Archie Still

Professional Experience Summary – Links House, Dornoch (5★ Hotel & 2 AA Rosette Restaurant)

During my time at Links House in Dornoch, I held the role of Sole Bartender and was responsible for the full creation and development of the hotel’s cocktail and drinks menu. Working within a prestigious five-star environment and a two AA Rosette restaurant, I consistently delivered a high standard of service while crafting a unique beverage offering tailored to the luxury expectations of our guests.

I took full creative ownership of the bar programme, designing seasonal menus, developing signature cocktails, and ensuring every drink aligned with the property’s refined brand identity. My role required a balance of creativity, technical skill, and an in-depth understanding of spirits, flavor profiles, and guest preferences.

One of my key achievements included a collaboration with The Dalmore Whisky, where I curated a Dalmore-specific cocktail menu showcasing the depth and complexity of the brand’s various age expressions. I created a full presentation outlining my vision for the collaboration—highlighting flavor theory, guest experience design, and storytelling through cocktails—which was well received by both management and brand representatives.

I was also proud to win a cocktail competition involving Gleneagles and several other high-end Highland hotels, demonstrating not only my mixology skills but also my innovation, professionalism, and ability to perform under pressure.

Working at Links House strengthened my passion for hospitality and elevated my understanding of luxury service. I refined my attention to detail, ensuring every drink, interaction, and experience exceeded expectations.

The high standards of the hotel allowed me to further develop my craft, deepen my product knowledge, and cultivate a polished and guest-focused approach to service. This role enabled me to grow into a more confident, skilled, and adaptable hospitality professional capable of creating memorable and high-quality guest experiences.

• Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
• Successfully delivered on tasks within tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Worked flexible hours, covering nights, weekends and bank holidays.
• Completed duties to deliver on targets with accuracy and efficiency.
• Displayed energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment.
• Applied critical thinking to analyse problems, evaluate solutions and select best decisions.
• Delivered exceptional customer service by proactively listening to concerns and answering questions.

• Developed strong multitasking abilities, managing several responsibilities simultaneously while meeting deadlines and quality standards.
• Delivered professional, high-quality guest interactions, ensuring every guest felt valued, respected, and well-supported.
• Created memorable and personalized guest experiences, tailoring service to individual needs to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Strengthened communication skills, including active listening, clear verbal communication, and conflict-resolution techniques.
• Enhanced teamwork and collaboration, working closely with colleagues to ensure smooth operations and resolve challenges quickly.
• Built strong problem-solving skills, addressing guest concerns promptly and finding effective solutions on the spot.
• Gained time-management and organizational skills, prioritizing tasks effectively during busy shifts.
• Adapted quickly to changing situations, adjusting to new tasks, demands, and workloads with flexibility.
• Demonstrated reliability and professionalism, consistently meeting expectations, showing up on time, and taking initiative.
• Learned to follow company policies and uphold brand standards, contributing to a consistent and high-quality service environment.
• Improved attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in service delivery and maintaining a polished guest experience.