About us
Here for life's best moments
Founded in Christchurch, The Cocktail People have one sole purpose: to create memorable experiences and to help celebrate life's great moments with you.
We offer high quality, handcrafted classic and contemporary cocktails for your next event, not to mention our signature Berry Bramble (deliciously fruity)!
Our passion for celebrating life and creating wonderful, memorable experiences shines through in our delectable drinks.
Our director and founder Edward has a creative background in hospitality, and can rock a cocktail shaker into the early hours (he has the endurance of a builder!).
When you hire The Cocktail People, you can expect:
We offer high quality, handcrafted classic and contemporary cocktails for your next event, not to mention our signature Berry Bramble (deliciously fruity)!
Our passion for celebrating life and creating wonderful, memorable experiences shines through in our delectable drinks.
Our director and founder Edward has a creative background in hospitality, and can rock a cocktail shaker into the early hours (he has the endurance of a builder!).
When you hire The Cocktail People, you can expect:
Friendly and professional service
A selection of handcrafted cocktails
Included glassware for your guests
Meet our team
Edward Martin
Founder & Director
Ed is the operational heartbeat of The Cocktail People. He plans and delivers every function with the kind of precision you only get from someone who’s genuinely obsessed with great service. From logistics to layout to the final pour, he’s across it all – and more often than not, he’s the one customers spot behind the bar shaking a drink like he was born doing it. His margaritas are famous, and his calm, can-do approach sets the tone for every event we run. Ed’s the guy who turns client ideas into seamless experiences and keeps the whole team moving in the right direction.
Holly Baxter
Founder & Director
Holly is the strategic mind and organisational backbone behind the business. While Ed is out front running the show, Holly is behind the scenes making sure every system, booking, invoice, roster, and plan actually works. She steers the admin, the accounts, and the operations with a sharp focus on detail and a genuine passion for creating a business that delivers exceptional experiences. She’s the quiet force that keeps the wheels turning smoothly – the planner, the problem-solver, and the person ensuring The Cocktail People stays consistently sharp, organised, and ready for anything.
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Nikki Cairns
Event Manager
Nikki is the glue of the entire operation, managing everything from the first enquiry through to the moment the last glass is packed away. Nikki handles bookings, converts leads into confirmed events, creates menus and run sheets, and coordinates staff with military-level efficiency (but much better humour). She’s also hands-on at functions, making sure guests are looked after and the team is running like a well-oiled machine. Her mix of organisation, creativity, and people skills is a huge part of why our events feel effortless from the client side – even when they’re massive behind the scenes.
James Simpson
Duty Manager
James comes from the UK hospitality scene and now balances his medical studies with managing shifts for us. He steps in to run events, support the team, and keep everything moving in the right direction. He’s practical, steady, good with people, and happy to jump behind the bar when needed. James brings a relaxed, capable presence to the job, which makes him a reliable fit for any event.
Jordyn Lee
Senior Mixologist
Jordyn is a steady, reliable mixologist who handles busy events with a calm head. She’s confident behind the bar, knows the menu inside out, and delivers drinks consistently even when things get hectic. She works across a mix of functions - from small private bookings to high-volume nights - and is someone we can count on to keep things running smoothly. Jordyn’s quiet, no-drama approach makes her a solid presence on any event.
Gabrielle (Gabs) Rees
Senior Mixologist
Gabs is one of those rare crew members who can walk into any event, work out exactly what needs doing, and get stuck in straight away – all while smiling. She’s a talented mixologist, a big help on the catering side, and turns up to every function with genuine energy and enthusiasm. Working at almost every event we run, Gabs has become a familiar (and very friendly) face to both clients and staff. She’s quick behind the bar, great with detail, and somehow manages to keep standards high even on the busiest nights. She’s experienced, versatile, upbeat, and an essential part of the team.
Hailey Green
Marketing Manager
Hailey is the storytelling engine behind our brand. She creates the content that shows the world who we are – from photo and video snippets to grid layouts, reels, and scheduled posts – all designed to capture the energy and personality of The Cocktail People. Working alongside our partner Buzzy Social, she keeps our online presence sharp, cohesive, and always evolving. Hailey brings ideas, strategy, and creativity together to make sure our brand shows up consistently to the people who need to see us most. She’s the reason our socials look polished even when the team is knee-deep in cocktails and canapés.
Creating memorable events
Make your special occasion one to remember with our experienced mixologists.
We're passionate about people having a great time during their big moments in life: weddings, birthdays, engagement parties... you name it and we'll be there!
Your eventWe're passionate about people having a great time during their big moments in life: weddings, birthdays, engagement parties... you name it and we'll be there!
Our trusted partners
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Learn moreTestimonials
"We had the pleasure of working with The Cocktail People at multiple events hosted in our office. They were professional and above all friendly to work with. The waitstaff were professional, assisted with taking photos of our event and were a hit with our guests. We have no hesitation recommending them for your next event and will be using their services again in the future."
Eliot Sinclair
"The Cocktail People not only make superb cocktails but they make each and everyone of your guests feel special. They made beautiful cocktails at my wedding three years ago and my friends begged to get them back so we did it all again a few weeks ago and had such a wonderful time. If you want to make your event special with great service and a quality product these are the people to do it, thanks again for such great day."
Shelly Collins
"We had a 5 star experience with the cocktail people hosting my 40th. They sent a great professional lot of staff to Fairlie where we live with no hesitation. Their awesome service and attention to my guests was top notch. Not to mention amazing cocktails! Would definitely recommend to anyone no matter how intimate or large your event may be."