Acorns 2021: Lydia Rigby, 28

Restaurant manager, the Pig in the South Downs, West Sussex

Nominator Darryl Harris, F&B manager, the Pig at Bridge Place, Canterbury, Kent

The Pig hotels have a reputation for good, intuitive service, so the appointment of Lydia Rigby as restaurant manager for the newest piglet provides an idea of her talents.

Rigby joined Home Grown Hotels as a part-time waitress and stayed to gain experience as a bartender, supervisor, bar manager and receptionist. In 2020, she was given the role of assistant restaurant manager, overseeing a team of 20 in a busy 90-cover restaurant.

Her talent lies in motivating her team through informative briefings and tastings (pre-Covid), and her energy inspires junior employees to emulate her style and improve their skillsets.

As the Pig in the South Downs has a vineyard, her diligence has led her to boost her wine knowledge by self-funding a WSET Level 3 diploma while working. Ever-industrious, she used lockdown as an opportunity to rewrite the F&B training manual and before the April reopening, she could be found leading roleplay training sessions, menu knowledge quizzes and tray-carrying races to prepare and engage staff. She also somehow found time to help the reception team in their mammoth rebooking task.

Her dedication to the industry is tangible. Rigby is one of the co-founders of Seat at the Table, a digital campaign calling for the appointment of a minister for hospitality in government.

What is the most positive people change you see for your sector post-restrictions?

“There is now greater recognition of the industry. Hospitality is a dynamic and hugely rewarding career path for young people; I hope that a change in public perception and support from government bodies will ensure we are able to motivate and develop talent moving through the sector.”

Photography: Hospitality Media/Adrian Franklin

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