Bartenders will get a chance to show their skills tonight.

Martini's vs Cocktails will be held on Whites Island as a Cup Match warm up party.

Charlie Souza spoke to The Royal Gazette about the event. "We wanted to do this for the general public," he said.

"There's going be a couple of attractions. We have a bartenders competition where six bartenders are going be competing over the course of the evening in different types of competitions to see who's the best.

"At the end of the night they have to stand in front of the whole crowd and they have seven minutes to make ten drinks for judges to rate and determine who's the best.

"They will get a nice prize from Red Bull, $3.00 Vodka and WKD, (which is) sponsored by BGA."

There will be lots of stuff for the ladies and gentlemen to try, explained Mr. Souza.

"Types of drinks will be the Mochatini, the Lipstick Martini, the Three P O, the Three O Classic, the Victoria's Secret, the Jealous Coconut the Three O Somerset Cocktail and the Three O St. George's Cocktail," he stated.

"There will be four bars a Frozen Drinks bar, a Main bar, a Cocktail bar and Competition bar. All drinks are $6 no matter what, all night."

"As a theme idea we asked the Portuguese Bakery to come out and do an Azorean BBQ for us," said Mr. Souza.

Traditional grilled Portuguese items will be served. Food will be available from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The vision for this event is Las Vegas on the Harbour.

"Glitzy Lights, it'll be lit up like a Christmas tree with Cup Match colours, themed food, an interactive show and free fun and games" said Mr. Souza. "It wouldn't be a Cup Match show without Crown and Anchor. Mini golf will also be available."

As for deejays there are quite a talented few who will be spinning the tunes.

"DJ Bitsy, formerly of Splash, Kaos, formerly of the Deep Night Club, and D-Nice at Café Cairo and the Beach, so we have a lot of things for people to come out and enjoy," stated the party planner.

Hopefully people will come out and support, as they are aiming for all out success.

"We can have more events on White's Island," he said.

"Part of the concept is that people come and they get a very basic drink, and the concept here is to show what bartenders can do if they are given the opportunity.

"We will be having a full Las Vegas style bar out on White's Island. Four martini's, four long cocktails, as the people come and buy their drinks, they get a chance to vote and tell us which one is the most popular at the end of the night."

He extended huge thanks to the Department of Youth and Sport's director Norbert Simons and senior recreation officer Cherece Bean.

"They have been a big help and allowed my colleague and I to go out and use the island to see what can be done," said Mr. Souza of the planning process.

In addition he'd like to thank marketing manager, Farzanah Mohamed, over at BGA.

They are expecting up to 250 people and everyone is welcome to attend the pre-Cup Match extravaganza.

Summer prizes, such as hats T-shirts and beach stuff will be on offer for patrons.

A charity raffle will also be held. All proceeds will go to charitable organisations.

Dress code is preferably Cup Match colours.

The event will be from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Transportation to and from the island will be provided by the MV Elizabeth, which will leave every hour on the hour from Albouy's Point from 8 p.m. 'til midnight, and will return every 30 minutes from Whites Island from midnight to 2 a.m.

Tickets $35, with group discount: five to nine in a group will be $30 each, and ten or more $20 each. Tickets are available by contacting Charles Souza at 599-0078 or Javon Wade 599-2872.