Restaurant and Bar Awards 2026 | 9 No visit to Antigua’s Galleon Beach is complete without a stop at Loose Cannon Beach Bar, an independent, beachfront location bringing personality and quality but sparing the pretentiousness. The experience on offer here is anchored in Antiguan culture, and has been honed over the last five years as a result of guest feedback, positioning it as one of the most atmospheric destinations in the Caribbean. Following its feature in this programme, we caught up with Tarawa Shipley, its general manager, for more on the beach club topping the list of things to do in Antigua. Best Beach Club 2026 – Caribbean Tarawa explained: “This way of thinking keeps Loose Cannon moving forwards, and gives the entire team a one-track mindset of only doing what is best for this establishment. With the right mindset from the getgo, the constant training we are provided is better received, with more input from the entire team.” She continued: “After all, no one person can drive a business to do better, it takes an entire team of people with diverse thinking, but united under one common goal.” This is exactly what Loose Cannon has developed. It is thanks to the team here that Loose Cannon is able to blast through any of the roadblocks that stand in its way, and there is no shortage of these, with the beautiful island of Antigua being anything but an easy place to set up a business. A big part of this is due to the unreliability of ingredient deliveries, which, when you prize yourself on having a quality menu like Loose Cannon does, is a real challenge. Yet, by being persistent with suppliers and carefully curating the menu, the team have turned this into a non-issue. The food at Loose Cannon makes the most of the coastal living Antigua celebrates, offering a range of fresh seafood, salads, pizzas, sushi, and even tapas. With David Baernardio III, the bar’s head chef, bringing more than 20 years of experience in food creation and culinary techniques to the table, he is able to ensure a smooth operation concerning Loose Cannon’s exceptional cuisine. His knowledge is supported by Ryan Cook, the director of food and beverages, and the rest of the kitchen team here. As Loose Cannon’s recent initiatives show, its food is becoming an increasingly central part of the experience it provides, with dinner now being offered three times a week, complete with a tableside steak service. This is just the beginning, as its iconic Brunch’n on the Beach has been brought back every Sunday with a whole new menu, not to mention a bottomless drinks package and the addition of live music. All of this represents the natural evolution of Loose Cannon Beach Bar, which is set for the biggest season to date. Contact: Tarawa Shipley Company: Loose Cannon Beach Bar Web Address: www.loosecannonbeachbar.com pening its doors (or its beach) in 2021, Loose Cannon started out as a humble beach bar with low traffic. However, four seasons in, it has completely transformed, and is today one of the Caribbean’s hottest attractions. From the very beginning, it was clear that Loose Cannon was the place to be in Antigua, and its constantly growing numbers have resulted in the location evolving from a shack on the beach to a vibrant space where live music, handcrafted cocktails, excellent food, and the best service on the island converge. There is something for everyone to love at Loose Cannon, which, first and foremost, is an inclusive and inviting space, reflecting the diversity of Antigua itself. The speciality of this bar is not one fixed thing, but rather the entire experience it offers. For example, this beach club is somewhere you can spend the whole day, not just a lunch. Be it iconic live events or monthly full-moon parties (with international DJs, fire breathers, a beach BBQ, and all-night dancing), there is always something happening. “We just celebrated the one-year anniversary of our full-moon parties this January with the biggest party yet, and look forward to hosting bigger, better full-moon parties every single month!” All of this adds up to make Loose Cannon a cult favourite and an unmissable experience, but none of this would be possible without the expert team behind the beach bar, with these handpicked individuals being the ones who have transformed this island setting into a haven for discerning guests from all over the world. A big part of how the team continue to go above and beyond is the owner mindset they employ, which pushes them to think of the club’s operations in a more productive way. O AIS-Jan26222
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