Got my bartending certification at this school. The owner Mark is the best teacher, infinite knowledge of his craft and fun to be around. Has all sorts of connections to people in the industry and can help you get a job after you complete the course. Also encourages you to come back and practice anytime, especially if you have an upcoming interview! You won't regret learning from him, best school around! read more

Amazing school; Amazing place; Amazing people. I enrolled at the bartending school as a summer activity with my college-age daughter and our expectations were surpassed in every respect. Lessons were extremely logical, organized, and not overwhelming. Over the course of 40 (very flexible) hours, we learned not only how to make over 130 cocktails, but also the interesting stories, culture, and lore behind them. Classes were challenging, but always fun and we looked forward to each evening at the school. Proprietors Mark and Connie are amazing, kind people and are committed to seeing each student have a positive learning experience. During our brief time at the school, we saw several students get bartending jobs with Mark's support and assistance. I would recommend the Royal Bartending School in beautiful downtown Pomona to anyone seeking a career in bartending and or just interested in honing their skills for their home bar. 100% recommendation! read more

Royal Bartending School - Bartending Schools Near Me - Pomona, California

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Truly happy with choosing Royal Bartending School. Mark is a wise master mixologist and I'm honored that was able to cross paths and graduate from his school. He filled us up with knowledge, skills, and confidence. You won't be disappointed!! He'll teach you how to make $$$$ ! read more

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I couldn't have picked a better school! Royal bartending has helped me in many ways. From learning pours/counts, glassware, proper mix pairings, traditional cocktails, all with proper technique and skill. Mark is really knowledgeable and a great teacher and Connie is the sweetest. She takes the time to look for the best prices in the weekly ad if you're looking into buying liquor and gives great advice on how to improve your resumé for this specific industry. Talk about an iconic duo! They have both motivated me to make a career out of it. Currently starting off my mobile bartending business, going to school to pursue distilling, and just for a job in bartending! So if you are reading this! It's your sign!!! GO FOR IT. read more

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Royal Bartending is such a great school to join. Mark and Connie are so involved in the bartending community and trade shows, that everything they teach is up to date. Mark knows a lot about the history of alcohol, he provides a great amount of knowledge in his teachings. He gives you everything you need to know and leaves you feeling confident. He isn't just an Owner. He is also a bartender, who has a passion for its art. Which makes him a great Instructor/Mentor. Connie is extremely sweet and organized. She makes the enrollment and graduating process easy. read more

Royal bartending school was so much fun! I learned so much from basics like handling the liquor bottles and learning to pour, to memorizing drink recipes. Mark Ferguson the bartending instructor makes it a fun environment to practice till you feel confident. Mark is very knowledgeable and not only shares all the tricks and tips of becoming an excellent bartender but shares the history and background in the making of liquor and shares with the class all the fun facts. He works with each student one on one and helps you to understand all the little details that make bartending a really amazing experience. Sign up for these classes it is so beneficial for understanding the art of bartending and they help you find work right away! Highly recommend!! read more

Royal Bartending School - I was so excited when I received my bartending certification! Such a fun experience! - Bartending Schools Near Me - Pomona, California

Definitely a great and memorable experience. I learned a lot and was taught thoroughly. Great owners as well, i felt very comfortable and im so excited for what the future holds from my experience here. read more

Couldn't have chosen a better bartending school Mark & Conny are amazing definitely recommend

I loved my training here, my confidence behind the bar was able to grow and I felt comfortable moving into the bar scene. Mark is a fantastic instructor and very knowledgeable, ask him anything :) read more

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I learned so much from Mark and gained so much positivity in my life from the transformation in my career path that was given to me once completing my certification. When I left college with a BFA in costume design I thought I was set, then months passed with no one calling me back from all the places I'd applied. I became discouraged and didn't know what to do with my life at that point. Then one day I thought as I walked down second street, I like to drink, I love to make cocktails, and I'm sociable~* this could be the right path for me and even when I find that job in my degree, it's always nice to have a side job that I enjoy. This school is an eye opener, and a new beginning of you choose to take it seriously, work hard, and enjoy learning. I'm so grateful for the people I've met through this new path, and for the wonderful opportunities this path has brought. There's more freedom in my life now and I still create my art. Thank you Mark for helping rebuild my confidence in myself and bringing me to a path that I thoroughly enjoy. read more

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Taking this course was such an awesome experience! Mark is such a great instructor and is so full of knowledge! He was extremely patient with me and understands that we all learn things differently, so he makes the class enjoyable while you are learning. He always answered my millions of questions that I had for him too which I think is a great quality to have as an instructor. Mark is also extremely flexible with scheduling as well which helped me out a lot being that I also had work and school while taking this course. Mark and his wife Connie are the nicest people I have ever met and I can't wait to go back to visit them! I highly recommend Royal Bartending School! read more

