In this lively and laugh-filled episode of Hospitality Meets, I sat down with John Herity, Club Operations Manager at The Caledonian Club in London. From his accidental start in hospitality to tales of Burns Night feasts and Scottish banter, John's journey is a testament to adaptability, tradition, and keeping your cool in high-pressure situations.
Expect stories of butlering for the elite, dodging dodgy chicken, and navigating the world of private members' clubs with a mix of humour and hard-earned wisdom. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to thrive in hospitality while keeping the fun alive, this episode is for you!
What’s Inside?
The Accidental Career: How John found his way into hospitality (spoiler: it involved a necessity rather than a plan!)
Banter & Burns Nights: Running a Scottish institution in London, plus a deep dive into the economics of haggis
The Art of Adaptability: Lessons from private clubs, corporate dining, and high-end butlering
Crisis Management: The time John refused to serve a risky chicken dish
Full Circle: From Glasgow to London, redundancy to return—why John keeps coming back to The Caledonian Club
Key Takeaways:
✔️ Hospitality is everywhere – From banks to private clubs, the impact of great service goes far beyond restaurants and hotels.
✔️ Tradition matters – Whether it’s Burns Night or butler etiquette, preserving heritage can be good for business.
✔️ Details make the difference – From perfectly polished shoes to getting coffee service just right, hospitality is all about the little things.
✔️ Reputation is everything – Skills can be learned, but how you handle yourself (and your team) will define your career.
✔️ Stay adaptable – Whether it’s a vending machine mishap or a last-minute event flip, problem-solving is a hospitality superpower.
Memorable Quotes:
🗣️ “If you're about to invest £10 million and they can’t get the tea and coffee right, what does that say about the rest of the business?”
🗣️ “There's no such thing as just a waiter, just a barista, or just a tea and coffee service. That’s where business happens.”
🗣️ “I wasn’t about to serve that chicken and end up on the news. Not on my watch!”
🗣️ “Hospitality is the unsung hero of history. Deals, diplomacy, and celebrations all happen over food and drink.”
Final Thought:
This episode is a masterclass in the art of hospitality—packed with humor, wisdom, and a healthy dose of Scottish charm. Don’t miss it!
🎧 Tune in now and let the storytelling begin!
The Guest
John Herity is the Club Operations Manager of the Caledonian Club in London
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-herity-cmdip-mih-275b58b5/
Show Partners
A big shout out to Today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.
RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.
It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.
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