Lagan Bar Belfast International Airport - Disgraceful - Server/Bartender SSP Group Employee Review

1.0
Oct 30, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working early shift (4am-1pm) you get to go home at 1.

Cons

On my first shift, I was paired with someone and was guided through everything, and everyone was so nice, it was good. Then, on my second ever shift, I was completely thrown into the deep end. The staff were not the same people from the first shift therefore were no where near as helpful. I was put onto the floor on my own, I messed up table numbers with their orders, and when I made a mistake the Team Leader just shouted at me instead of helping me. I got glared at like I had 3 heads whenever I asked questions, it was as if I was expected to know the ins and outs of the restaurant’s system and how dare I ask questions. Instead of being talked through something, it was taken off me and abruptly done, rather than telling me what I was doing wrong and how I could improve. They give you next to no training, it is so unprofessional, and judging by how rude the Team Leader was, the management is a joke. On the bare minimum wage, you don’t get paid enough to deal with that shiz. Do yourself a favour, don’t waste your time working for this company.

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SSP Group Response
6y
Thank you for taking time to leave a review. We do try hard to give all our employees a positive experience here at SSP. However, regrettably there are some cases where we don’t always get it right. We employ nearly 10,000 colleagues in the UK and we are keen to improve where ever there has been an experience that is less than satisfactory. I'm sorry you didn't have a great experience. I'll follow up your review with the relevant management team so they can address where improvements can be made in those early days. Thanks again for leaving the review.

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5.0
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Pros

There is room for growth and opportunities to transfer domestic or international

Cons

Lack of communication, but that's with any job

1.0
Feb 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The employee meal discount is genuinely helpful since bringing food into the airport or buying it from outside is difficult. Many hourly employees are friendly, supportive, and hardworking. Most frontline managers try their best and often go above and beyond despite the pressure they face.

Cons

Senior leadership in the Northeast region operates with intimidation, ego, and favoritism, creating a toxic and unprofessional environment. Schedules are changed constantly with little notice, and employees are expected to work long, exhausting hours without regard for work–life balance. When employees speak up about burnout or need to call out due to exhaustion, they are often targeted instead of supported. Union employees frequently earn more than the supervisors responsible for managing them, which creates tension and undermines morale. Promotions are based on personal relationships rather than merit, and nepotism is widespread across multiple levels of leadership. HR functions more as a disciplinary weapon than a neutral resource for resolving issues or supporting employees. The overall culture is retaliatory, inconsistent, and not aligned with ethical or sustainable business practices.

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SSP Group Response
3mo
We are sorry to hear about your negative experience. Your feedback is important to us,
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