Honestly I understand that attending bartending school is not essential to becoming a bartender. I have friends who are in the industry and had never taken classes, they just picked it up as they went along. I respect that because people put little thought into how difficult it actually is, and my friends had learned the craft through hard earned experience. I will tell you now that it is difficult to get into this industry, there is a lot of competition. Without all of the resources available to me through the Lexington Bartending School I don't imagine that I would have lasted long as a bartender (if I ever even made it that far). People on the outside think that all the school is good for is to learn a few drinks and talk theory on how the job is done, when it is much more than that. The training is very comprehensive, after a few weeks of classes not only do you know how to make a few HUNDRED drinks but you are also knowledgeable and comfortable with setting up and breaking down a bar, how to run a POS system, and how every glass and tool in a bar is properly used. The thing that truly makes the school worth it is what they can offer after you have graduated and leave the school. You have a connection with your mentors and your fellow classmates that lasts long after you leave. They are always there for help, advice, or just a friend to talk to. People worry that after they graduate even if they do stay connected with the school how will that get them into a job? At the school they offer many internships with numerous bars and nightclubs around the city. So even if you are struggling to find a bartending job they give you the opportunity to get behind a busy bar and deal with real customers, with real alcohol, and real cash transactions all things that you are prepared for through the training you received at the school. Many students either land a job through their internships or they take everything they have learned and walk into another job at another bar, not bouncing, not barbacking, but actual bartending. I have heard people talk negatively about bartending school and as far as I have gathered most of the time it is out of fear. After finishing classes even if you have no work experience you have a repertoire of drinks and alcohol knowledge at your disposal that far surpasses your average bartender, and in their eye this makes you dangerous. If it wasn't for their work experience that they have over you they wouldn't really have a leg to stand on. It's almost unfair if you think about it. Bottom line, the people at the school are easy to work out a payment plan and I made back most of my tuition off tips I made while interning, not to mention the money I made at my first bartending job and the money that I'm still making now. I have found the connections that I have made and the knowledge I have gained to be invaluable and one of the better decisions I have ever made. I recommend the Lexington Bartending School to anybody and everybody interested in getting into the service/bar industry. read more

When it comes to the service industry there are numerous ways to get in and either be successful or not. Especially when it comes to being a bartender... It being the most sought after job in any establishment makes it that much more important and even more paid attention to by EVERYONE.... Owners want to make sure you can do the job correctly, efficiently, & lucratively. Patrons want to make sure you don't take a lifetime to take an order and make their drink perfect all while you're being given your next three orders!!! Sounds a little stressful, right??? Well the Lexington Bartending School takes all those factors, shakes them up, and strains them into your learning experience in the most effective way possible!!! From the staff to the equipment you learn with, LBS takes anyone with the desire to become a bartender and turns them into a full-fledge mixologist. They start you off with a solid foundation of how to survive/operate behind a bar, alcohol history and laws, recipes for every type of drink you may hear, all the way down to what kind of drink goes in what type of glass. And if that isn't enough, they teach you how to be fast yet accurate with your mixing. All of which give you the best chance of being successful no matter where the bar or how many thirsty people are in front of you!!! Most restaurants want to "grow" you into the perfect bartender for THEIR establishment, which isn't a bad thing.. But what happens when you want to go somewhere else to bartend and the only recipes you know come in a menu for a totally different place???... With LBS you can go ANYWHERE your skill set takes you and become valuable not only to your employer but, most importantly, TO YOUR POCKET$!!!! Even after you complete your training, you become apart of a network of hard-working individuals who will point you in the right direction to get behind a bar and get down to business.... As with anything though, you get out of it what you put in and with an open mind and a willingness to work hard there's no doubt that the Lexington Bartending School is the right way to start your mixology career on the right foot!!! read more

