The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown has been particularly hard on the hospitality industry. Resilience has been key for people like restaurateur and family man, Sean Barber, who runs multiple establishments in South Africa. The Insider SA joined Sean and his family to hear about his latest venture in Menlyn, Pretoria and how he began his empire.
“My journey into restaurateuring ultimately started 13 years ago. I knew what I didn’t want to do, and sometimes that’s as strong as knowing what you want to do”, explains Sean. After working as a CA in London, Sean found himself unhappy and stifled. “I was yearning for a creative aspect to my profession”, he says.
That’s when the idea to go into restaurateuring struck. It was going to be a challenge, but it was worth a try. Today, Sean is the founder and CEO of Rockets Group and a renowned restaurateur with 12 establishments to his name. Rockets Group has created spaces ranging from upscale restaurants, male grooming salons, and even express stores.