Career Path: Family Printing Business (age 8) > School > Polytechnic College > Design Career > Opened Restaurant
“The key thing in business is how we treat each other, I like to think we have a fair and fun environment with a strong work ethic. "
My Story: I got into catering quite by accident; my design work took me to Bristol where I hired a room in a posh house in Clifton. My landlady Linda was just in the process of opening a new restaurant when I moved in. Well, over the course of the next 6 months I certainly learned a lot about how not to run a restaurant, much of which I put to use when she offered to sell it to me, as it closed down 6 months later. It was full circle funny, how things go round. I roped my old school friend in on the deal and the rest is history as they say! We developed this idea of a Latin American restaurant that had fantastic fresh food, vibrant interiors and great Latin music. Today we have 22 Las Iguanas restaurants around the country and although my friend is no longer with us we managed to build a great business providing employment to over a thousand people we ‘feed and water’ up to 50,000 people per week now.
Funny Story: Serving an instantly recognisable, world famous ballet dancer Fish & Chips, which had been swiped, unopened and in pristine condition from our bartender, who had been about to sit down for a late lunch. The Gentlemen in question had arrived very hungry after the kitchen had closed down and the Chefs had left. Keen to please we served the dish which had been purchased from the local fish and chip shop together with a soft drink and the hungry bartender stood by watching his chips being devoured by one of the greatest athletes on earth. He was so delighted he left a huge tip and everyone was happy.