The World According To Dan Bovey

The World According To Dan Bovey

The general manager of Sahara in Reading talks to Kate Pass about flesh tunnels, tequila and very large dogs

Dans' CV

2004 Moved to Reading and started bartending at Revolution.
2006 Started at Sahara and left Thames Valley University with a HND in Graphic Design.
2010 Became GM at Sahara.
2011 UK finalist for Bacardi Legacy and Chartreuse (both for the second year). Won Chambord Rendezvous and Bacardi Oakheart competitions.

‘I used to have a lot of piercings, to the point that I should have been setting off airport security. Not any more though. Now I have flesh tunnels in my ears and that’s it. I reckon less is more
these days.’

‘I just got back from a trip away with Chambord, which was incredible. We had lunch at Buddha-Bar in Paris and were picked-up by four classic 2CVs. It was an amazing, sunny day and we took a tour of all the sites in a surreal little convoy.I don’t think there can be a better way to see the city.’

‘I love cycling. I’d never do the Land’s End to John O’Groats kind of thing though. For me, an endurance cycle is a two-hour ride, with a pub at the end.’

‘I married my wife in a beautiful old castle – a really lovely, traditional wedding. Afterwards everyone dressed down and we went out to a Mexican restaurant to celebrate with beer and tequila – which wasn’t so traditional.’

‘My wife Ash is a very strict vegetarian, so I am too, for the most part. Every now and then, though, I get a craving for a massive slab of meat. I’m dying to go to Hawksmoor, but I don’t think she’d really fancy much on the menu…’

‘Tattoos are a real passion of mine. I’ve always been into art, so I design my own. My most recent is a full chest piece, it took four long sessions to complete and was horribly painful – like being stabbed repeatedly. I figure it’s worth it, though. I mean, once the tattoo’s done you’ve got it for life.’

‘My favourite film is definitely Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. I could watch it all day, every day – it’s just so brilliantly quotable! Generally, any film with Will Ferrell in is fine by me.’

‘I’d love to have a really big, ridiculous dog like a St Bernard, but it just wouldn’t be practical right now. Maybe when I have my own bar though… There’s nothing better than a pub dog.’

‘My best mate is known as Naked Dave. It may have something to do with a photo of him with my wife’s father at our wedding reception...’

‘Long before all of the anti-binge drinking laws kicked in, I worked in a bar where on Friday and Saturday nights a £10 door fee entitled you to as many drinks as you could handle – or not handle as the case may be. Cheap beer, cheap spirits and a lot of really unpleasant people. On the upside, after-work drinks were unlimited…’

Editorial feature from Imbibe Magazine – January/February 2012