Sheffield nightclub manager swaps Tank for Asda in Covid – and he’s now up for an award

But one year on, the 59-year-old has never looked back since joining Asda’s Chapeltown store as part of their Click and Collect team.

Tony, who joined the store in March last year, worked as a general manager at the Tank nightclub in Sheffield until lockdown restrictions forced it to temporarily close.

And his dedication to his work to go above and beyond has earned him a nomination for an Asda customer service award for his friendly manner and acts of kindness.

This, includes helping a customer get home when he lost his car keys within the premises.

Tony said: "If someone had said to me two years ago that I'd be working on Click & Collect in an Asda car park I would never have believed them, but I absolutely love it here.

"I love the banter and the feedback I get from the customers. I'm always chatting to them and I've got to know them quite well now.

"It was a lovely gesture getting nominated for an award, but I'm just being myself; I'm just being me. I'm a people person, always have been."

Tony will also go to any lengths to help customers at the store, and always with a smile on his face.

Describing Tony as an “exceptional colleague,” Asda manager Emma Green said he deserves to be praised for all he does

She said: "Tony is forever getting customer compliments and is a true superstar. Our customers adore him and our colleagues appreciate everything he does.

"We had one of our elderly customers, Margaret, ring up in tears (happy ones) to say how much she appreciated Tony and his positivity and service throughout the lockdown.

"If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't have known what to do and it's kept her going knowing she could see him and have a laugh when she came to get her shopping.

Emma says another customer sent a card to store about Tony, writing: "I would like to express my appreciation for the click and collect service your staff give, especially Anthony. They are all so helpful and polite. Anthony always has a smile and a joke and quick chat with me. I would have really struggled without this well run service.”

Tony said he is hoping to keep his job at Asda but on a part-time basis even when his nightclub reopens on June 21.

Nightclubs are one of the few businesses that have been forced to close throughout the Covid crisis after restrictions were first introduced last March.

Founded in 2014, Tank has had a huge following in the music scene and has hosted some of the biggest raves the city has seen, from underground sounds to house to techno and bass.

It was forced to close with the rest of other venues across the city during the first lockdown last year.