As Hard Rock Cafe Manchester prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in September, two of its staff are also getting ready to toast an incredible quarter of a century at the Printworks restaurant. Operations Manager Gillian Carroll and Adam Smith, who oversees Purchasing and Receiving, have been at Hard Rock Cafe Manchester since it opened its doors in September 2000.
We sat down with them to find out why they love their jobs so much – and what personal memories and food favourites they have from 25 years at Hard Rock:
Not many people stay at the same place of work for 25 years – what do you love most about working there?
Gilly: It has to be the people that I have worked with over the years; there has never been a day where someone has not made me laugh (even in the Covid years) – and the team in Manchester is privileged to have a lot of long-serving staff for the company who understand the culture and are the backbone of this particular cafe. I know people all over the world that I have met through working for Hard Rock, and the various events that I had the opportunity to work at, including the MTV Music Awards in Barcelona, Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park and various manager conferences.
Adam: It has to be the people you meet along the way. I’ve worked alongside so many different people from all walks of life and met some of my closest friends here, who to this day are an important part of my life. You’re encouraged to be yourself, and Hard Rock embraces diversity. Also, the unpredictability of each day. Just when you think you’ve seen it all something comes along to surprise you!
Served any famous faces during your time there?
Gilly: In the early days we had a lot of football players and I looked after David Beckham with his wife Victoria, and the Nevilles and their partners. In music terms, Lemmy from Motorhead came in while gigging in Manchester; Tre Cool, the drummer from Green Day, casually sat at the bar having lunch before a gig at the AO Arena, going unnoticed by his fans; and Taylor Swift hosted a meet and greet with fans very early in her career.
Adam: Being mainly ‘back of house’, I don’t get to cross paths with many guests or celebrities; however, meeting Bananarama during one of our many events is a great memory. I have also been lucky enough to say a quick hello and shake hands with the likes of Duran Duran, Marti Pellow, and Bonnie Tyler.
What’s your all-time favourite dish(es) off the menu?
Gilly: Sweet is easy – Hunka Chunka Choc Banana Love – a banana bread pudding with a peanut butter centre – only around for a short time, but it was delicious. The brownie really can’t be beaten either. Savoury is more difficult – the burgers really are a go-to current favourite – Mushroom and Swiss Smashburger but also the World Burger Tour is back and we are all excited about this. You literally can’t go wrong with Tupelo Tenders – either in sauce, sauce on the side, with chips, with mash on a salad – very versatile and delicious.
Adam: One from the past – Spring Rolls; no longer a menu item but always a favourite. Currently it would be a Spicy Diablo Burger. Sweet favourite is also a past dish – Hunka Chunka Choc Banana Love, which is sadly no longer on the menu, so a current one would have to be an Apple Cobbler.
BM Caterers Turn Forum Words into Action with Access Champion Appointment