I dont know what was going on with the previous owner, but I don't regret taking this class one bit. Mark is the new owner of this school and has done wonders with the place. This place looks and feels like a bar. Jake helps teach the class the morning class and will help some evenings both are very knowledgeable and set you up for the real deal. I've seen Mark go out of his way to help students who truly want to succeed. If you're planning on taking a bartending class I recommend you come here, you won't regret it. And remember to practice, practice, practice! read more

I don't care what people say about job placement. The responsibility is yours. Maybe you are not easily placed in that type of environment...just saying. The fact is Royal Bartending School teaches you ALL the drinks you possibly need to know to start a Bartending job. They are a GREAT school. Go out and find yourself a job! I was hired as a bartender at a really nice steakhouse only 2 months from completing the course. I love it! Yes $400 sounds loke a lot, but I now make that in just 1 night. read more

Royal Bartending School - Royal Bartending School - Bartending Schools Near Me - Pomona, California

I am updating this in response to several inquiries I received about my review... Full Yelper disclosure: I am now close friends with the owner. My own cousin did not follow through with enrollment, but I have met working bartenders who completed this program. read more

I can't start to tell you why this school needs to close it's door and stop misleading the public Duke Williams is a con artist .... this school will take ypur money so buyer beware .... and please don't let this person have your personal information like credit cards ... he will use it to his advantage. ... if Duke owes you money he will try and talk you our of your refund .. Duke is extremely hard up for money and will do anything possible to get it Consumer beware ...... My story began when I sign my contract ... i didn't go to this school one day no book no nothing ....my money was taking I asked my bank if I could press charges against the Royal Bartendaring School and the owner Duke Williams . The sad part about this is i told Tanya through text I wouldn't be there the 1st day of class and please do not take my funds out of my account ... the next day 8 called my bank and low and behold money gone ..... so I called text etc . So Tanya sent me the contract with the date traced over it was for the 6th of February not the 2nd ...i called Dukes voice mail was full and wasn't taking calls I told him to do the right thing ..... and he hasn't yet .... maybe the judge can help me out I tried numerous amounts of time to get my money back Buyer beware don't sign on the dotted line read more

I was very disappointed in the "job leads". They claimed to sending me emails but that never happened and when I asked them to resend it (on 4 different occasions) still no email. So this was a waste of time and a waste of money. I strongly suggest getting a job prior to learning to bartend. More often then not you will be trained there. I wonder if I can get my money back?? read more

Mark is an amazing mentor! The bartending classes here are really hands on which helps when you get into the bartending industry. He's encouraging and supportive through the learning process. He even helps with after you pass the class which recommendations to bartending job and more. read more

So i started Bartending school last year before the New owner Mark took over this year. A lot has changed & for the best. In my opinion it looks & feels more like a Bar with all the new upgrades. As to the Instructor who teaches both mornings & nights will make sure you will learn your drinks. Since all the drinks are filled with food coloring, you don't have to worry about missing school if you have children & don't have anyone to watch them. They are more then welcome to come in & sit on the lounge area. Its a kid friendly, i bring my daughter sometimes & she sits & waits with her tablet quietly. So i can take my lesson of the day. So if your interested on becoming a bartender, i highly recommend this place. So come on down & i still go once in a while & you might just see me there. read more

Royal Bartending School - The back bar area. - Bartending Schools Near Me - Pomona, California

Royal Bartending was very welcoming! Mark is the instructor. He was a true connoisseur of spirits and mixology. He was so passionate, that he was actually taking a brewing course at the time I was taking this course. You can tell he loves this lifestyle! It was very comfortable and friendly learning environment, which meant a more hands on learning experience. Connie, Mark's wife, is also there in the back with a separate flower business, which always made class feel at home! 5 out of 5 would recommend! Thank you guys for a wonderful learning experience. Happy holidays and happy new year! read more

Royal Bartending School is awesome! I'm so glad I took this course. The new owner is a super nice guy and was very eager to help me out. I learned a lot and was able to get a job bartending soon after completing the course! read more

This place is awesome, the moment I walked in i had a great vibe. I start Monday 8/6 and I'm super excited! Duke is awesome, a really great guy. If you are seriously thinking about getting into bartending and have the right personality, definitely check it out. I'm ready to make some yummy drinks. :) read more

At first I felt very nervous to start class especially since I had no knowledge in bartending, but right away Mark and his wife Connie made me feel comfortable. The energy in the class was always so positive and welcoming. Mark helped me feel confident and always pushed me to do better. He is very understanding and works with your schedule. I really have to say I am truly happy I chose this bartending school!! Thanks Mark, you're the best!!! read more

