We are delighted to welcome back Garry. One of our previous members of staff, he has re-joined us as Food and Beverage Manager. But what’s his story?
We had a chat and asked Garry about his life experiences, love for wine and his love for the White Horse and Griffin.
After leaving school Garry followed his passion for dance and became a professional dancer until he was 36. “In my teenage years I was a dancer, as part of that you have to do another profession. The career life span of a dancer isn’t sustainable for a lifetime, so alongside I trained to be a chef”.
“I moved to London when I was 18 and got a job working bars. I worked at Stoll Moss theatres in the cellars, then worked my way up to Bar Manager at the London Palladium.”
We asked Garry in his long career what his biggest achievement had been.
“I looked after the Queen Mother on her 90th birthday! I was tasked with escorting and caring for the royals at The Prince Edward’s Theatre. I served her a classic favourite of the Queen’s, a gin and tonic.”
So why back to the White Horse and Griffin?
“I left last year to become Head Sommelier at Raithwaite Hall in Sandsend” said Garry. “I wanted to broaden my horizons by getting the feel of a bigger hotel environment. My Sommelier skills were rusty, so I needed to brush up. When I got a call from The White Horse and Griffin to come back to be their Food and Beverage Manager it was an easy decision, after a ten-minute think I said yes!”
So where did Garry’s love of wine come from, and how did he get to where he is?
“I was fortunate enough to go to multiple events. You can guarantee for training exercises that all staff will turn up for wine, cocktail, and food training especially when it involves tasting! Early on in my career, I was fortunate enough to be put in charge of a champagne bar. This is where I got my taste for champagne. I have always liked my fizz.”
And what do you hope to bring back to the White Horse and Griffin?
“Good service, high-end wines, encouraging people to make it their go-to place. If you get the four key things right: good service, decent food, good wine, and an enjoyable experience you have been successful. The White Horse and Griffin has a fantastic history, and the building tells it all. It is a hidden gem, and we want to show the people that visit Whitby that.”
Welcome back to the team Garry!