When Sarah joined M&B in 2021 as an Assistant Manager, she was looking for an opportunity to grow her career in hospitality. Nearly five years later, she's proudly leading The Five Bells in Aylesbury as General Manager.
A unique Vintage Inns pub and restaurant with an Innkeepers Collection hotel, The Five Bells welcomes local regulars, business travellers and guests exploring the Buckinghamshire countryside. For Sarah, that means one thing: no two days are ever the same.
From developing her management skills to learning how to run a busy pub, restaurant and hotel, Sarah's career journey shows where a hospitality management career can take you.
Meet Sarah and find out what it's really like to progress from Assistant Manager to General Manager, the skills that have helped her along the way and what she loves about leading a hotel, pub and restaurant all under one roof.
From Assistant Manager to General Manager: Sarah's career journey
Can you tell us about yourself and your career journey at M&B?
“My name is Sarah, I'm the General Manager at The Five Bells in Aylesbury. I've been with M&B for nearly five years, joining in 2021 as an Assistant Manager. In October 2025, I began taking on the responsibility of running The Five Bells and officially became General Manager in February 2026.
It’s been an exciting journey and one I’m incredibly proud of!”
Sarah's journey is a great example of how a career in hospitality management can develop over time. Starting as an Assistant Manager, she built her experience, took on more responsibility and progressed into a General Manager role.
What training and development opportunities can help you progress in hospitality?
What support, training or development opportunities have been most valuable in helping you progress your career?
“The training from M&B has certainly played a part in my development but some of the most valuable learning has happened on the job.
Working alongside great people, sharing ideas and best practice with colleagues and being open to continuous learning has helped me grow both professionally and personally. I've learned so much throughout my time with the company and that support network has been a huge part of my journey.”
For Sarah, career development hasn't just come from formal training. Learning from colleagues, sharing ideas and taking on new challenges have all helped her develop the skills and confidence needed to take the next step in her hospitality career.
What skills do you need to become a General Manager?
What skills and qualities do you think have been key to your success as a General Manager?
“For me, the key skills that have supported my success as a General Manager are communicating well, understanding the commercial side of the business and most importantly, building a great team!
I love working with people and helping team members grow in confidence, develop their skills and succeed together. Seeing people progress is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.”
From communication and commercial awareness to team leadership, being a General Manager means balancing people, customers and the wider running of the business.
For Sarah, building a great team is at the heart of the role. Helping other people develop their skills and confidence is one of the parts of hospitality management she finds most rewarding.
What's it really like running a hotel, pub and restaurant?
What do you love most about leading The Five Bells hotel?
“What I love most about running The Five Bells hotel is the variety. No two days are ever the same.
You're not just running a hotel. You're also managing a busy pub and restaurant, which means there's always something happening. From supporting the team to welcoming guests from around the world, every day brings new opportunities and challenges.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is creating great experiences for our guests and making sure they leave happy.”
Running The Five Bells means Sarah gets to experience many different sides of hospitality in one role. From supporting her team and welcoming hotel guests to overseeing the pub and restaurant, there's always something new to tackle.
It's this variety that makes hospitality management such an interesting career. You can develop experience across different areas of the business while building your leadership, customer service and commercial skills.
Why choose a career with Innkeepers Collection?
Why would you recommend a career with Innkeepers Collection to someone considering their next step in hospitality?
“I'd absolutely recommend a career with Vintage Inns and Innkeepers Collection to anyone looking for a new challenge. If you enjoy working with people, being part of a team and having a role where every day is different, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and develop.
Hospitality can be hard work, but it's incredibly rewarding. I'm a great example of that myself, having progressed from Assistant Manager to General Manager. I'd definitely encourage you to give it a go. You never know where the journey might take you!”
Sarah's career journey shows that you don't necessarily need to have your entire hospitality career mapped out from day one. Starting in one role can give you the experience, skills and confidence to take on your next challenge.
And if you're interested in hospitality management, there are plenty of different directions your career could take, from pub and restaurant management to hotel operations and General Manager roles.
What to expect from a career with Innkeepers Collection
Thinking about your next step in hospitality? Here's what Sarah's experience at The Five Bells shows you can expect:
- Variety: Be part of a hotel, pub and restaurant all under one roof, where no two days are the same.
- People: Meet people from all walks of life, from local regulars to guests travelling from around the world.
- Teamwork: Work alongside great people, share ideas and support each other as you develop.
- Development: Build your confidence, develop new skills and take on fresh challenges throughout your career.
- Career progression: Take your next step in hospitality management, just as Sarah progressed from Assistant Manager to General Manager.
Ready to take your next step in hospitality?
Sarah's journey from Assistant Manager to General Manager shows just how much your hospitality career can evolve when you're given the opportunity to learn, take on new challenges and grow with your team.
If you're looking for your next hospitality management opportunity, explore the latest Innkeepers Collection jobs and discover where a career with M&B could take you.
