Alice Borrman

 

OUR GOODMAN FAMILY

Meet Alice, our Sommelier
at Goodman Mayfair

 
 
Woman pouring red wine into a wine glass
 

“This is still very fresh,” explains Alice, looking around Goodman Maddox after moving from Goodman City. ​“But it’s nice. I’m still very attached to City, but this is smaller, with a different guest base. There’s still lots of regulars I’m getting to know, that makes it really nice.” ​

Not to mention the team. ​“Goodman is the longest job I’ve had, and the only place I’ve worked where people stay ​for a long time or even come back. We talk about this making up ‘The Goodman Family’. ​That should almost be a cliché but it really is. ​”

Before Goodman, Alice studied performing arts and moved into hospitality, waitressing to fund her travel habits. ​“I worked in Thailand for a bit – volunteer, animal conservation stuff but also to see a new culture and have an experience. I went to Bosnia, Montenegro… I ended up in Albania.” Alice laughs. “I wanted somewhere a little different and found it!

 
 

“People want to have a nice wine, and enjoy it. Some want to talk about it, but at the end of the day, wine is there to be enjoyed. There’s no right or wrong.” ​​

 
 
Alice Borrman - Sommelier at Goodman
 
 

”The move into wine came almost accidentally. “We’d do lots of wine tasting at Goodman,” explains Alice. “I’ve always liked wine – that helps – but it stemmed from there. ​People at Goodman saw that I liked it and, after a couple of years, ​there was a chance to do some courses, like WSET.” ​

People want to have a nice wine, and enjoy it. Some want to talk about it, but at the end of the day, wine is there to be enjoyed. There’s no right or wrong.” ​​

Alice will opt for Digestives over Hob Nobs (“and ideally chocolate digestives, if you’re offering”), a UK bone-in ribeye (but is also partial to a US porterhouse), cheese over dessert and, if you’re heading to the shop, she’ll have a Twix, ta very much.​​


Credits

Interview by Neil Davey
Photography by Tom Bowles

 
 
 
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