Former waitress Louise moves up the ladder

Louise Swordy, 22, started work at The White Swan as a waitress at the age of 17 and she is relishing her new managerial role.

She said: “Having worked at The White Swan for a while has helped me to feel really at home with my new role and my fellow colleagues.

“My aim is to maintain the smooth running of the restaurant, which I believe can be achieved through encouraging a positive working atmosphere with motivational targets.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Louise has successfully progressed in her career with Classic Lodges, which owns the Bondgate Within hotel, after being promoted to supervisor and now food and beverage manager, with the help of in-house training.

Her new position has given her more responsibility within the business and the general overseeing of the food and beverages service at Hardy’s Bistro, the hotel’s more casual dining offering.

White Swan general manager James Thompson believes Louise’s experience with the company will be an invaluable addition.

He said: “We are very happy to have Louise in her new managerial position. She has excelled in her training and is proving to be a fantastic asset to the company.”

The White Swan is a 300-year-old Grade II-listed coaching inn.

Its Olympic dining room features panelling, mirrors and stained glass windows removed from the first class lounge of the Titanic’s sister ship, the RMS Olympic, when she was dismantled in Jarrow in 1936.