How would you like to get paid to mingle with the crème de la crème of society at some of the most glamorous venues across London and beyond? 

 

Well, that’s the life of 24-year-old Therese Carlebrand, a waitress for hospitality agency Off To Work, which supplies staff for everything from weddings to concerts at the O2 to the private boxes at Ascot. 

 

“I started working for hospitality agencies just after I moved to London from Sweden around three years ago. I came here to further my acting career and needed a job that was flexible and would allow me pay the bills in between roles. My friend put me onto it and I haven’t looked back.”

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

With over 50 hospitality agencies registered in London there are endless opportunities to get involved in this kind of work, and for Therese, the benefits are endless too. “The reason I’ve stuck with the agency for so long is that you can book a shift last minute if you need some extra cash, and choose locations that suit you, all at your own availability.” 

 

Her favorite agency, Off To Work, say that they employ the finest, most energetic and bubbly candidates to work across the capital at some of the most exciting venues going, so how does it all work?

​

“Basically you register with the agency and have a training day, then you look at all the shifts they have available and choose the ones you like the look of best, for whenever you are free,” says Therese. “My all time favorite place to waitress is Ascot.  The people are lovely, the food and chefs are second the none… and the tips are pretty great too.” 

 

While a day at the races is pretty unusual for an aspiring actress trying to find her feet in the big city, a day in a box at the premier league final football match is even more so. Imagine getting paid to watch a game that tickets were thousands of pounds for… and not even knowing which teams were playing before you got there. “My dad was so jealous that I got to be there,” laughed Therese. “Don’t get me wrong it was a long hard days work but the view from the box was amazing, although I was more interested in what we got fed… never tasted canapés like it!” 

 

Thinking of the food served at these fancy events and prestigious venues makes her eyes glaze over. “I remember being at an event hosted by the owner of Chelsea football club, and each table had its own chef who would cook whatever they wanted right in front of them, and this one table all had steak which I was told would cost hundreds of pounds in a restaurant. I remember being really blown away by that one.” 

 

So not only has the young Swede been to football stadiums and racecourses, she also got the privilege of working a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace last summer. “I always dreamed of going there,” said Therese. “The security was mad, there were about four different stages to it, and when we finally got in there it was like being in a fairytale.” What food is fit for a queen you may be wondering? “The canapés all had such long and confusing names I had to keep running back to the kitchen to double check what was in them,” she said adding that the cakes on offer were “ones your granny would be proud of”. 

​

Therese’s friend, 22-year-old Rebekah Marnell moved to London three years ago, shortly after graduating a catering course to find work. She wanted to become a chef or even get a job in events management; instead she works for a hospitality agency and says she loves it. 

 

“I began waitressing for a hospitality agency just to make ends meet before I could find a real job when I first moved here, but I liked it so much I decided it would be my real job.” Rebekah works for the agency Lola, which describes itself as the leading agency in the business, supplying the best staff available both in London, and globally. 

 

“I do still want to go into events, and would like to make the most of my degree some day, but I’ve always loved to waitress. I’ve worked in restaurants since I was 14 but only small ones. This way I get to work at some of the best in London, for some of the best chefs in the world,” says Rebekah. 

 

Therese added that, “It’s a great way for people new to London to get to explor the city, and even if you do know the city well it’s a great way to get into events you’d never normally have access to and be around food you could never afford in a restaurant.”

 

It seems agency hospitality work is perfect for someone with a sense of adventure looking to discover London’s finest assets. “I would definitely recommend this work to anyone who has an interest in food and wants flexible hours to suit them. I know a lot of students and actors who do it alongside their studies and un reliable work, as well as wannabe chefs as a way into the industry because kitchen work is available too!”

​

​