BROTHERS from Leamington are looking to share a taste of their childhood with the world.
Mike and Garry Robinson grew up in Nigeria where they first encountered the fizzy citrus fruit drink Ikoyi Chapmans in 1973 at The Ikoyi Club in Lagos.
It was the start of a life-long love affair with the drink. They moved back to the UK to board at Warwick School but always looked forward to savouring Ikoyi Chapmans once again when they returned to West Africa during school holidays.
After swimming and playing the likes of squash and tennis at the Ikoyi Club – where the drink was invented in the 1960s – the club barmen would mix Mike and Garry “the most amazing, refreshing, thirst-quenching drink” that was popular with everyone.
In later life the brothers both became professional squash players, and discovered the drink also worked well as a cocktail mixer, blending particularly well with gin, vodka and Prosecco.
And now the pair have achieved a lifelong dream of producing and selling Ikoyi Chapmans.
It is already proving popular in the UK, and they have also received a raft of enquiries from Australia, the United States, Dubai, and even from their former homeland where it originated.
Garry said: “We’ve spread our wings far and wide and we are continuing to grow. It certainly helps having a product which we know is unique and we’re excited about what the future holds for Chapmans.”
“The drink is gluten-free, vegan and is exempt from the sugar tax so we’re really confident we’ve got a product which not only tastes great but also has a wide appeal.”
Visit www.ikoyichapmans.co.uk for further details.
