Having initially studied drama, Ian was lured into a hospitality career with his first position at The Brewery, in Chiswell Street, where he started as a cloakroom attendant, later promoting to the position of wine waiter and finally, senior floor manager. From there, he moved to The Millennium Hotel on Grosvenor Square, taking up the position of Senior Operations Manager.
In 2002, Ian then entered the private members’ world, with a role as Private Events Operation Manager at Home House. During his tenure there, he embraced all aspects of the business, taking on positions from Events Sales Manager to Assistant F&B Manager. His final role at Home House was as Front of House Manager, before joining The Arts Club in 2014.