Built From Experience

Sean Paterson is the founder of Olive & Oak Hospitality and a hospitality leader with extensive experience across front-of-house, back-of-house, and senior management roles in hotels, restaurants, bars, and large-scale operations across the UK.

His career spans independent venues and multi-site operations, with responsibility for large teams, complex service environments, and full commercial accountability. Roles have included Head of Hospitality, General Manager, Bars Manager, Area Manager, and Head of Beverage, overseeing operations with significant turnovers, managing P&L, leading large teams, and delivering training, cultural change, and operational rebuilds.

Sean has been responsible for rebuilding businesses post-COVID, developing internal training programmes, improving gross profit margins, launching new concepts, and supporting teams through periods of significant change. His experience includes high-pressure destination venues, hotels, events, and large-capacity sites, where pace, standards, and leadership decisions directly affect both performance and people.

Olive & Oak was created as a response to that experience. After years spent carrying responsibility inside hospitality, Sean recognised the need for support that goes beyond systems and targets — support that also acknowledges the human impact of leadership and operational pressure.

Today, Olive & Oak works with hospitality businesses and leaders to bring clarity to leadership, culture, and operations, supporting more sustainable ways of working without compromising standards.

Based in Northumberland, Sean works with hospitality businesses locally, regionally, and nationally across the UK.