Lisini Pub Company CEO Siobhan Edwards is celebrating 20 years with the family business, marking a significant personal milestone during one of the most successful periods in the company’s history.
Having first joined the business as a kitchen porter at just 13 years old, Siobhan has spent two decades helping shape Lisini into one of Scotland’s most respected independent hospitality operators.
Today, she leads the Lanarkshire-based family business as CEO, working alongside brother Nicholas Hood and cousin Grant Hood to continue the legacy established by her parents, Kathleen and Harry Hood, who founded the company in 1969.
Siobhan stepped into the role of CEO in July 2025 leading the charge against a challenging backdrop for the industry with a mission to keep the Hood family’s values of quality, service, staff care and community at the forefront.
The anniversary comes during a landmark year for Lisini, which employs more than 300 people across its portfolio, as the company was named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 list, becoming one of only five Scottish organisations featured in the prestigious Best Big Places to Work category.
The recognition reflects a culture that has been built over decades, with 22% of Lisini colleagues having been with the company for more than 10 years. Results from the survey revealed an employee engagement score of 75%, while 74% of team members expressed confidence in management – significantly above the hospitality sector average of 38%.
For Siobhan, the milestone carries particular significance. Following the loss of her parents and sister Lisa, all of whom played pivotal roles in the growth and success of the company – she stepped into the role of CEO in July 2025, determined to preserve the family’s values while leading the business into its next chapter, supported by the senior team of Nicky, Grant and Commercial Director Lynda McGaw, who has been with the company for 22 years.
Alongside its inclusion in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, this year Lisini has also been awarded the Wellness Charter by Hospitality Health in recognition of its commitment to employee wellbeing. Four of the group’s venues were also recognised at the Best Bar None Awards, including Angels Hotel in Uddingston, which received a Highly Commended award in the Heart of the Community category and achieved Diamond status nationally.
Siobhan Edwards, CEO of Lisini, said: “Twenty years has gone by incredibly quickly. I started out as a kitchen porter when I was just a teenager because my parents believed it was important for us to understand every aspect of the business from the ground up, even at an early age.
“Over the years I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible people who care deeply about our guests, our communities and each other. That sense of family remains at the heart of everything we do.
“Having spent two decades with the company, I have seen first-hand that our greatest strength has always been our people. Creating a supportive workplace where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to thrive has always been a priority for us, so to be recognised by The Sunday Times and through our recent industry awards is incredibly special. These achievements belong to the entire team.”
Heather Crawford, Head of HR at Lisini, said: “While assessing and benchmarking our company culture, we reviewed many different frameworks and approaches. Ultimately, we set our sights high, believing we could aim for recognition such as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
“I’m so proud of Lisini being officially recognised. People are at the heart of everything we do, and this award reflects the supportive and welcoming culture across all of our venues.
“We’ve always believed that creating great hospitality starts with creating great teams, where people feel valued, respected, and encouraged to grow.
“Congratulations to Siobhan on her 20th anniversary with Lisini. Through her leadership and commitment to our people, she has helped nurture a culture that feels like an extension of the family business itself – one where every colleague feels welcomed, supported and valued.”
Find out why we were voted one of the best places in the UK to work for 2026
What a night! We are absolutely honoured to win Best Bar at the Scottish Entertainment & Hospitality Awards. Huge thank you to our incredible team, loyal customers and everyone who has supported us.
Alongside this we have been highly recommended for Best Night Out & highly recommended for Best Hospitality Employer!
Celebrating this win with our CEO Siobhan Edwards and the Team
Cheers everyone!
Music legend Sir Rod Stewart visited Angels Hotel in Uddingston for the first time last night (Wednesday 13 May), where he was presented with a special framed photograph in honour of Celtic icon Harry Hood.
Sir Rod specifically asked to visit what he called “Harry Hood’s Angels Hotel”. The framed photograph, taken in 2017, shows Harry Hood with his family alongside Moussa Dembele, who officially opened Harry’s Bar that year.
Harry Hood scored a hat-trick against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final on 5 December 1973. Moussa Dembele remains the only other player to achieve the same feat, scoring his hat-trick against Rangers on 10 September 2016.
Angels Hotel was recently named Best Bar in Scotland at the Scottish Entertainment Awards 2026.
Siobhan Edwards, daughter of Harry Hood, said on behalf of the family:
“It was a great honour and privilege to know that Sir Rod remembered our late father. He met our father and mother in France a few years before Dad passed away, and we have a wonderful photograph of Sir Rod with our father from that evening. Unfortunately my brother Nicky and I were in Spain sorting out our late mother Kathleen’s estate and were unable to be there in person, but Joanna Spencer, Operations Director at Lisini Pub Company Limited, represented the family on our behalf. We know Dad would have been deeply touched by Sir Rod’s gesture.”
Joanna Spencer, Operations Director at Lisini Pub Company Limited, added:
“It was a very special and emotional evening. Sir Rod has never visited Angels Hotel before, and it meant a great deal that he specifically wanted to come and see Harry Hood’s Angels Hotel. We were honoured to present him with the framed photograph on behalf of the Hood family.”
The framed photograph is now on display at Angels Hotel as a lasting tribute.
