New Westminster Is 25 Minutes From a Real Training Bar
Seven days of hands-on training, a straight Expo Line ride from New West Station. No experience needed to start.
One of the easiest commutes we get.
New Westminster sits on the Expo Line with five stations inside the city, which makes it one of the simplest places in the region to train from. Our school is at 319 West Pender Street in Gastown, and students ride in from the Quay, Uptown, Sapperton, Queensborough, Connaught Heights and Brow of the Hill without needing a car at any point.
The 7-Day Commercial Bartending Course is built for people with no bar experience. You learn the standard recipes, the four core mixing methods, accurate pouring and how to keep pace when a room fills up, then leave with the Fine Art Commercial Bartender Certificate. Douglas College students, people already serving on Columbia Street, and career changers make up most of the class.
Getting to class from New Westminster.
Board the Expo Line at New Westminster, Columbia, Sapperton, Braid or 22nd Street and ride through to Stadium–Chinatown. From New Westminster Station that is roughly 25 minutes, and our door is about five minutes on foot from there, in the Victory Building next to Saunter Coffee.
Trains run frequently enough that you do not need to plan around a timetable. Driving in over the Queensborough or up Kingsway is possible, but downtown parking is metered all day and the last few kilometres are slow at either end of the day, so almost nobody bothers.
Running late? Text us at 236-200-0584 and we'll let your instructor know.
319 West Pender St, Unit 10, Vancouver, BC V6B 1T1
The Experience
A Day at Fine Art.
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- 20+ hours of hands-on practice behind the bar
- Learn from working Vancouver bartenders
- Build real spirit & cocktail knowledge
- Make the most-ordered classic cocktails
- Customer-service skills employers want
- Walk in confident to apply for bartending jobs
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What Vancouver Says About Us.
What You'll Learn.
Seven days of hands-on training that take you from your first pour to job-ready behind a real bar.
Earn the recognized Fine Art Commercial Bartender Certificate
Free pour and measure accurately, using the four core mixing methods
Upsell comfortably and pick up the service habits that grow your tips
Build real speed and confidence behind a 22-foot bar
Learn dozens of core cocktail recipes well enough to build them on the fly
Pair liquor, mixers and garnish so every drink comes out balanced
Work a busy bar as a team: communication, flow and pacing
Use our job board, resume template and interview support after you graduate
Our Classroom Is a Real Bar.
There is no simulation involved. You work behind a real 22-foot bar at your own fully stocked station, using the same tools, bottles and glassware you will find in a working room. Because the classes are deliberately small, you get corrected in the moment instead of hearing about it at the end of the day.
Our Classroom Is a Real Bar.
There is no simulation involved. You work behind a real 22-foot bar at your own fully stocked station, using the same tools, bottles and glassware you will find in a working room. Because the classes are deliberately small, you get corrected in the moment instead of hearing about it at the end of the day.
Questions about the course.
Still deciding? Here are the things students most often ask before they sign up.
Do I need any experience?
None at all. The course is built for complete beginners, most students walk in having never made a cocktail. By Day 1 you're already pouring and building drinks behind the bar.
Do I have to memorise every recipe?
No, that's what the 7 days are for. Once you learn the ratio system on Day 2, you understand how drinks are built instead of memorising each one. By the exam, the key recipes are second nature.
What if I don't pass the exam on Day 7?
Unlimited free retakes are included in your $799, for life. There's no fee and no expiration. Plenty of students retake to sharpen up; it's a normal part of learning.
Do you use real alcohol in class?
No. We practise with coloured water so you can make 50+ drinks per class and focus on technique, recipes and speed, without anyone drinking on the job.
Will this actually help me get a job?
That's the goal. You finish with a recognised Commercial Bartender Certificate, a reviewed resume, interview prep, and access to our Vancouver Bartender Job Board where employers post openings.
Do I need Serving It Right (SIR) too?
SIR is a separate ~$35 BC government certificate to serve alcohol on the job. It's not part of our course (and isn't needed to attend, since we don't use real alcohol), but we recommend completing it before you start applying.




