Katie Gosney, the deputy manager at The George Hathersage always thought she’d end up in the big smoke with a career in London. That was until the pandemic changed the course of her career and brought her home to the Peak District.

A self-confessed ‘stubborn woman’, Katie passed up many opportunities for promotion within Longbow Venues until she set a goal to purchase her own home in the Peaks.

Katie’s progressed from working as a teen in a village pub in Bamford to her management position. At only 25, she has clear personal and professional goals in mind in the fast-paced world of hospitality she’s come to love.

Mastering It All As a Teenager

Katie’s first steps into the industry began as a teenager at The Anglers Rest in Bamford. “I needed my own money, so I worked Saturdays and Sundays,” Katie recalls. She quickly fell in love with the role, doing everything from waitressing to managing the tills. “My boss gave me a lot of independence, and I worked with friends, so it was always fun and lively.”

This love for hospitality stayed with Katie even as she pursued a degree in Business and Management at the London School of Business and Management. Moving from the quiet village of Bamford to the hustle and bustle of London was transformational. While others might have been overwhelmed with the business of the capital, Katie thrived there. “I loved the fast pace, I loved that everything on my doorstep, and even the Tube didn’t phase me – it all felt so exciting.”

Katie’s love of all things speedy wasn’t just limited to her environment and the new city she was calling home. Being capable, organised and dedicated, Katie was invited to fast-track her degree in just two years. “It was hard and I was in Uni every day 9-5pm. I’d work evenings and weekends for a marketing agency that sent me on regular jobs working as a Dior fragrance consultant and ad-hoc events as a waitress or even a chef. It was full on but I love a challenge and managed to spin many plates at once.” But in early 2020, the arrival of Covid changed everything.

Returning to Her Roots

“I was in the middle of my second and final fast-tracked year, working on my dissertation, when I got an email saying all lessons would move online because of this thing called Covid,” she recalls. Despite the growing concerns, Katie was determined to stay in London. “My mum called me and said, ‘You’re coming home.’ I told her, ‘It will last a month, it’s fine. I’m staying in London.’”

Unbeknownst to Katie, her brother Eddie, who was living in Denmark, had other plans. “He flew back to London to get me and take me home to Derbyshire, pretending he was coming anyway to celebrate my 21st birthday,” Katie says with a laugh. “I was so stubborn and told him, ‘It will just be a few weeks Eddie, stay with me in London. We don’t need to go to Mum’s.’ We even stocked up at Lidl like it was the war, panic buying toilet rolls, tins, you name it.”

But as the situation escalated, the sight of the army on the streets changed her perspective. “I thought, ‘Woah, maybe this is more serious than I think.’ Eddie finally admitted, ‘I was sent to get you. Mum is coming to get us.’” Realising the lengths her brother went to (including risking being locked out of Denmark) Katie packed her life into a single suitcase in just six hours. “London was so eerie, like a ghost town. Seeing the army on the streets was really scary. That’s when I knew it was time to leave.”

Back home in Derbyshire, Katie found herself living with her mum, stepdad, and Eddie again for the first time in three years. “It was surreal, but it gave me the chance to finish my degree while Eddie worked from home. Looking back, it was a strange but special time for us as a family.”

By November 2020, an opportunity arose to cover shifts at The George in Hathersage. It was a challenging time, with strict Covid rules and ever-changing guidelines, but Katie’s hard work and adaptability shone through.
“I did a bit of everything; front desk, bar, housekeeping and even stepped in as a breakfast chef. It was tough, but it felt good to be doing something during such an uncertain time.”

Embracing Change with Longbow Venues

When The George was acquired by Longbow Venues in June 2021, the changes were immediate. Katie saw the potential in the new leadership and stayed. During The George’s three-month refurbishment, Katie worked at The Maynard where she received invaluable training.

“It was a totally different atmosphere. I’d come from the old George that was outdated. I was wearing a dress, tights, and heels which looking back now feels so old school. I was always uncomfortable, and my feet always hurt. On my first shift at The Maynard, I turned up in my usual George uniform and felt a bit out of place – everyone could hear me coming from a mile away with the noise of my clippy-cloppy heels echoing through the restaurant. Stephen Atkinson who was the area manager of Longbow Venues back then, reassured me that black trainers and trousers were fine. I was so comfortable physically – no more throbbing feet at the end of the shift, and within the team too.”

Rising Through the Ranks

Katie’s career within Longbow Venues has progressed from supervisor to duty manager, then assistant manager, and now deputy manager of The George.

“I was stubborn at first, not seeing hospitality as a long-term plan. Stephen Atkinson, operations director, had many chats with me and offered me so many promotions that I turned down. When I was offered the role of deputy manager at The George I actually told him and managing director, Rob Hattersley, that I needed time to think about it. We were at an awards ceremony a couple of days later and Rob said “Right, come and talk to me. What’s the resistance? I’m here to answer any questions.” We chatted it out and I realised that I love where I am and have big personal goals to buy my own home next year. Accepting the position would help me both professionally and personally so I said yes. “YES GOSNEY!” shouted Rob on the phone call when I accepted the day after.

Looking Ahead

The success and promotions of her fellow colleagues and friends made Katie realise the opportunities within Longbow Venues. “Longbow truly feels like a family, and I’ve learned so much from working with them.”

When asked if she’d like to progress into a general manager role, Katie replied; “When The George flooded I was redeployed to assist the team in Head Office which I really enjoyed. I didn’t expect to love it so much but it was great. So my future goal would be to progress into an HQ role and make use of my obsession with admin, systems and processes. This would also give me more social time with my family too as I have a 4-year-old sister who I love spending time with.”

Finally, Katie had this advice for anyone considering a career in hospitality; “Be open-minded and grab the opportunities that come your way. I’ve been stubborn in the past and could’ve progressed faster if I’d listened to my colleagues. Hospitality is incredibly rewarding, especially within a team like Longbow Venues. The food, the customers, and the pride in supporting local suppliers make it all worthwhile.”

Join the Longbow Team

Katie’s story is just one example of how hospitality can be a very rewarding career, even when you don’t expect it to be long-term! If you’re ready to join a Sunday Times Best Places to Work team with an ethos of ‘people over profits, always’ that values its people, supports local producers, and delivers exceptional experiences, why not explore a role at Longbow Venues?

Take a look at our latest vacancies here.