Pros
Absolutely none. This has to be the worst place to work.
Cons
The leadership team is made up of inexperienced individuals who come across as pushovers. It’s painfully obvious that most are in their positions due to their ties with the owner, not because of any real capability. Without his backing, it’s doubtful they’d hold senior roles elsewhere. Shockingly, after just one week at the company, I was shown inappropriate videos and told by external contacts and even some staff about the owner’s alleged behavior—including having personal relationships with multiple employees. What’s worse is that this isn’t limited to internal dynamics; he also actively seeks “arrangements” with people outside the business. This sort of conduct seems to be widely known but quietly accepted, creating a deeply uncomfortable and unprofessional environment. If you’re not part of that inner circle—or “clique”—you’re likely to be sidelined, though in hindsight, that may be a blessing. As for the owner himself—he is, without exaggeration, a coward and a narcissist who leads entirely based on emotion and ego. He surrounds himself with underqualified people who won’t challenge him and manipulates them into thinking his methods are innovative and successful. In reality, it’s a smokescreen: a patchwork of number-dodging, misleading investors, and shifting money through to his other businesses. Corners are cut everywhere—on safety, on operations, and on quality—resulting in a bargain-basement product masquerading as a premium experience. Using the word “luxury” in branding doesn’t change the fact that sites are furnished with IKEA and eBay purchases, and centre managers are given £10 budgets to run “weekly events.” It’s all smoke and mirrors, and anyone with half an eye can see through it. On the employment side, the company enforces a six-month probation period for all roles, during which only one week’s notice is required. They frequently extend probations, and there’s a clear pattern of letting people go before they reach the two-year mark—likely to avoid triggering certain employment benefits or financial obligations. It comes across as a cost-cutting tactic rather than a legitimate performance-management process. Overall, I’m embarrassed to have been associated with this company. It’s a prime example of how a business can be run without integrity, professionalism, or respect for its people. From what I’ve seen, I seriously question how much longer they’ll be around.