Two valued employees from one of the major hospitality businesses in the North West are looking forward to flying out for dream holidays in the Caribbean as a reward for all they have achieved.
Kai Lyu-Sumner, the General Manager at Dr Duncan’s pub in Liverpool and Maria Ciutac, the Sous Chef at The Eccleston Arms in St Helens, were each given a seven night holiday plus £500 in holiday spending money at the Mikhail Hotel & Leisure Group Staff Awards night at The Grand in Southport.
MHALG Chairman Andrew Mikhail and Managing Director Rob Ashcroft treated their teams from venues in Liverpool, Southport, St Helens and Parbold to a glittering night out as they presented a range of awards, thanked employees and set expectations for an exciting year ahead.
Speaking at the Staff Awards, Andrew Mikhail said: “It is fantastic how we have grown from one site into multiple sites, and grown year after year after year.
“We are only as good as the people we work with and the management we have.
“There are winners tonight, but these winners need good people around them. You are all part of that.”
Rob Ashcroft said: “We have some special people and I am proud to be part of this team.
“Sometimes we are very quick to point out where we can be better. That is not an apology, that is why we are good at what we do, that is why we are successful.
“We should celebrate what makes us what we are.
“It has been great to welcome everybody who is relatively new to the Mikhail Group. This year we have added Buzzby’s, we have created HotShots, we have added The Windmill.
“We have some very special people.”
General Manager Of The Year was Kai Lyu-Sumner.
Rob Ashcroft said: “I love Kai’s journey. She started in one venue, and then now she has made Dr Duncan’s her home.
“There is always an opportunity to progress in this group and Kai has taken it.
“2024 was a challenging year for hospitality and for a lot of our venues, but not for this venue.
“Not for one single month did they report a loss.
“Kai’s focus, attitude and desire was evident but she couldn’t do it without her team.”
MHALG Employee Of The Year was Eccleston Arms Sous Chef Maria Ciutac.
Andrew Mikhail said: “Maria has absolutely smashed it.
“She turned this business from its knees to where it is today.
“She has been superb.”
Maria Ciutac said: “I am truly honored to receive the ‘Best Employee of the Year’ award.
“My journey at the Eccleston Arms restaurant has been incredible, and the unwavering support from the company and my colleagues has not only helped me grow professionally but also made me feel part of the MHALG family.
“I want to sincerely thank the management and my amazing team for believing in me and supporting me every step of the way.”
Kai Lyu-Sumner said: “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award. It truly means so much to me, and I’m especially grateful to Romeo, my right hand man, for his continued support and hard work.
“This recognition motivates me to keep pushing forward and strive for even greater success at Dr Duncan’s.”
MHALG venues include: HotShots, ArCains, Dr Duncan’s and The Brewery Tap in Liverpool; The Grand, The Bold, Lord Street Hotel, Punch Tarmey’s, Maverick’s, and the Southport Market central bar in Southport; and The Ecclestone Arms and Buzzby’s in St Helens.
Their newest venture, The Windmill in Parbold, will be the next venue to open its doors soon after an extensive refurbishment.
The Winners were:
Employee Of The Year
Maria Ciutac (Eccleston Arms)
General Manager Of The Year
Kai Lyu-Sumner (Dr Duncan’s)
Special Recognition Award
Tommy Bennetton
Special Recognition Award
Ged Janssen
Lifetime Achievement Award
Anne Patterson
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lisa Birch
Rising Star Award
Callum King
Rising Star Award
Dean Williams
Employee Of The Venue
Alex Stewart (ArCains), Michelle Jones (Punch Tarmey’s Liverpool), Molly Turner (HotShots), Adam Sankey (Lord Street Hotel), Thomas Morris (Southport Market), Paul Olleveant (The Bold), Edwards Buist (The Grand), Maria Ciutac (Eccleston Arms), Elisha Conway (Dr Duncan’s), Erin Fellows (The Windmill)
Most Improved Team Member
Connor Green (ArCains), Kieren Gerrard (Punch Tarmey’s Liverpool), Lewis Melton (HotShots), Freya Beckham (Lord Street Hotel), Paul Nolan (Southport Market), Jack Traynor (The Bold and Mavericks), Lucie Jones (The Grand), Jake Boal (Eccleston Arms and Buzzby’s), Aidan Pounder (Dr Duncan’s), Anna Howard (The Windmill).
Young Employee Of The Year
Isabel Hinton (ArCains), Kai Hogg (Punch Tarmey’s Liverpool), Holly Old (HotShots), Jade O’Malley (Lord Street Hotel), Libby Menzies (Southport Market), Chloe Mikhail (The Bold and Mavericks), Beatriz Melo (The Grand), Ella Foster (Eccleston Arms and Buzzby’s), Hollie Fairhurst (Dr Duncan’s), Kitty Baybutt (The Windmill).
Team Member Of The Year
Anthony ‘The Wizard’ Cross (ArCains), Jack Fisher (Punch Tarmey’s Liverpool), Holly Old (HotShots), Adam Sankey (Lord Street Hotel), Katie Sargent (Southport Market), Lasantha Badullage (The Bold and Mavericks), Lucie Jones / Edward Buist (The Grand), Jake Boal (Eccleston Arms and Buzzby’s), Romeo Morrell (Dr Duncan’s), Jack Jeffers / Pauline McGuire (The Windmill).
Unsung Hero
Toby Winter / Ofir Sandler (ArCains), Michelle Jones (Punch Tarmey’s Liverpool), Holly Old (HotShots), Zoe Hegarty (Lord Street Hotel), Angus Irvine (Southport Market), Jordan Ryan Goddard / Sam Rigby (The Bold and Mavericks), Olivia Schwab / Martin Namutale (The Grand), Josh Healey (Eccleston Arms and Buzzby’s), James Duggan / Elisha Conway (Dr Duncan’s), Edgar Jimmy Castro / Kate Sutcliffe (The Windmill).
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
