Revibed drinks: Eugene Patterson & that Dragon's Den appearance

Eugene Patterson tells FQ how he and his dad Ivor created the drinks brand Revibed from family tradition, Caribbean heritage, Covid pivots, and a lot of hard work

For Eugene Patterson, Revibed Drinks began long before there was a business plan. Growing up in Birmingham, he watched his dad, Ivor, make traditional Jamaican sorrel, or hibiscus tea, at home, particularly at Christmas. Years later, backpacking through Southeast Asia, Eugene spotted the same plant being celebrated for its health benefits and began wondering whether the drink he associated with his childhood might have a much bigger audience.

The idea resurfaced during lockdown and father and son began experimenting in their kitchen. What followed was far from an overnight success: market stalls, manufacturing problems, rejected applications, dwindling cash, buyer meetings, accelerator programmes and more than one moment when Eugene wondered whether it was time to give up.

Revibed has since reached retailers including Holland & Barrett, secured a Virgin Atlantic listing and is preparing for another major supermarket launch. Eugene and Ivor appeared on Dragons’ Den in September 2026, bringing a story that began their family kitchen full circle.

We spoke to him about working alongside his father, the lessons Ivor passed down to him, and why building ReVibed is about far more than selling drinks.