Mark and Connie are absolutely the best!!!! Connie is super sweet and Mark is very knowledgeable and will show you all the tricks to the trade in how to be a top notch bartender! Give them a call and you will not be disappointed. read more

Ok so I'm done with school. I think Duke is sitting on a gold mind. If he makes a few changes adds a splash more professionalism he could have something great. The one thing I heard the most complaints about is the price and not being that professional. I could really help him with that. If it were me I would have a 2 week course for those with experience and a 4 week course for those that are green no experience. That way you don't have old students overlapping with new students telling them all the things they don't like which is was what happened to me. I struggled the first week and 2 days but made it through. I expressed my concerns and Nick and Victoria were awsome. Realistically there is no way you can learn all that stuff in 2 weeks with no prior experience. With that said with a few tweaks Royal Bartending will be great, for now it's good but I want them to be great :) read more

Royal Bartending School - Bartending Schools Near Me - Pomona, California

Be sure to read the end about pricing!! I gotta give it to them, they are good at being con artists for being such a low quality but high budget "school" lol. 0My friend had an interview w/ Duke so I went w/her for support. She agreed to sign up, I didnt. Duke suggested I just sign up for a seat just in case I change my mind.He said if I decide NOT to do it by the time class starts there will be NO penalty. That was a lie. I told him I didn't want to attend, and all of a sudden after the 1st day of the course, I get a voicemail from Duke saying I owe $150.00 before he sends me to collections. This man is a liar, he has no tact, and he's a bullshitter. He bullshit his way through the whole scam. I was penalized 150.00 just for going with my friend for moral support. My husband just got home from a deployment and his wife is sitting there getting scammed. I felt stupid because I'm smarter than falling for shit like that. He had no problem or remorse taking my money. My friend attended the course, paid $300.00 total and got nothing out of it. ALSO beware of prices because he tends to make up his own prices depending on how gullible/insecure you are. He told us we could take the class for 300.00 cause we were military but he begged us not to tell anyone. I have no problem telling EVERYBODY since he had no problem taking my money. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE! Brittney was my instructor and she was AMAZING in guiding and teaching me on how to properly make the drinks and tips on how to make them better and to memorize the ingredients. On top of teaching me she went above and beyond in helping speed my learning process from a two week course squeezed into one. Duke, was very key to my experience as well, he worked with me on getting a great price and ensuring my comfort into committing to the school and allowing me to shorten the course time period. As for job leads, I've had very reliable and resourceful leads now all i need to wait on is the replies from the individual businesses. Definitely a awesome experience with the school's instructors and Duke (Tania, and Vicky). More on job leads later... read more

I have had such an awesome experience training at this school! Tonya is a pro, and gives you everything you need to know to succeed at bartending. Although Duke wasn't my main teacher, he has a great energy and is always there to help! You get hands-on experience behind a real set up of a bar, which really shows you what to expect when you get a job. You get to meet great people, all wanting something different from the industry, who root for you during the whole process. And Tonya makes sure to go in depth and give you any information you will need to know to successfully pass the test! I finished the schooling in two weeks, and reviewed for one more week before I passed the two tests without a problem! I feel great walking away from this school, knowing that I know have a great deal of knowledge about all different kinds of liquors, drinks, tools, etc, and am super excited to get out there and start working as a bartender! read more

This place is GREAT! The teachers here really make it fun to learn and memorize drinks. Quizzes are fun! When i signed up for classes i was unemployed for months. After graduating the course they helped with job placement. Because of the help and confidence they gave me i was able to find two jobs as a bartender. HIGHLY recommend this place! Guaranteed to learn and have fun! read more

I attended this Royal Bartending School in the Fall of 2011. I paid a little over $300, for a "2-3 week course". I was told that if it took a little longer it would be no problem to keep coming back until I was able to pass the tests. And that they offered a "lifetime" job placement and that I could come back and brush up if needed, anytime. My complaints: Everything they throw at you, that you need to learn in 2 weeks is ridiculous (200+ drinks recipes, plus laws and other things)... However, it always seemed like the "Manager" Duke, was always trying to get rid of the students who needed extra time. I noticed this the first week I was there, as he would be rude to people who started a week or so before I did. On one occasion, he said something very degrading to one of the female students, that even I felt embarrassed about. I never saw her come back again. At the time I just thought, "well, I just wanna' finish this class, get out and get a job bartending", so I forgot about the incident. But it seemed as if Duke was always in a very bad mood. I was enjoying the school that first week, so I recommended it to a friend, who enrolled towards the end of my second week. Into my friends third week, she tells me Duke shouted at one of the students during a class, and she was so scared she just left and never went back and didn't even care about trying to get a refund. In my second week, Duke, with and angry tone in his voice, calls another student (an elderly woman), into his office to speak with her. A couple of minutes later he's yelling at her telling her she has to leave and "GET OUT!!". It's like I can still hear him yelling. What a douche bag Duke is! A total awful experience is all I can say about this school. Do not go to this Royal Bartending School located at 326 E. Holt Blvd. Suite B, Ontario, CA 91761, unless you enjoy being in a tense atmosphere. Avoid it like the plague!! And for the record, 3 of the 5 people who gave this school 5 stars are friends of Duke and the owners, they were in the classes all the time... they came and went like they owned the place. The instructor also didn't look like they cared whether anyone was really learning or not. They just wanted them out after their two weeks, always calling students into the office asking them when they were going to be done. Duke, you got NO business managing a business. Especially a place of learning where the atmosphere should be kept stress free. If I could give ZERO stars I would! read more

