Having worked in bars throughout her time at university, Afton is no stranger to hospitality. After testing out a few industries after uni, she realised that her ultimate goal was to go back to running pubs, and so she did.

Now an Assistant Manager at Nicholson’s The Globe, the heart of London, Afton is doing what she does best. We caught up with her to find out what it’s like to work as an Assistant Manager in the capital, and how she’s developed her career with M&B.

Why did you join M&B?

‘M&B has some of the most famous chains in Britain under its ownership, so it seemed like the ideal place to restart my hospitality career. I knew with M&B I’d be given the right guidance and training to get myself to the level I wanted to be at.’

We’re passionate about teamwork and providing our people with the development they want. Our teams work extremely hard, so rewarding them with opportunities to progress through our business is just one of the many benefits we offer.

What is a typical day like as an Assistant Manager at M&B?

‘The role of an Assistant Manager is multi-faceted and diverse, and at M&B no two days are the same. Whether it’s working on a project, creating rotas, helping arrange events at the pub, delivering training for the team, managing bookings, taking in deliveries, ordering, hiring, and inducting new team members or simply serving guests on the bar, there is always something exciting to work on.’

What’s the best thing about working at a Nicholson’s Pub?

‘One of the great things about working in a bar is the people you meet and the team you create. It’s a cliché to say it but there is no ‘I’ in team and that’s exactly what makes working with them on a daily basis so great. No matter what we face, we always find a way to succeed. It’s truly a pleasure to see the team come together each day to overcome any obstacles in our path and in turn, deliver a great experience for our guests.’

Working at Mitchells & Butlers is more than just a job. We’re one big family and we’re proud of our culture so this is great to hear, and exactly why so many of our teams end up as lifelong friends!

Do you have any tips for those looking for a career in leadership?

‘I think to be a great leader, you have to have a mixture of attributes which can be different depending on each person as we all have our own management styles which are effective in different ways. For me personally, I lead by example every day, going above and beyond what is expected to highlight to my team what can be done when we put in the effort.

On top of that, I think resilience and adaptability are crucial as not everything will always go to plan, and you need to be able to adapt your plan in real time. Finally, I think empathy is sometimes overlooked. Understanding any issues or concerns the team may have and empathising with them allows me to adapt my response.’

Afton certainly has the qualities we look for in a leader!

What’s your proudest moment at M&B?

‘My proudest moment was holding my own bar for several months during the absence of a General Manager. For any Assistant Manager, this is the ‘moment of truth’ so to speak. Can you handle it when you are the one in control? Can you handle it when there is no one else to turn to and all the decisions lie with you? To come through that pressure and answer those questions with a resounding yes was a great experience for me and fills me with an abundance of confidence.’

If you could serve one famous person at Nicholson’s, who would it be and why?

‘This is a tough one. I think I’ll go with Elon Musk. As CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, he is such a visionary and his ability to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible for humans appeals to me greatly, as does his concern for the environment and climate change. I have so many questions for him, so I’d definitely like to serve him.’

Find out more about working at Mitchells and Butlers

Have you been inspired by Afton’s passion? Find out more about management at M&B and browse our available assistant manager jobs today. We have jobs all over the UK; in the heart of London, by the coast, in cosy countryside pubs; you name it, we’re most likely there. Wherever you choose, the M&B family will welcome you with open arms.