Meet the man behind Gusto York
Gusto York opened just two months ago, but the restaurant is already receiving rave reviews. We met the general manager, 28-year-old Glenn Walter, who lives in York, to find out more about the man behind the successful restaurant.
Tell us about your background and how you became the general manager?
I have two nationalities, I am French and German. My mother is from Paris and my father is from Munich. I studied between Paris and Sheffield, which is how I first came to the UK. I met my partner at university, so after studying for four years, I decided to come back to the UK and do a masters at Leeds Beckett University. From there, I joined Living Ventures at Blackhouse in Leeds and I became really interested in hospitality.
Gusto opened in Leeds and I became the duty manager there, and now I am based in York as the general manager. I have been with Gusto for two and a half years now.
What has Gusto’s feedback been so far?
The feedback has been fantastic. Gusto fits perfectly in York, the area is famous for its pubs and fine-dining. We are a cut above the rest when it comes to service and food. Yes, we are a chain, but we pride ourselves on being close to the local community.
The choice of the building that we moved into in York was very important, we wanted to be in an iconic building, so when Little Stonegate became an option, we knew it was the right one. We decided to keep a lot of the building’s features when we refurbed. We have a lot of locals coming in just to see how we have transformed the place.
Who are your target market?
In terms of locals and tourists, we aim to please both. We are also keen to welcome families into the restaurant, but we are very popular with businesses and professionals. At night, the place comes alive with young professionals, who love our cocktails.
What are the most popular items on the menu?
Visitors love our pizzas, that are freshly made. We only use fresh ingredients and everything is cooked to order, which makes our food above the competition. Our slow cooked pork belly dish is very popular, so is our pan-fried fillet of sea bass.
What is your favourite thing about York?
I absolutely love the architecture. All the buildings have so much character and it is incredibly quirky, which makes the place amazing. When I told my family back home in Germany and France that I was moving to York, they knew where I meant straight away. It really is a very famous place.
