technician - North East

Johnny Ruberti

Beer Quality Technician - London

If I could have any superpower, it would be teleportation to avoid traffic and spend more time with friends and family. I love fantasy movies, especially the “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” series. If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d want my dog with me for companionship and for a dream conversation over a drink, I’d choose Leonardo da Vinci – his creativity and inventions fascinate me.

Kieran Fazackerley

Beer Quality Technician - North West

If I could choose any superpower, it would be teleportation—imagine the convenience of instantly traveling anywhere. As an avid golfer, I’d love to have a pint with John Daly; he seems like a character with some top stories. My favorite film is “Django Unchained.” I love its great story, memorable characters, and Tarantino’s brilliant direction.