M&C Report talks to Steve Locke, co-founder of the London-based cocktail bar chain Be At One, about his top priority, his best business decision and the best piece of advice he’s ever received.
What’s the most important action the industry can take to encourage the consumer? Improve the quality of product and service offered. There are more operators chasing fewer pounds. Great value is not about simply discounting. We've all got to be better than we were yesterday.
What single action could Government make that would make a difference? More support for companies that invest in training. Either through tax breaks or grants. It costs Be At One £5,000 to train each bartender, we are willing and able to make that investment but it is not an option for a lot of operators and it should be.
What is your top priority? Employ the best people - get the right people on the bus, get them in the right seats, then decide where you're going.
What has been your best investment? The Be At One Training Academy. Allows us to deliver our service and product to a consistently high standard across the company. It is expensive but keeps us ahead of the game.
What has been your best business decision? Partnering with Piper. We thought long and hard before taking the PE route, we may still be in our honeymoon period but we feel it has been a game changer for Be At One.
How much has your business changed to combat the recession? Not dramatically. As I have said we have had to focus harder on doing a better job but only on what we were doing before.
Who is doing something special in the industry? Hawksmoor. They operate with a similar attitude to Be At One: do one thing and do it better that anyone else. I love the feel of the sites, the tone of the service and the steak ain't too bad either!
Most admired brand? See above.
Who has been most influential in your career? Mark Derry. We have known him since TGI Fridays in the early 90's. We have met up with him for beers and advice for much of the last 10 years. He is an understated guy and frankly the best caterer I've met. I was delighted when we were in a position to make an honest man of him and have him join our board as chairman.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? Try and get in front of people you can learn from, who's the most successful person in your industry? Who has achieved what you want to achieve? Give them a call and ask to meet for a coffee. You would be amazed how accessible these people are and willing to give advice if you just pick up the phone.
