Montpeliers (Edinburgh) announces a jobs boost along with plans to increase profile in Edinburgh

MONTPELIERS (Edinburgh), the leading hotel, style bar and restaurant operator, has announced yet another significant jobs boost as it expands its operations in the Capital’s hospitality sector.

The company needs to recruit 50 people to work in Lulu, the new bar/club within Montpeliers’ £7 million Tigerlily development in Edinburgh’s George Street that is due to open in September.

The jobs will be predominantly mixologists and bar tenders, but Montpeliers is once more cementing its reputation for innovation in the hospitality sector by creating a number of unique “drinks hosts” positions.

Karen Calvert, Area Business Manager, said the last two months had seen a dramatic change to the company’s workforce profile.

She said: “The opening of Tigerlily in late June created 100 jobs, then in early July we had to find another 150 people to work in our Spiegel Garden operation at the George Square Gardens festival site and now we need to recruit an additional 50 staff to work in Lulu.

“This will put the total Montpeliers staff profile at 650 – a massive increase on the 350 people we had working for the company at the start of the year.  I can’t think of another company of our size who has recorded that kind of impressive growth.  It signals how the Montpeliers firm is now firmly positioned as one of the major independent players in the hospitality sector in Scotland.”

Tigerlily, which opened on June 29, has already won plaudits from both the industry and customers alike for its stunning design, superior food and drink and excellent customer service. Nowhere in Edinburgh can you find opulent Georgian heritage blended with a cool yet comfortable contemporary style.

The next stage of Tigerlily’s evolution is the opening of its glamorous subterranean club, Lulu, scheduled for September 14.

David Johnston, who was part of the Tigerlily design team, said Lulu would be part bar-club-lounge with a very intimate yet decadent and exciting feel.

He said: “The look is very lush, almost like a boudoir but at the same time it will be bursting with energy and filled with state-of-the-art tricks. There will be no place like it in Edinburgh – in fact it’s so different from Tigerlily, which itself is out on its own in the Capital.”

Montpeliers is looking for 50 full and part staff for bar positions in Lulu. Around 15 of those posts will be trained up as drinks hosts. While experience would be an advantage, Montpeliers is happy to hear from people who are keen to enter the bar and hospitality sector as it operates it own highly-regarded Training Academy which provides full training.

Karen Calvert said: “We want customers at Lulu to feel they are at their own private party, with attentive staff who understand what they want and know what they are talking about.

Our drinks hosts will do just that.  They will under go specialised training so they are hugely knowledgeable on all aspects of drinks service.  So as well as being able to describe the wine list, they will be able to recommend a cocktail based on personal preferences or guide a customer through the extensive spirit range in order to try something new and exciting.  Clearly, they will also be highly trained in properly presenting and serving drinks.

“Lulu will do things differently that other bars or clubs in Edinburgh. It’s certainly not a disco or nightclub, but while it will have an exclusive feel, it will be very accessible and comfortable.”

Karen added: “This is an exciting opportunity for people who enjoy bar and waiting work. While previous experience will help, we’re just as happy to hear from people who have the right personality and customer care skills that may be new to the industry. There’s a very solid career that can be mapped out in the hospitality sector, and with our recognised SVQ qualifications there’s lots of potential for the right person to move up the ladder of Montpeliers.”

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