This school was the best thing to happen to me in my adult life! I was 21 years old working basic retail jobs that were sucking the life out of me and tying me down financially until I finally came across an add for the Lexington bartending school. I was super skeptical at first because I knew nothing about bartending and what the business itself was like. But the owner Jeremiah Cox had a very down to earth and honest meeting with me about everything that I would learn from the school and how the school would help me succeed with bartending even after I graduate, if anything he kind of low balled how great things would actually be. Not only did they equip me with all of the skills necessary to be a great bartender, they strive to equip their students with confidence and creativity as well. Even after I graduated the Lexington Bartending school, they still treat me like I'm a student there, if you apply yourself and go the extra miles there, these are good people and they will do everything they can to help you succeed with bartending. I'd highly recommend this school to anyone who has a strong work ethic and the willingness to apply yourself. Thank you to the staff of the Lexington bartending school, you guys are awesome! Dylan Cain read more

I started taking the classes at the Lexington Bartending School about a year ago. I knocked out all of the classes in a couple weeks but then didn't take the examinations to officially pass because I landed a bartending gig. Now, I've returned to the school in order to finish out my certification, and I was welcomed back with open arms. All of the staff has been very helpful and accommodating: telling me the best times to come in and practice, discussing job opportunities pending completion of the school, and -- of course -- offering constructive criticism that makes me faster behind the bar. I highly recommend enrolling in this school if you want every advantage possible before trying to score a good gig somewhere behind a bar. You can't beat the experienced advice you get from the staff, or the experience you earn yourself from mixing up drinks behind their full bar. read more

BEYOND WORTH IT. Not only do these guys know what they're talking about, a metric shit-ton of local bars, catering companies, and restaurants alike go to Jeremiah and Todd for trained bartenders. This makes getting a job a cake walk in an industry where it can be difficult to do so. THAT ALONE makes the classes a no brainer. They will set you up with some sort of event that (most likely) will make you your tuition back in one weekend. My experience I took the classes, which were about 2-2.5 hours of lecture. They consist of an entertaining alcohol-themed narrative before you actually get behind the bar and practice making drinks yourself. I took all of the classes back in March, but never got around to finishing the exams because they hooked me up with a job. Luckily, once you have enrolled you are free to come in and finish whenever you like. Very Laid back. read more

Dont buy into this school. These people are liars and players. The main guy in the picture loves to brag on himself. They also tell you lies about how much you can make and how far you can go etc. Yet they've never gone to bartending school and seriously it wasn't their training that helped them get where theyre at today. Also job placement yeah don't bet on it. They tell you that they will place you at a job yet they spend most of their time helping thier friends. Plus they are involved with Tipton staffing the biggest joke in the industry. They claim to have been at this location for quite a while but that's not exactly true. They were originally off Richmond road. Yeah the one that closed this is the same school. Think twice folks it's not worth your money or time. Want to bartend get a job in a bar or resturant and work your way up. read more

Excellent staff. Excellent facility. This school provides everything advertised. A quick, friendly process to become a certified bartender, help with job finding once graduated, flexible class schedule, affordable tuition, and so much more. The school is in a great location (about a block off of UK's campus) and the bar is a great size. It's very spacious and allows several students to work and pour simultaneously.I recommend the Lexington Bartending School to all of my friends and coworkers. read more

The school is great!, anyone can memorize a bunch of drinks, but here they not only teach you how to make the drinks, they teach you to do it fast and efficiently and well as give you background knowledge on the names, styles, types, and history. They also help you find employment afterwards and they keep sending job listing and opportunities as soon as they become available. read more

Great program with long term resources & benefits! I took this course over 10 years ago and still get plugged into current training certs and current job opportunities. Whether it's a long term position, seasonal opportunity or special event to jump into and make some quick income. LBS has been a solid resource for me. read more

I needed to make some extra money and now I am bartending and it has been great. People at the school are fun to work with. The classes only have 8 to 10 people in them so its not over crowded. If anyone is interested in bartending I would call them first instead of not having any skill walking into this business. read more