Team stories

SOHO is built around our team and the relationships they build, so we want to share as many of their stories with you as possible!

Name – Kel Foxall (always Kel, NEVER Kelly)!

Job title – Operations Training Manager

Years at SOHO – 10 (in 2022)!

Favourite Menu Item – Anything from our breakfast menu, they are all classics though our sausages are incredible!

Signature drink/dish – In store, any of our Frapps, I like to think I am like Tom Cruise (in Cocktail) whilst I am making them, and I love the reactions I get from customers when they receive them! If I am making food outside of SOHO, its almost always Mexican inspired, packed full of flavour and colour.

Favourite thing about being part of SOHO – The relationships. I am lucky enough to visit all of the stores pretty regularly and I am always welcomed warmly, by people that are genuinely pleased to see me, which always brings warm feelings to my heart and makes the day brighter.

SOHO was recommended to me by (another decade darling), lovely Deb. Deb and I had worked together previously, and over the process of our 9 years together before being made redundant, had become really good friends, so I knew the recommendation was genuine. Deb knows me pretty much as well as anyone, so if she felt I would be comfortable and happy, I figured it was worth a shot!

I contacted our operations director Pete, and we arranged to meet for a chat.

Being made redundant previously had no doubt impacted my confidence and I think Pete sensed that and did everything he could to put me at ease, we talked a little about the role, but mainly about our values and why we do, what we do. A little later Pete offered me a job (my first new store opening, at that point – I have been involved in nearly 30 since then)! And so, my journey began.

As time passed, I moved from running one store, onto two, then multiple sites and eventually to where my heart lies, training.

I have been lucky enough to work with some fabulous people, recognising ambition, and what truly makes every individual unique and I genuinely believe that it is this that makes us all try a little harder, go a little further, and work together in the brilliant way we all do. It feels like home!