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March 08, 2012

Hotel Lounge Renamed After Its Own Longtime Bartender

Story by CBC News

A Halifax hotel has renamed its lounge after a longtime bartender who has been working there for nearly five decades.

In 1963, Roy Clorey began pouring drinks at the Griffin lounge at Halifax's Nova Scotian Hotel.

Although the hotel is now called the Westin Nova Scotian and the lounge has moved from its original location — now home to the Sykea Salon and Spa — Clorey is still mixing his signature martinis.

"I enjoy what I do. To me, it's not a job. Some people come to work and they come to a job. For me, it's part of your life, when you've been in the business that long," he said Thursday.

"As long as I can do it. Like I said, I'll know when to quit."

Clorey said he felt honoured when officials at the Westin Nova Scotian surprised him at a staff Christmas party and told him the name of the hotel lobby bar would be changing from Eve to Roy's Lounge.

Earlier this week, they made it official.

"Usually I know everything that goes on in this hotel, through management or staff," Clorey said with a laugh.

"I was surprised. I was shocked."

Roberto de Armas, who has worked with Clorey at the hotel for five years, said he's learned a lot from his colleague.

"The professional things, the passion, the way he talks to the customers — he's always happy and he's still happy, so it's very nice for us," he said.

And Clorey knows how to keep a secret — like all the best bartenders.

"Most of the stories, you know what I mean, the only place you could put them would be in Frank Magazine," he said, laughing.

Posted by RedStagg at March 8, 2012 02:02 PM

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