Meet Graham, Food & Beverage Attendant at The Butler
Feb 16, 2023
This month's Employee of Choice is awarded to Graham Llewellyn, Food & Beverage Attendant the Butler Potts Point Sydney. Part of Applejack Hospitality, which is proudly supporting Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and Sydney WorldPride 2023 with a series of show-stopping events across their Sydney restaurants & bars!
About You:
Tell us a bit about yourself – how did you get into hospitality?
Well hey, I’m Graham, I’m from a small country town in Queensland, I actually started employment in retail for 10 years and just really wanted a change. I have been in Sydney for 20 years now and did a long stint on cruise ships in America for 8 years! I’m a bit of an all-rounder but always in customer service!
How did you find yourself in your current role?
At the end of 2020 due to covid, I was applying for anything and everything, It was a difficult time as not many companies were hiring new staff after not knowing what business the first covid lockdown would bring once reopening. I then got an interview at Bopp & Tone which is another one of Applejacks amazing venues. I sat with a Manager, it was a great interview and then I was straight on the floor in a lunch shift! I worked at Bopp & Tone for a little while but was then given an opportunity to join The Butler team – I’ve been in this role for 2 years and I just LOVE IT!!!
What skills have you developed through your hospitality journey?
Oooft, multitasking! It’s a fast paced, fun, service at The Butler! I love leading a section and looking after trials when they come in so they get the best experience with us.
What’s the one utensil you can’t live without?
Legit a pen!!! I’m old school – I need to put pen to paper!
What was your biggest mistake in hospo and what did you learn from it?
I guess not being prepared, I’m super organised now, making sure everything is set up on the stations and at the start of a shift no matter how busy it’s going to be because you never know! We get so many walk-ins at the start of the week so it’s good to be prepared for a busy service always.
What advice would you give to your younger self thinking of working in hospitality?
Be prepared haha!!! I guess that I should have got into it sooner, you just meet some amazing people and work with incredible teams.
What do you enjoy most about working during Mardi Gras / World Pride? 🌈
The extra energy that’s around, the fun, and the excitement!
About your venue:
What do you love most about working in your venue?
The culture, the vibe and the people I work with. It’s so professional and we all look out for each other but most importantly, we have fun! The venue is just beautiful, and I feel really proud to work at The Butler.
What is your venue doing for World Pride? 🌈
Well, we just had an internal ‘Draq-tails’ cocktail competition that myself and another colleague hosted in full drag at The Butler. Each venue had to come up with a cocktail using their inner drag name and each cocktail will be featured as a special in their venue over pride and the best part, a portion of every cocktail sold is donated to the Bobby Goldsmith foundation that helps those affected by HIV. There's always something fun happening in Applejack Hospitality.
On the 22nd February I am hosting ‘Dinner With The Girls’. It’s dinner and a show at The Butler as my drag alto ego Millenia AlcoX – Tickets on sale now https://butlersydney.com.au/sydney-world-pride/
Its a personally designed banquet by our incredible Head Chef Amber Doig, myself and my 2 queens will be entertaining throughout the evening. It’s going to be amazing!
How have you found working for your current hospitality group?
I have been with them as a casual Food & Beverage Attendant for over 2 years and I LOVE coming to work every day. Right from the top, the 2 Founders Ben & Hamish have a genuine interest in all the staff and come and see us a lot, everyone is just really friendly and personable, they keep us informed with everything that’s going on in the business and it just feels like we are always supported by everyone.
How does your venue support the LGBTQIA+ community? 🌈
This is the second year they have let me run events in their venue, I did a show in drag at The Forrester’s and The Butler last year and The Butler again this year, all the venues are so welcoming to everyone. Applejack Hospitality as a whole is diverse and inclusive.
How can hospo be made better?
I just think it needs to be seen as more of a career, the outside culture around it. Its an amazing sector that needs more appreciation.
What do you love most about hospitality?
I love working in it every day and meeting new people, guests and staff! Every day is so different.
🌈 Share with us your favourite Mardi Gras Memory 🌈
Performing at the official Mardi Gras after party with Conchita Wurst and Courtney Act as well as 40 of Sydney’s legendary drag queens!
A big thanks to Graham for sharing his experiences with us and letting us know about all the amazing things Applejack is doing to support World Pride!
If you want to work for one of Australia’s best hospitality groups, check out all of Applejack's range of job roles here.
