David Carson

Alcohol Free coach

• What was your favourite subject at school?

I would say Art. I enjoyed being creative and the teachers were more laid back than other subjects. I had a great Maths teacher who made everything easy to understand – it wasn’t enough to make me enjoy Maths but his approach stuck with me. I’ve been lucky enough to bump into him on a number of occasions over the years.

• What was your first job?

I delivered the Evening Times when I was around 15, back in the day when people read newspapers and it was still an evening paper. My 1st hospitality job was as a glass collector in a club in Paisley called Pravda, not long after my 18th birthday in 1999. I grew up very quickly in that job and to this day, it’s still my favourite ever job.

• Which is your favourite restaurant /hotel?

Porter & Rye – I still remember a duck egg dish from the menu when they 1st opened, which is probably close to 10 years ago now.

• How do you inspire your team

Everyone is different so there needs to be different levels of motivation. I’m pretty quiet and an introvert so actions speak louder than words for me so a non-negotiable is getting into the trenches with the team when the going gets tough and doing the dirty work. I also believe that if the team sees that you are striving to develop them and the venue, then they will respond positively. Create an environment where people can grow without fear of making mistakes, and give them autonomy whilst doing so.

• Which person in hospitality have you most admired / inspired you?

I’ve been lucky enough to work with and for some great people over the years, too many to mention all of them. Early in my career I was with G1 at the same time as guys like James Brown and Andy McCartney so it’s great to see these guys absolutely flying. I had a great few years in charge of Lebowskis at a time where the owners Graham Suttle, Scott Arnott and Mo Clarke were trailblazing in Finnieston and setting the standard there. There was a real, tangible energy within the company.

• How do you manage your stress levels?

When I’m stressed / anxious at work I go outside for a short walk, take some deep breaths and remind myself I’ve got a strong team around me and that I should trust my own experience and ability as well. When I’m stressed at home it’s usually a favourite tv series or film that comes to the rescue.

• Instagram, Twitter or Facebook – and why?

I’m trying to cut down on social media; I waste far too much time on it that could be better spent. For personal use it’s Twitter, mainly for sports news. I have an Instagram account, but I have never posted anything. While Insta is great for promoting food and drink, I think it contributes massively to the poor mental health of young people.

• If you had not gone into hospitality, where do you
  think you would be now?

I think I would have pursued a career in school teaching.

• What did you do on your last days off?

A Sunday morning run followed by my 1st ever and probably last ever Pilates workout. The rest of the day was filled with football on the tv.

• What do you do to relax, to support your wellbeing?

The biggest thing I have done for my Wellbeing is quit drinking in April 2024. That has reduced my stress & anxiety and greatly improved my overall mood. The extra energy has been put into running. I am lucky to have Glasgow Green on my doorstep, and I run 3 or 4 times a week. I’ve ran both the Edinburgh and Lisbon Marathons this year. Getting quality sleep is also very important but also hard to achieve with a full-time career in hospitality. Gardening is also crucial to my wellbeing. I’ve also stopped watching the News. 7 weeks and counting…