Chef Ian Winslade joins hospitality group behind Cuevacia, Saints + Council

Pitts opened Saints + Council in 2021 and the restaurant’s success led him to establish Spur before opening Cuevacia early this year. In an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Pitts and Winslade said the restaurant group is poised for rapid growth, with a new corporate office in Colony Square and fresh outside investment.

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout

Building on Spur Hospitality’s success

Winslade brings nearly 40 years of experience and a weighty resume to the fledgling hospitality group. A native of the United Kingdom, he got his first job in an American kitchen at the legendary Le Bernardin in New York. In his most recent role, Winslade was involved with a trio of successful restaurants, including Zakia, which made the AJC’s list of 50 best restaurants in 2025.

But Winslade and Pitts have known each other for years and felt a kinship before the opportunity arose to work together. Winslade even helped develop the first menu for Saints + Council, Pitts said.

“William has a great vision, and that vision sold me on the idea of moving,” Winslade told the AJC.

Winslade said he was motivated by the opportunity to grow, both personally and professionally, in his new role, which starts April 1.

Credit: Mia Yakel

Credit: Mia Yakel

Employee-focused culture

Pitts and Winslade both emphasized the importance of a supportive workplace culture at their restaurants. Pitts said he believes that a healthy, positive culture is the secret ingredient that creates a sense of magnetism, pulling customers back to certain restaurants.

“What makes a restaurant different?” Pitts said. “(W)hen an employee or guest says, ‘I don’t know, there’s just something about that place that feels good... I want to experience that again.’ ...when you can harness that, that’s what makes the difference.”

Pitts noted how corrosive the restaurant industry can be toward workers’ personal lives.

“The divorce rate is twice the national average” for restaurant workers, Pitts said. “It’s number three of all industries for alcohol abuse. It’s number one for drug abuse.”

Pitts said the mission of Spur Hospitality is to create stability for the group’s employees. The name Spur references the idea of teammates spurring each other to greatness.

To that end, the group pays staff well, Pitts said, and provides hourly employees with paid vacation and some medical benefits.

Winslade said he recognizes the culture Pitts proselytizes from his time in kitchens like Le Bernardin’s.

“When I worked in some of the greater restaurants that I’ve worked in, that culture is very omnipresent to me,” Winslade said.

“(It’s) this more holistic approach to running a restaurant where every single part of it matters, every single person with it matters,” he continued.

Credit: Courtesy of Jamestown

Credit: Courtesy of Jamestown

What’s next for the group behind Cuevacia and Saints + Council?

With Spur Hospitality’s leadership team in place, the group plans to expand by opening more restaurants in Atlanta, Pitts said, though he would not provide specifics. He expects to share more details on forthcoming restaurants later this spring.

Pitts implied that Cuevacia, which recently received a 4-star review (out of 5) in the AJC, could be scaled to other locations thanks to its smaller footprint. But he also said his team would evaluate locations and landlords on an individual basis.

Regardless of when and where the new restaurants open in Atlanta, Pitts said that his strategy is focused on long-term commitments. He prefers to sign leases with at least 20-year terms, and he sees Winslade as a foundational partner for building that next chapter.

“Everything’s really going well,” Pitts said. “Bringing Ian in is really about preparing for the future.”