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What were you like at school? How would your teachers describe you?
A quote from a school report said “Alison is quite good but can be noisy in certain company”
What did your parents do?
My father was first a farmer then a lecturer in agriculture. My mother was a home economics and needlework teacher which is why I was always asked to alter the evening dresses for the teachers.
What made you start a career in hospitality?
Home economics was my favourite class, I was really good at it but was always marked down for not following recipes – even though the results were great. I then started working in restaurants when I was 14 and I loved it.
I heard you like making new mistakes – what do you mean by this?
I so hate repeated mistakes in business. It means people have not learnt from them the first time.
Is it true that you are on a lifelong hunt for George Clooney look-alikes?
I certainly am! Every time an advert comes on with him in I stop and watch it. These are the only adverts I will ever watch. Some people get better with age, he is certainly one of them.
How on earth do I know which wine to order in a restaurant? Is there any safe bets?
Depends on what you like. If it is white then I like Italian Gavi de gavi, but new world Sauvignon Blanc or Chablis are all safe bets.
You are a Virgo – they are highly organized and task-oriented. Virgos have strong analytical skills and they like things done right, in fact you could say they are extreme perfectionist. Does this sound like you?
Oh dear yes and my team will definitely verify it.
Have you ever served any famous people? – what was it like?
The best one for me was seeing Richard Branson and apparently Danny Minogue was in our pub the other day.
What was your best holiday ever?
My honeymoon on North Island in the Seychelles.
Describe a typical day in the world of Alison?
Check messages, check e-mails, update my to do list. Then whatever is in my diary - generally visiting sites, checking standards, chatting with our team players, meeting clients and catching up with my senior management team.
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