The future is yours to create: Courtney Francis  

The first of our 2024 interviewees in this series is Courtney Francis, bartender at Birmingham’s Couch Stirchley in England. She explains how boundaries, feedback and here grandmother have had an impact on her career 

A little bit about me 

I’m a creative person and have always had a passion for experimenting with flavours. I had a quarter-life crisis in lockdown and was feeling underwhelmed by my career in law. After getting involved with a few local cocktail competitions in Bournemouth, and having a curiosity for people, I decided that hospitality was a career I wanted to pursue. I was fortunate to be approached by Gemma Terry at Ojo Rojo for a job after being recognised in these lockdown comps.  

Since 2020 life has been a whirlwind. I’ve constantly been supported by the industry through competitions and new job roles that allow me to develop not only my drinks techniques and knowledge, but my personal skills too. It was the best career change I could have asked for and have found this industry so rewarding. 

I had a quarter-life crisis in lockdown and was feeling underwhelmed by my career in law. Having a curiosity for people, I decided that hospitality was a career I wanted to pursue.

I’m really happy that I have boundaries which allow me to have a work-life balance. I dote on exploring new flavours and learning something new in the drinks world, but outside I enjoy exploring new music, climbing, bird watching and the outdoors. It’s a good balance to keep the mind calm.  

How I approach my work 

I don’t really believe in gatekeeping and enjoy sharing my ideas and processes with others, whether they are bartenders or guests at the bar. I love pushing boundaries with flavours, you’ll always notice which drinks I’ve had involvement in, as there’s usually something weird in there!  

No matter where you come in a competition – first, fourth, last – always ask for feedback.

The most helpful advice I’ve been given is from my mum. When I first started competing at a high level in equestrian sports at a young age, she said ‘no matter where you come in a competition – first, fourth, last – always ask for feedback.’ It was humble advice which in turn has conditioned me to believe that no-one is ever the best at something, we are all constantly learning and growing. That’s what makes life so fun!  

Someone I look up to within industry is my colleague and friend Danny Pope. I have never met someone who is so passionate about customer experience and connections. She knows how to control a room to ensure every guest is having the best time in our venue. We always joke that her job roll is ‘vibe’. Outside of industry I look up to my nan. She’s a very determined woman and has worked since she was 14 years old, and has even been a landlady, so her work ethic has always inspired me.  

My thoughts on mentorship 

When I’m thinking about mentors I’m looking for people who are genuinely excited to be guiding people in industry while being able to accept their own faults and laugh about it. Self-awareness, humility, positivity, integrity and willingness to be a team player are important aspects to look for when choosing who we are to be inspired by.  

It would be great to see more industry leaders team up with brands to give guidance to the next generation.

To help the next generation, leaders need to ensure approachability in order to educate and also give guidance where it is needed. I’m very fortunate with Birmingham as we are such a wholesome community, we all share ideas and recipes with each other as there’s no competitiveness. We are genuinely excited to see each other do well and build a reputation for the city, themselves and the industry as a whole.  

It would be great to see more industry leaders team up with brands to hold masterclasses and to have a bigger platform to give guidance to the next generation, an elevated school of bartending so to speak in the future.  

My hopes for the future 

If I could change one thing about our industry, it would be the perception of hospitality as a career. Our industry is incredible and is constantly evolving, we are creative and host great nights at our bars. Tell me how our industry is less important than others when we are so heavily relied on for people’s social lives. In some countries, people really do value the industry – I’d love to see this become a universal thing in the future. Be proud to be a bartender. 

Bartenders absolutely hold the power to define the future of the industry. For example, Cátia Correia and Sophia Rosser have initiated a project called ‘Safe Spaces’ which aims to empower women and queer people in our community by posing questions and hosting conversations around creating safe spaces for both guests and people who work in industry. It’s admirable how honest and brilliant their series is and is very much needed to determine the future of bars’ ethics and practices.  

Bartenders absolutely hold the power to define the future of the industry.

To make sure our voices are heard in society the bar community needs to make sure everyone is listened to and celebrated. This can be achieved through supporting your bar community in your towns and cities by singing their praises to your guests as you recommend new spots for them to enjoy. Just having an openness to converse honestly with anyone about the highs and lows is important, as well as creating a safe space for these conversations. 

I want my legacy to be that I have been a positive member of our industry who has supported the education and growth of the next generation of bartenders through helping and engaging with them whenever they need it.