Carol-Anne Key first came to The Red House Hotel in Coupar Angus for her own wedding – but liked the place so much she joined the staff, and this year notches up her 30th year working front-of-house at the popular local venue.
The Bannerman family, who have owned The Red House Hotel for the past 42 years, described Carol-Anne as an ‘extremely valued’ member of staff who knows the business and its clientele inside out.
To mark her thirty year anniversary, owner Alan Bannerman gifted Carol-Anne – who is a keen baker – an engraved glass cake stand: “My family and I are very grateful for Carol-Anne’s long service. We send her the warmest congratulations on this significant milestone.”
Carol-Anne said: “Little did I know that when I first started working in York as a teenager at my Great Aunt and Uncle’s family hotel, over the summer holidays, that it would lead to my lifelong career in the hospitality industry.
“It first got me interested in working in a hotel, and after experiencing The Red House at my wedding, I jumped at the chance to work for Alan Bannerman and his team.
“Thirty years later, I am still here. And I’m not the only one – we have several other long serving employees who are all local to the area like myself, and feel such a part of the family!” she said.
The hotel’s assistant manager, Sarah Cooper, is not far behind Carol-Anne on 27 years’ service, whilst George Arnott, one of the hotel’s chefs, is on 29 years.
“The Red House Hotel is certainly that kind of place, where people tend to stick around!” said Carol-Anne. “There’s been a lot of talk about hospitality jobs being very short term, and something you do until something better comes along. That’s not the case for us here – we are enjoying great careers and have progressed in our roles. We are valued by Alan the owner and his family. And the job has enabled us to remain in the area working here.”
She noted that the industry had a tough time over the Covid-19 pandemic, but had come through it: “We now have young people in our team that Sarah and I have been training up. Hopefully they’ll stay and have a long career here as well.”
Mr Bannerman said of Carol-Anne: “She’s an extremely valued member of staff, who along with our entire team, really went the extra mile for us during Covid-19. We couldn’t have got through it without people like her, Sarah and George – they know our business and clientele inside out, and never let us down.
“Carol-Anne represents the very best of Scottish hospitality, a passionate hard-working person who is vital to her local community. We must be doing something right as these people are still with us.
“Obviously, we want to attract more local youngsters to consider a career in hospitality – our sector is vital to the economy, and also, in a rural area like this, tourism, especially golf tourism, is very important. Well done Carol- Anne, and here’s to the next thirty years!”