I am so happy I attended Royal Bartending school in Pomona. So many possibilities have opened up for me and the money I get from bartending is soooo good!! Mark and Connie are awesome!! I love that they have an open door policy and I can go back anytime I feel I need to review or just to learn something new. In the liquor business is always evolving and Mark and Connie are so full of knowledge and wisdom. If you really pay attention you can learn some very valuable information here. read more

If you are seeking bartending experience this place is definitely the place to be. Mark is a very knowledgeable instructor. You will not be disappointed at all. He teaches you one on one and takes the time to make sure you are understanding bartending and the little tips and tricks that go along with the art. If this is what you want to do this is the place and he is your guy. read more

I've had such a good experience coming here. Tonya was my teacher and I would always look forward to coming to class in the mornings. They really do teach you all the basics well and then some. I would go out to bars and order things and see it done exactly how I was learning. It's been two months since I've graduated and I've already done private events. You have to put in the work yourself to get jobs, no one is going to do it for you but in the end it will pay off big time. read more

Graduated and truly left learning so much about the art of mixology. Mark is a great Instructor! If you're looking to get into Bartending, this is definitely the place to learn and get a professional start! read more

Royal bartending is a great place to learn your drinks if you decide to get into the bar and restaurant industry! They will teach you everything you need to know from drinks, the various liquors and beer ,to equipment, laws, and even how to communicate with guest! The instructor Toney O. Is a very knowledgeable teacher and is very descriptive when it comes to learning everything you need to know in bartending! The owner Mark F. Is a great guy and will always be there to help you if you need anything or have any problems. He keeps his door open to any student that needs his assistance. This establishment is awesome and I recommend this school to anyone that wants to learn to be a mixologist. So if you want to be a bartender give this school a call you will not be disappointed! read more

Don't be fooled! This school is ghetto! They really don't care about you finishing or being happy there. Their game is to get people signed up and financially obligated, then provide a sub-par program for the lowest possible overhead. They really don't care what you think after you start because you're already on the hook for the money. After starting you find out that there aren't enough glasses for all (or even half) of the students to practice at once. Most of your time is spent waiting around for your turn. The instructor cusses like a former sailor turned truck driver and makes it clear that he can do anything he wants because he makes money for the owner. If you have a question once you're practicing, good luck. You have to count on other students to help you because the instructor is outta there - either in the office behind closed doors, out smoking or whatever. Each day you're assigned drinks to make, then the instructor looks at them and quizzes you on the ingredients and quantities. That part is mostly effective and a good learning experience however, it bugged me that he's not watching you make them so you don't know if your technique is correct. What do you think is the number one drink someone orders at a bar or restaurant?Beer maybe? Even with the popularity of micro-brew beers, there is no curriculum on beer, proper pouring, changing out kegs, CO2, nothing! My advice to anyone contemplating bartending school is to really check them out first, which is not what I did. I went by the cost of gas to get there and went with the closest school. In hindsight I would have been much better off to pay just a little bit more for the school and gas in order to get a better education in a better environment. read more

So Im attending Royal and absolutely love it...i enjoy going to class every night of course im going a little longer than expected but thats ok..everything i was promised i received..the staff is great Christian is awesome Duke is awesome and they encourage you to be successful....i would refer everyone here that wants to be a bartender im learning 200 drinks and this place is fun to be at and learn. read more

The semi-new owner has complete remodeled the place and it looks great. Very informative staff with experience. I got my bartenders license here and now work at two nice hotels. I recommend this place to anyone looking to be a good bartender! read more

This School was so much fun! The teachers were not only the most awesome people, but they were so helpful as well. Within a week of graduating I even found a Job!!! I would recomend this school to anyone who is looking into being a bartender. It was money well spent:) read more

This place is horrible and a waste of money.i never received my color copy of my certificate and every time I've been in to pick it up there was an excuse. They promised me job placement and nothing. Mind you I graduated in 2013 and STILL no certificate fkn bullshit. Take your money elsewhere. read more

This place is total scam !.they got me fooled they never helped me find a job after I graduated all they care about is their money.