Drink-mixing robot producer Makr Shakr announces its latest undertaking in London, UK. Its automated bartender has recently been unveiled at Sandbox VR, in its first lifestyle venue in Europe. Customers can order drinks and cocktails with an app and see them being concocted by a pair of mechanical arms. The automated bartender will add a new dimension to the overall experience, highlighting the potential of robotics in leisure entertainment in the physical space.

Sandbox VR London is located in the central neighborhood of Covent Garden. Upon entering, guests will be greeted by Makr Shakr’s most advanced robot Toni, which encapsulates the futuristic spirit of the venue. It is laden with sensors that enable it to mimic the motions of a veteran bartender, and will prepare concoctions from spritz to negroni – at a rate of 80 drinks per hour – for visitors taking a break from the thrills of VR gaming. Its multisensory spectacle demonstrates a sense of continuity to the atmosphere constructed by Sandbox VR. 

“We are delighted to be teaming up with one of the beacons in virtual reality entertainment,” Emanuele Rossetti, Chief Executive Officer of Makr Shakr, says. “Makr Shakr endeavors to pioneer novel drink preparation approaches and more engaging, seamless scenarios of sociality. In this regard, Sandbox VR’s new London venue perfectly aligns with our vision.”

“When we first found Makr Shakr, we believed almost instantly that it shared the same philosophy as Sandbox VR: to deliver a unique shared experience centered on technology,” says Andy Scanlon, Co-founder and CEO of VR Entertainment Group that runs the venue. “As an avid fan of robotics, I believe robotically-shaken cocktails will contribute to the liveliness of any location.”

Sandbox VR is a fast-growing brand which curates immersive virtual entertainment sessions for groups of individuals. Visitors, wearing VR headsets, interact closely with one another in the simulated space while undertaking different challenges. The company has already garnered attention in through its branches in Hong Kong, Singapore and the US. The London venue is its first location in the British Isles, as it aims to open more branches in the UK and Ireland over the next few years.
 

Proof of digital technologies’ seamless entrance into everyday life, Makr Shakr is committed to forging disruptive experiences in the entertainment sector. Its robotic arms have been a driver in headline arts and cultural events around the world. Its notable appearances include the exhibition AI: More Than Human at the Barbican Centre, London, in which Toni faced off against prominent local mixologists in a cocktail making competition. On another occasion, the brand’s mobile unit Bruno was dispatched to Rihanna’s concert in Budapest, Hungary, as it showed off its choreographed movements to complement the catchy songs of the world-renowned singer.