Less than six years after handing in his CV in the hope of part-time bar work, Jason Marling is back at Leeds Bierkeller Entertainment Complex … as the General Manger.
Back in 2010, he was a qualified plumber struggling to find jobs in the recession. But he noticed the venue on Head Row had recently opened and went to ask if they had any vacancies which would help him pay the bills.
“I basically just walked in off the street to apply for a bartender’s job to go alongside my building work, but once they found out my background I got the maintenance contract as well,” said Jason. “Then I enjoyed the bar side so much I decided to go into that full-time and I just worked my way up.”
After progressing through the ranks as supervisor, bar manager and assistant manager, and helping launch sites for the growing company across the country, Jason is back where his career began.
And the 29-year-old is now heading up a team of more than 40 management, bar and restaurant staff as he looks to build on the venue’s success and secure its place as one of the city’s most popular night out destinations.
“The Bierkeller Entertainment Complex had only been open about three months when I started and I loved it as a customer as well as a member of staff,” he added. “When I first came Around The World was just a brasserie, that was completely different, but the Bierkeller bar was something I’d never seen before. It was totally new, for a new generation, and I think it hit the market at the right time.”
The unique three venues under one roof concept suited Jason’s own personality, especially Shooters where he still watches all the live sports events.
“It really is my scene, I love sports, it’s a very social place and I’m a massively social person.
“Before I came back I’d taken a break for six months which was nice, but I missed it because I do enjoy the buzz and the pace of this job. I’m not really a routine person and here, on the whole, every day is different which is what I really like.”
To go from part-time behind the bar to being the boss in such a short time is quite an achievement, but it’s not come without effort and dedication.
“It didn’t come easy, I worked really hard for it, and sometimes you’ve really got to go above and beyond but if I’m enjoying it, it just comes naturally, and it’s paid off. It does take over your life but this time, although I’m going to make sure things get done, I’m going to take a more mature view of things and I’m going to work smart.”
His first week back was certainly a hectic one, coinciding with the Six Nations rugby tournament and Super Bowl.
“It was great timing,” he laughed, “it was well organised and we took loads of money so it was a pretty good way to start.
“This place has actually made me such a sports fan. Before I started I’ve always liked rugby union and I followed football a bit because it’s so big in Leeds, but now I’m a fan of everything: American football, baseball, rugby, football, boxing, horse racing, everything.”
Jason describes the team he’s inherited as “like a well-oiled machine.”
“It just needs a little bit of fine-tuning, that’s all,” he added. “It’s good to be back and be a part of it again.
“I’m always striving for something more. I could become one of the cogs and just let the site run and it would probably be up there near the top, but why not put the extra in and pull away from the rest? The nightlife market in Leeds is booming and to keep up there with that you’ve got to fight for it.”