Behind the Scenes: Spotlight on the Assistant General Manager of Lincoln Cathedral Cafe

A Spotlight on James, Lincoln Cathedral Cafe’s assistant general manager

James, the Assistant General Manager of Lincoln Cathedral Café, plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every visitor enjoys a memorable experience. With his keen eye for detail and passion for hospitality, James has become an integral part of the team, overseeing daily operations, fostering a welcoming atmosphere and maintaining the café's high standards. His dedication not only enhances the café's reputation, but also reflects his commitment to preserving the charm and quality of this cherished establishment nestled within the historic grounds of Lincoln Cathedral.

Our questions and answers session with James

After an insightful interview with Kieran, the General Manager of Lincoln Cathedral Café, we had the perfect opportunity to follow up with his right-hand man, James. As the Assistant General Manager, James is instrumental in the day-to-day success of the café, bringing both expertise and enthusiasm to his role. In our conversation with him, we uncovered the unique contributions he makes behind the scenes, working closely with Kieran to ensure the café continues to thrive.

Can you describe your day-to-day responsibilities as the Assistant Manager at Lincoln Cathedral Cafe?

“Truly my day to day responsibilities at the cafe change depending on the day. Obviously there are the constants, making sure the staff are prepared and happy, making sure customers are happy and completing all back office jobs to keep the cafe running. However due to us working so closely with the Cathedral, our days can vary depending on events they currently have on. One day we could be doing a sit down three course meal in the cafe, we could be serving hot drinks and refreshments in the Cathedral after a service or providing lunch in one of the conference rooms we have. One of the many reasons I enjoy working here, no two days are the same”

What inspired you to join the team at Lincoln Cathedral Cafe, and how long have you been in this role?

“Truthly what inspired me to join the cafe was Kieran the general manager and the opportunity to work at such a historic place. Me and Kieran worked together previously before Covid at an events company. When he was offered the opportunity to work at the cafe, he asked if I fancied coming to work here with him. I joined the team 3 years ago when the cafe was launched and was originally employed only as a front of house staff. However, I was gradually promoted from supervisor to assistant manager and have been in this role for a little over a year now”

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging about managing the cafe?

“I think what I find rewarding about managing the cafe is the day to day interactions you have with customers, regulars and people just visiting for their first time. Knowing you are providing a service people enjoy and enjoy coming back to over and over again, is very rewarding and proven by how busy we are. Which brings me on to the most challenging aspect of managing the cafe, the cafe is nearly always busy especially during the summer, with tourists coming to see the Cathedral. Therefore making sure that the service remains quick and to the standard expected is the most challenging part of the job, but also very rewarding”

How do you collaborate with the General Manager to ensure the cafe’s smooth operation?

“As mentioned before me and Kieran, have worked together previously and known each other for a little over 7 years. This obviously helps when running the cafe as we were friends, long before we became managers together and both went through similar training and development. This boils down to us being able to work extremely well together and keep the cafe running smoothly”

Can you tell us about the team at Lincoln Cathedral Cafe? How do you ensure a positive and productive work environment?

“We have a very good and diverse team at the cafe with ages ranging from 16 to 60 with very different life experiences. For some it is their first job, for others it is a part time job while studying or their children are at school. Then you have the full time staff and all are crucial to the daily running of the cafe. In regards to the work environment, I think in order to keep a productive and positive work environment it is important to remember to make sure the staff are enjoying themselves, I think if people enjoy coming to work then they create a productive and positive environment on their own and it makes my job very easy”

How do you maintain high standards of food quality and customer service in the cafe?

“I think again this comes down to the team taking pride in their work and enjoying their work. This combined with always having the attitude of serving every customer and preparing whatever it is they have ordered in a manner that you would want you would want if you were being served, ensures that everything that comes out of the kitchen or from the bar is to the high standard we expect and so is the service”

What strategies do you use to manage peak times, especially during half term or events at the Cathedral?

“Like I said earlier, this is probably one of the tougher parts of the job, but also one of the most enjoyable. The simplest answer is we make sure to have as many staff on as we can and ensure they all know the roles they will be performing that day. For example we make sure they know who is the food runner that day, who is running the drinks , who is making the drinks and who is in charge of taking the orders in each of the cafe sections. This ensures that even though we can be extremely busy, the cafe will run as smoothly as possible as everybody knows their role”

How does the cafe integrate with the overall experience of visiting Lincoln Cathedral?

“We try to make the cafe integrate as well as we possibly can, it can be accessed in two different directions, one from the deans greens and then the other from the Cathedral itself with the idea being that once you've been in to have a look around the Cathedral if it's your first time, or if you just want something to eat / drink quickly in between services the cafe is easily accessible. Any group who does a guided tour of the Cathedral is offered the opportunity to book a table for lunch with the cafe and any events the Cathedral has on, we work with them seamlessly to ensure all visitors to Lincoln Cathedral have an enjoyable experience”

How do you cater to the diverse group of visitors, from tourists to local community members?

“We offer a wide range of meals at the cafe, which certainly helps and we are also always changing the menu, providing specials, and have many meals which cater to all people regardless of any dietary requirements they may have. This is not just limited to food but also drinks, offering things such as homemade lemonade in the summer and a baileys hot chocolate in the winter months. This accompanied with the staff's willingness to allow people to order off menu when the need arises, means we are able to cater to anybody who comes into the cafe”

What are some of the most popular items on the menu? Do you have any personal favourites?

“Good question, I think our most popular items are definitely the salmon fillet and the bacon, brie and onion toastie. However, depending on the weather the most popular item can change, if it's warm the salmon nicoise salad and chicken Caesar salad are very popular, if it's cold everybody always enjoys the soup or the jacket potatoes. As for me, my favourite is the ham and cheese toastie, I, think I've had it for lunch nearly everyday for the last 3 years, the staff always give me grief for it but what can I say, if you like something you like it”

Conclusion

In wrapping up, it’s clear that James plays a crucial role at Lincoln Cathedral Café. His partnership with General Manager Kieran, combined with his dedication to the café's mission, helps create a unique and inviting experience for all who visit. James's hard work and passion shine through in every aspect of the café’s operations, making him an indispensable part of the team.

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