Kieron completed his placement at the award-winning Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson, New Hampshire, gaining experience in a family-owned luxury inn that contrasted sharply with the large corporate hotel he had been working at while studying.

"I'd started at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham in my first year at university. Going from a 300-bedroom international hotel to a family-run inn with 25 individually-designed suites was so different. It was just right for me."

After graduating, Kieron went on to work for the Hyatt for 15 years, progressing through a range of operational and management roles.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point.

Following redundancy in 2021, he decided against returning to the hotel sector immediately, instead taking a chance on Birmingham's growing independent restaurant scene.

"I came to a fork in the road. I could go back into hotels or roll the dice and do something completely different."

He joined live-fire BBQ residency Low n Slow at Hockley Social Club before moving next door to Buddha Belly, helping founders Sai and James to transition the award-winning street food business into its first permanent restaurant in 2023.

Soi 1268 was crowned Best Thai Restaurant in the Midlands at the Deliveroo Restaurant Awards in 2025 before expanding later that year with the opening of Saint Paul's Market.

The Good Food Guide's 100 Best Local Restaurants in the UK 2026 is a celebration of independent venues that really shine, Soi 1268 being one.

"I was there from the very start,” he said. “I remember painting the walls pre-opening.

“Winning this award is fantastic and what I love about the Good Food Guide is that it's about restaurants that have become part of their community. We made the 100 best list because of our food, value for money and warm hospitality. 

"When you're working long hours, you sometimes wonder if you're getting it right. Whether people like what you do. This recognition shows you are getting it right and people like what you're doing."

Kieron's former lecturer, Professor Bernhard Schumacher, said: "I remember Kieron from his early days. He was always passionate about the hospitality industry and demonstrated an exceptional commitment to developing his culinary skills, technical expertise and professional knowledge.

"It is wonderful to see his hard work, talent, and dedication recognised and we are incredibly proud to see one of our graduates making such a positive impact on the industry. We wish him every continued success.”

Giving back to the next generation

Alongside his day job, Kieron has returned to University College Birmingham as part of its Alumni Mentoring Programme, helping current students prepare for careers in hospitality.

"I'll always wax lyrical about UCB because it gave me a chance in life. I probably wouldn't have made it at a more traditional university.

"We didn’t have exams, really, it was practical assessments, coursework and placements. It suited me perfectly.

"If I can help one student get their first job, improve their CV or introduce them to someone in the industry, that's worthwhile. Hospitality gave me my first opportunity and I want to help do the same for the next generation."