Preston Lee has helped scale some of the busiest and most beloved hospitality businesses across the UK and beyond — but his story started like many others: behind the bar, with no clue what he was doing.
In this episode, Preston breaks down how he turned personal failure into the foundation for The 30% Rule — a training and operations system that’s helped restaurants and bars go from chaos to consistency.
We talk about what most venues get wrong about training, why being nice isn’t the same as offering hospitality, and how systems can make your worst night feel like your best. Whether you’re an operator, bartender, or GM, this one is packed with real talk and real tools.
What We Cover
- Why only 30% of staff naturally operate at a high level
- The mindset shift that doubled revenue in a struggling venue
- Why most managers fail (and how to stop it)
- The difference between service and hospitality — and why guests feel it
- How to build training that actually works
- What consistency really looks like on a busy Saturday night
- Culture killers that start at the top
- Why you can’t scale a team without clear, repeatable systems
- What closing early says about your business
- Why hospitality is one of the most valuable skills in the world
Quotes to Remember
“Most restaurants don’t have a training problem — they have a leadership and systems problem.”
“Hospitality isn’t about being nice. It’s about making your guests feel valued. That’s a mindset.”
Resources & Mentions
- 30percentrule.com – Preston’s training and consulting platform
- @the30rule on Instagram
👋 Connect With Us
Website → www.thecocktailacademy.com
Instagram → @welovecocktails
TikTok → @welovecocktailsx
Email → sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com
🔐 Want More?
This episode includes a bonus Lock-In segment exclusively for hospitality professionals, covering:
- Why most training doesn’t stick
- Preston’s “hospitality hill to die on”
- Advice for founders scaling multi-site operations
- → Unlock it now at thecocktailacademy.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.