Last updated at 14:59, Tuesday, 26 June 2012

HOTELIER Thomas Noblett, nicknamed the Gladiator, is the managing director of the Langdale Chase Hotel in Windermere. He has completed numerous, gruelling open water swimming challenges and starred in the ITV1 show The Lakes.

POSITIVE: Thomas Noblett, managing director of the Langdale Chase Hotel in Windermere

What school did you go to?

Archbishop Michael Ramsey School in inner London.

What was your favourite subject?

Geography, for the travelling and just knowing about various aspects of the world and how the world was put together.

I came top of the year in geography, but was bottom of the year in everything else.

What qualifications did you leave with?

Seven O-Levels and one AS.

Did you go onto further/ higher education – if so, where and what to study?

The Savoy Hotel training academy in London.

What was your ambition before you got your first job?

Initially, when I left school, I was joining the police force. I was working part-time at the Savoy while at school, but because when I was 14 I looked 18, I got the job.

When I worked at the Savoy full-time, I was always four years older than I actually was.

Did you have a role model you looked up to and why?

The restaurant manager at the Savoy Hotel – Luigi Zambon. He always had this great flair about him and the confidence and was able to chat to everybody at every level.

Most of the time I was surrounded by continentals and you had all the different cultures and flair. I learned the je ne sais quoi of the French, the efficiency of the Germans and the flair of the Italians.

What jobs had your family done in the past?

My dad was in the navy for 20 years and my mother was a house wife. My grandparents on both sides were farmers in Ireland.

What was your first job?

The Savoy Hotel.

What has been your career path between your first job and the one you do today?

I spent 10 years at the Savoy, then 15 years in Bermuda where we won the top hotel resort in the world. I was one of the heads of the food and beverage team.

Then I went to the Hyatt in Dubai for 14 months and I’ve been at the Langdale Chase 19 years.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Number one is being able to work with my wife Clare, so she can monitor me 24/7.

Also, it’s being able to meet a variety of people – good, bad and indifferent – and being able to achieve a positive outcome with everybody.

What one thing would you change about your job if you could?

More swimming.

What advice would you give someone starting out today?

Make sure they are 100 per cent into it. Pick something they want to do and not go through the motions of wanting to do something just because there is a wage at the end of it.

I know it’s hard in this day and age, but my belief is everything is possible.

First published at 13:31, Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk