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John Moore Bar is more than a rum shop – it’s a legacy. Long celebrated for selling the most Johnnie Walker on the island, the famed beachside  bar in Weston, St. James, has always been more than a place to drink; it’s where community, culture, and kinship converge.

At its grand reopening on Saturday, that unmistakable feeling of family filled the air. The proprietor, Cherie Rochester, captured the emotion perfectly as she greeted the crowd with  the heartfelt, “Welcome home everyone!”

Henderson Forde , representative of Clayton’s Kola Tonic, joined proprietor Cherie Rochester to cut the ribbon.

Her voice filled with nostalgia she said, “For me John Moore Bar is not just a business, it is not just a rumshop. It is where my childhood was spent, where my roots run deep and where some of my best memories of my life were born.”

Taking over the operation from her uncle, the well-known  Lamonte ‘Greedy’ Addison, Rochester  said she intends to honour and preserve the rich legacy he built. Supported by her family, she has readily embraced the challenge of steering one of Barbados’ most iconic establishments into a new era.

Known for breaking new ground, the bar made history as the first rum shop on the island to implement a point-of-sale system, and now, it’s going even further into the digital age. 

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“John Moore Bar is going to become a signature bar in Barbados. We hold the record for the oldest rum shop, now we are going to be the most digital rum shop in Barbados,” Rochester said proudly.

“That is where we are going, fully digital in John Moore Bar. We are getting rid of the papers, we are doing some serious stuff in terms of QR codes for menus and stuff like that. We are leveling up.

“You would notice that the Governor of the Central Bank is pushing Bim Pay. I want to extend to Dr Kevin Greenidge an invitation to come and do the first Bim Pay transaction in John Moore’s Bar,” she exclaimed.

The bar’s makeover pays homage to its storied past. With hand-torched walls designed to evoke a rustic, old-school charm, the refurbished space captures the quaint essence of the original John Moore while adding modern touches. 

Fondly recalling the tradition of serving fresh catches from the nearby azure waters during her childhood, Rochester said, “We are taking it back there and then we are moving it forward.”  

Among their menu items will be pizza, tacos and burgers made from scratch and drizzled with their signature sauces. Focused on providing a premium experience for her clientele, the shop’s staff will be undertaking training in mixology to ensure that the cocktails on offer are world class. 

For decades, John Moore has been more than just a favourite spot for locals and tourists alike, it has been a hub for camaraderie, particularly among members of the constabulary. That fraternity, Rochester promised, will remain a cornerstone of the bar’s identity.

She expressed heartfelt gratitude to businessman Peter Harris of the PVH Group, who she described as a steadfast supporter. 

“I have to recognise somebody that stood with me. He knew my tears, he held my hand, he did some of everything for me,” she said appreciatively.

Joining Rochester to cut the ribbon for the grand reopening was Henderson Forde, sponsor representative from Armstrong Agencies, distributors of Clayton’s Kola Tonic. 

“This evening marks not only a reopening but a new chapter, and we are proud to raise our glasses and to be a part of this prestigious occasion,” Forde said.

“We want to thank all of the dedicated staff and partners who believed in this and really just welcome everybody back to John Moore.”

As the bar begins its next chapter, John Moore Bar stands as both a tribute to its heritage and a bold step into the future.