A man has ditched his high-flying job as director of a large restaurant chain after finding true love in a Merseyside seaside town.
Richard Fergie, from Stirling, helped to build award-winning restaurant chain, Monteray Jack’s, which is one of the most recognised food brands in Scotland. Despite picking up a host of accolades in his role overseeing more than 150 staff at 12 different sites, the fast-paced corporate world meant Richard had little time to eat and sleep.
He said: “To everyone looking in, life was great for me and I was smashing it as director of a big well known hospitality brand but what they didn’t see was the stress that brings. Monteray Jack’s exploded as a business and with that quickly came dealing with thousands of customers every week, over 150 staff, financial pressures and even a fire at one of the sites.”
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“It was a very fast paced life and as we opened more restaurants I ate and slept less. The thing that really hit home for me was when I was in Spain on a much needed holiday. Iremember being at the beach on my own watching the sunset and thinking how nice it would be to share that with someone. I had been far too busy for love but suddenly realised I was really lacking something in my life.”
It transpired that missing 'something' was Ellie, from Wirral, who Richard met on a dating site in December 2020. The pair talked every day until Richard was able to visit her, and he quickly fell in love with both Ellie and her hometown, West Kirby.
Richard said: “I didn’t think love was possible working in my fast paced director’s role but meeting Ellie has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. The difference from life back then and my life now is pure joy — the slower pace of life makes me appreciate things more, the little things, and West Kirby it utterly charming. The people here are so friendly and accepting of an outsider who’s new to the area.”
Richard couldn't be happier with his new life in Merseyside, and he and Ellie recently welcomed their first child, Effy. The Scotsman is also the mastermind between popular New York-style hangout, The Good Hood, which opened in West Kirby in November 2021.
The restaurant offers fun, messy and juicy food such as craft burgers and gourmet pizzas, and creative cocktails. Richard has brought his knowledge from creating a multi-award winning brand to open a seaside town independent that’s already being praised by many for having the best burger in Wirral.
Richard said: “The Good Hood is about creating somewhere you can kick back, relax and hang out, with a simple, raw and urban style and top quality, fun American food. The feedback has been amazing and people love the fact we have one of the only sun traps in West Kirby at theback. It feels so much better running a small independent.”
He added: “We’ve created an amazing team here who all share the same passion as meand I’m really enjoying it as I can get stuck in every day and really connect with the staff on apersonal level. Of course, we’re ambitious and would like to grow as a business but I’d never grow a brand as rapidly as we did with Monteray Jack’s and lose myself the way I did. I’m so much happier now.”
The Good Hood is located on Banks Road, West Kirby, just over the road from The Crescent and is open seven days a week. It has a terrace to the rear and an urban style with graffiti artwork on the walls.
You can find out more about The Good Hood here.
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