Valentino Girotto’s journey into hospitality started at the tender age of 14. Whilst attending Hospitality School, he took his first steps as a waiter at a prestigious fine dining establishment in Italy. However, it became apparent early on that his true passion lay elsewhere within the industry. Through various positions across different brands and bars, the path eventually led to London, where a clear focus on ‘modern bartending’ took shape. Experiencing diverse environments including five-star establishments such as The Lalit, Michelin-starred restaurants including Hide and high-end venues like Louis, Valentino finally found his calling at Crossroads in 2021. Now Bar Manager, together with founder, Bart Miedeksza, he has watched the venue develop and grow in a post-lockdown world, being part of the journey that has led Crossroads to where it is today. He describes his relationship with Bart as ‘a strong professional relationship that turned into a true and beautiful friendship with his now business partner’. A shared passion for carbonation sparked a journey of exploration and curiosity. Recognising the significant lack of accessible information surrounding the topic, the pair decided to take further action and explore the intricacies of the topic. Their interest snowballed and developed into a book project aimed at demystifying carbonation, inviting bartenders and enthusiasts to join them in the world of fizz. Valentino and the Crossroads team believe in ‘healthy hospitality’, emphasising reasonable working hours, safety and support for the team, whilst advocating for equality and a shared mentality. Recognising a gap in formal training for bar managers, Valentino made the decision to pursue Leadership & Management at Corndel, graduating with distinction, becoming a member of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). His aim is to empower the Crossroads team and continuously raise the bar's standards. When Valentino isn’t writing books or working at Crossroads, he can be found on the back of a motorbike in a distant country, combining his passion for bikes and travel. A self-confessed adrenaline junkie, Valentino brings his experiences navigating unfamiliar terrain to managing unexpected challenges along with him day-to-day to his leadership behind the bar. The skills mastered on his motorbike adventures and travel parallel those essential to managing a venue and a team. The future is exciting for Valentino and Bart with the launch of their Crossroads Consulting company which, along with the book, represents their future of knowledge sharing. Having developed training programmes with a focus on elevating carbonation techniques globally and embracing industry-wide improvement. Amongst the noise, Valentino still finds time for a Negroni, the first cocktail he fell in love with, staying true to his Italian roots (he enjoys the occasional frozen Campari shot!). An adventurous palate to match his passion for travel, he still finds comfort in a humble potato dish. Find him at Crossroads or somewhere further afield exploring distant lands on a motorbike under the Northern Lights, a National Park or island hopping in the Maldives!