Why I Work In… is a regular feature where we ask people about their jobs and the industry they work in. This time it’s Mark Ayre, general manager at Manor House Lindley.
Tell us a little bit about Manor House Lindley.
Manor House Lindley is a luxury hotel, restaurant, wedding venue and event space in Lindley. Its Lantern Room Restaurant has recently been awarded Three AA Rosettes.
And what’s your role there – and how would you describe your job to an alien?
My role is general manager and it is my role to oversee all aspects of the hotel strategy and revenue as well as the day-to-day operational management of the bedrooms, two restaurants, three bars and a busy events venue.
How long have you worked in this sector?
20 years! My background is in opening luxury hotels and Manor House Lindley is my fifth opening.
What skills make someone a good hotel general manager?
I think there are many skills that are needed, but the main ones are patience, respect, positivity, vision, determination and drive.
What’s your advice for people looking to work in hospitality?
It is the most rewarding industry and it is a pleasure to deal with the customers that we deal with, right from one-off visits, to famous people, locals, people coming for celebratory dinners and brides and grooms. There is no greater reward than seeing all the hard work put into an event or a meal and everyone within the team plays a part in it.
In our industry, the business never sleeps, even through the night we have operational staff who are cleaning and staff working on reception, so it isn’t for the faint hearted. You need to be committed and willing to put in the effort and hours, but the working atmosphere is amazing and we have such passionate staff with great morale and a fantastic team vibe.
We are almost like family and, with spending a lot of time together, we rely on each other through the good times and the bad in a supportive, fun working environment.
If you could describe your job in only three words, which would you choose?
Rewarding, nurturing, customer-focused.
What do you love most about it?
It is amazing to watch your own strategy and ideas come to life, seeing the vision that you have had for something develop. When you succeed it is amazing, but you always learn from any failures, and it is a never-ending cycle of trying to build something successful.
We are immensely proud to have recently achieved the AA 3 Rosette standard, as it reflects our core values of dedication and passion, as well as our commitment to excellence in everything we do. This recognition serves as a testament to the hard work and creativity of our chefs, as well as the unwavering commitment of our entire staff.
It is humbling to see staff who have worked here right from being in college or university and find their passion for hospitality. I lead by example and want them to enjoy it as a career and understand why we are all so passionate about it.
What words would your colleagues use to describe you?
Caring, supportive and determined.
Where do you hope your career may take you?
Having children has changed my priorities, which doesn’t mean to say that I have given up on all ambitions, but it has changed the way that I view my workplace and my life. I really enjoy my work and the exceptional service that we provide and as long as I am in a property like this, making customers happy, I am happy.
I am so proud to have led the whole team to have achieved the AA Three Rosettes and to have this come to fruition is an amazing achievement in my career.
If someone is reading this and thinks, I’d love to work at Manor House Lindley, what should they do?
We always welcome speculative CV. Contact careers@manorhouselindley.co.uk
