Donald Horne

Assistant Manager , The Skillet Glasgow & Trustee Hospitality Health.

• What was your favourite subject at school?

I would have to say that home economics was my favorite subject at school. All teachers in the department were so helpful, amazing and fundamental in helping me land my first ever hospitality job.

• What was your first job?

My first job was a commis waiter at One Devonshire Gardens with Andrew Fairlie and later Gordon Ramsay.

• Which is your favourite restaurant /hotel?

I am very fortunate and humbled to have dined and stayed in some truly outstanding places but hotel stay I would say One Devonshire Gardens. It is steeped with so much history and has amazing architecture. Restaurant is a tough call, but I would have to say The Pompadour within The Caledonian Hotel which is now unfortunately now closed. Everything about my evening from the architecture of the restaurant, our table, food, wine, service and company was absolutely outstanding.

• How do you inspire your team

I like to show my team that I wouldn’t ask and expect them to do anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do myself and help out and work hard wherever and whenever I am needed which will then hopefully inspire them to follow my lead do a great job.

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

I would definitely say my first restaurant manager at One Devonshire. He fully supported and believed in me at such a young age and gave me the confidence and the chance to pursue my career in hospitality.

• How do you manage your stress levels?

I like to get out on my bike or go for a walk, but nothing beats listening to music and going to a concert to sing your stress levels away! Drinking a quality wine always helps with the stress a lot as well.

• Instagram, Twitter or Facebook – and why?

I like using Instagram more these days. It is more photo based and has much more information and interesting content. I also have a slight love of scrolling through tic tok!

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

I have often thought about this question and I honestly have no idea, but if I wasn’t in hospitality in some aspect, I would definitely love to be involved in music somehow.

• What did you do on your last days off?

Last days off I done some housework, visited my family, made a nice dinner to share with my fiancé, and watched some football with my friends.

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

I like to spend as much time as possible with my friends and family and keep active to support my wellbeing and keep my mind active. To relax I like to go walking and go sit and have a coffee and a wee cake or else sit and chill in the flat watching tv or play my guitar with a wee glass of wine.