Will Centro be able to maintain its quality service and drinks with Bruce gone? He is so aware of everything that's happening - mixing cocktails, greeting regulars and important guests, trouble shooting problems - regardless of how busy the place is. He leaves big shoes to fill.

what about the toilet soap ?

Wow, this really changes everything for me.

I vote Admin as the best Adder in Beijing........ all the best for you new arrival!

From what I heard Jet Li is going to take his place -

but seriously - from what I understand and I cannot substantiate the facts - he’s paid something like 80,000 per month and I can't imagine that, one, that's true and if it is what will Aria be paying him - I mean good for him and all but come on now, how much is a good, ok great bartender worth?

I guess 80 grand is it ... maybe he should ask for 150 per month
If it gets them a million ++ dollar a year business then… but then why not hire an agent a open your own line of bars clubs, tee shirts, supermarket beverages, make a deal with coke or Pepsi !!!

Those of you who has been around for long enough and sad enough to hang out at places like Centro and Aria (I used to be) will know that Bruce worked in Aria before going to Centro. The people who run these hotels (yes Shangri-la, and I think the Gov partly for China World) are not stupid and have done the maths. I'm guessing that business in Aria dropped so much after Bruce left (hence the free food) that it's worth re-employing him at a high salary.

In other words, a good barman is worth a lot. Well done Bruce. Are his cocktails really that good? Well, it's probably his impeccable manner (rare in bar staff in China) which is his biggest selling points. It's all about PR. Let's face it, after 3 cocktails nobody cares what they taste like.