Meet The Team: Milo

The Watermark officially has a blog! And we thought we’d get started in the best possible way; by shouting out our wonderful, hard-working team. First up we have Milo. Milo joined us around a year ago, and they quickly became an integral part of the team. We sat down with them to find out a little bit more about them…

What is your favourite cocktail?

You can’t beat a Bloody Mary. I like mine spicy, with a shit ton of olive brine in it.

Which cocktail do you absolutely hate?

Anything that Callum makes. Or a strawberry daquiri… they bring back PTSD from when I worked in Revs.

What do you like about working at The Watermark?

Definitely the regulars. A few that stand out are Harry Roberts, Lao and chef Jack Richards. Good old charva… Sorry for the favouritism to my other regulars! Also the lovely friends I’ve made behind the bar.

Where do you like to go for a drink when you’re not working?

I love Domino Club, Tabula Rasa of course. They are my two usual spots… but I keep find finding myself in Neon Cactus, which might be becoming a problem. Their pina coladas are seriously delicious. Basically a dessert drink – heaven.

How long have you lived in Leeds?

I’ve lived in Leeds for five years this year. I moved up for university and never went home…. It’s better up here!

What’s your game plan in a zombie apocalypse?

I’d like to think I’d do really well in the zombie apocalypse, but in reality I’m really blind and clumsy, so I’d probably end up breaking my glasses in about ten minutes. Also I really hate cardio. I’d either lock myself in the Watermark and drink myself to death, or I’d try for two weeks and probably end up dead.

What’s the first thing you do after getting home from work?

Roll up some oregano, have a fruity cigarette. If it’s a proper evening off I’ll cook some scran, but if it’s a late one I just want to go to sleep so I’ll feel fresh for the next day. Depends

What do you love about bartending?

Definitely the social aspect! I used to want to be a chef, but when I got the job I couldn’t cope with the stress. It can be a bit antisocial as you’re trapped in a small room all day, and you don’t really get the chance to talk to customers. So bartending allows me to enjoy the fun side of flavours, and you also get to socialise. I’m not going to lie, it’s also really nice to get a compliment from a customer when they love their drink!

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

First day sleeping, second day…. What I want to say isn’t an appropriate answer, so I’ll say spending time with my girlfriend!

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Definitely teleportation. Easy. 100%. I could go on holiday whenever I want. Also being super stretchy would be fun. Like Miss Incredible. Also, she is THICC. Not sure what they were thinking putting her in a kids film…

What’s something an outsider wouldn’t know about your industry?

Probably the graft that goes into it. A lot of people assume that it is an easy job; that you’re just slinging drinks out and it only takes a couple of minutes. In reality there is so much time spent on prep; making garnishes, preparing blends. I love the process, but I don’t think every customer realises the effort that goes into every drink! Also, you’ve gotta be hench to drag a beer keg up some stairs.

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Easy - ice cream. I have a genuine addiction to ice cream. If I could only have one flavour, I’d probably choose the Ben and Jerry’s Banoffee Pie. Or a Twister. Classic.