The Next Round

Laura Willoughby MBE is the founder of the world’s largest mindful drinking, Club Soda, and the UK’s foremost expert in low and no alcoholic drinks. 

Receiving an MBE for services to the community in 2004, Laura’s devotion to Club Soda means hundreds of thousands of people are supported in their journeys to live well by being more mindful about drinking alcohol. 

Laura is an IWSC judge, and was voted one of 2022’s 100 most influential women in hospitality by CODE, named as one of Drinks Retailing’s latest Top 100 Most Influential People in Drink and is a Trustee for The Drinks Trust.

Laura’s part in the transformation of the non-alcoholic drinks sector from niche into the mainstream cannot be underestimated. In addition to organising 10 editions of the Mindful Drinking Festival nationwide, developing education courses, conducting research and generating guides to low and no alcoholic drinks, Laura also opened the Club Soda Tasting Room in October 2022, the first of its kind in the UK. 

Laura’s lifelong dedication to affecting change and helping others spans over 30 years working across charities, politics, movements and the public sector, including 12 years as a Liberal Democrat Councillor in Islington, a Cabinet Member, a Reaching Communities board member for The Big Lottery Fund and Chair of the Equalities Board for the Local Government Association. She was also Chief Executive of an HIV charity and bank switching campaign Move Your Money.