Barry Soars has been appointed as Restaurant General Manager at the luxurious five-star Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in Mayfair.
Barry Soars, Restaurant General Manager, Athenaeum Hotel & Residences
Soars brings huge up-market dining experience to his new role as Restaurant General Manager at the Athenaeum Hotel & Residences in London’s upmarket Mayfair.
His last two roles were at Soho Farmhouse and before that he was General Manager at the fashionable Fire Station Restaurant in Cheltenham.
“I’ve loved working at Pen Yen which is the fine dining Japanese Restaurant as well as the Main Barn both at Soho Farmhouse, but I really wanted to work in London,” explained Barry. “And the opportunity to work with not one but two Galvin Brothers was just too much to resist.
“Like most contemporary hotel restaurants, the challenge is to produce excellence in service and food offering from those first early morning guests through lunch and afternoon tea right up to the last couple lingering over a nightcap. It’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”
Barry rates training and mentoring his team as one of his strengths. Even when he’s not in the restaurant he doesn’t stray too far from the discipline – listing cooking and wine education among his hobbies and interests. “Well, hospitality has to be a passion doesn’t it? It’s long hours and high pressure so if you are not in love with food and wine it’s probably not a career for you!
“I’m looking forward to meeting the high numbers of regulars who come back to the Athenaeum time and time again as well as meeting new faces. The hotel has a reputation as one of the friendliest places in London and I will be building on that, I’m sure.”
H&C News would like to congratulate Barry on his appointment, we look forward to reporting on his new role as it unfolds.