Preston Lee has helped scale some of the busiest and most beloved hospitality businesses across the UK and beyond — but his story started like many others: behind the bar, with no clue what he was doing.

In this episode, Preston breaks down how he turned personal failure into the foundation for The 30% Rule — a training and operations system that’s helped restaurants and bars go from chaos to consistency.

We talk about what most venues get wrong about training, why being nice isn’t the same as offering hospitality, and how systems can make your worst night feel like your best. Whether you’re an operator, bartender, or GM, this one is packed with real talk and real tools.

What We Cover

• Why only 30% of staff naturally operate at a high level
• The mindset shift that doubled revenue in a struggling venue
• Why most managers fail (and how to stop it)
• The difference between service and hospitality — and why guests feel it
• How to build training that actually works
• What consistency really looks like on a busy Saturday night
• Culture killers that start at the top
• Why you can’t scale a team without clear, repeatable systems
• What closing early says about your business
• Why hospitality is one of the most valuable skills in the world

Quotes to Remember

“Most restaurants don’t have a training problem — they have a leadership and systems problem.”

“Hospitality isn’t about being nice. It’s about making your guests feel valued. That’s a mindset.”

Resources & Mentions

• 30percentrule.com – Preston’s training and consulting platform
• @the30rule on Instagram

👋 Connect With Us

Website → www.thecocktailacademy.com

Instagram → @welovecocktails

TikTok → @welovecocktailsx

Email → sayhello@thecocktailacademy.com

🔐 Want More?

This episode includes a bonus Lock-In segment exclusively for hospitality professionals, covering:

• Why most training doesn’t stick
• Preston’s “hospitality hill to die on”
• Advice for founders scaling multi-site operations
• → Unlock it now at thecocktailacademy.com

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