At the heart of every successful village is that one place where locals and visitors can come together and enjoy the warmest of welcomes.
With its beaches, castles and golf courses Ayrshire attracts tourists from all over the world . . . and in Kilmaurs it’s the Weston Tavern that forms the hub of hospitality.
So what skills do you need to work in a successful country pub and restaurant?
To find out we met Janet Smith, who started as a waitress in 2006 and is now Assistant Manager.
What does an assistant manager do?
My day job is mainly serving and engaging with customers, making sure the restaurant is running smoothly and we’re prepared for the day ahead. You want all the kitchen and front of house staff to be working together as a team.
I also deal with logging accounts, such as invoices, suppliers, orders etc.
What do you enjoy most?
Probably lots of little things, but especially getting to know customers. Also getting to the the end of a busy day and knowing my customers are happy.
Are there challenges?
It’s rare but when something simple like communication between staff fails it has a negative effect on the service – that can be frustrating. But this is usually easily avoided.
Can you gain extra qualifications or upskill?
Yes, most of our staff receive First Aid, Personal License, and Fire Safety training. During my years as a chef I also went to City of Glasgow College for an HNC in Professional Cookery.
A lot of the time you learn as you go with this job. The skills I’ve learned from our manager and our head chef have been invaluable.
I was very lucky to have two people who took the time to train me and give me a great insight into the catering industry.
You began as a waitress . . . any top tips?
Try to learn as many aspects of hospitality as possible, not just the restaurant. Although I first started as a waitress I also gained experience in the bar and kitchen as a chef. I would say having knowledge and experience of working in the kitchen is essential in leading a team.
Flexibility is key. I’ve been very lucky to work for someone who’s flexible in regards to my family life – I have a young son so my shifts are suited around his childcare.
Why not kickstart your own career with a role in Hospitality, Catering & Tourism from s1jobs?