Celebrating Women Episodes

This week on Hospitality Meets, we had the incredible privilege to sit down with Natasha Robinson, a torchbearer for a storied legacy in the restaurant industry. Natasha’s deep-rooted connection to hospitality comes from a lineage spanning generations, with her parents standing out as boundary-pushing restaurateurs. From her upbringing amidst the bustling energy of family restaurants to her contemporary role guiding young talents, Natasha’s journey is awe-inspiring! We cover January Changing ...

Another treat for you this week as I got some time with the wonderful Zoe Watts, Managing Director of Bennett Hay Zoe's rise to MD has seen her take in some quite amazing places to work. In addition to her journey we also get through:- Exploring being a nurse The BHS Coffee Shop Off to Uni Beefeater Restaurants Savill garden Restaurant Becoming a GM The people who see something in you The Royal Society of Arts Tate Events The Adaptability of Hospitality Meetings with Royalty The mov...

Time for a cheeky bonus and this week I welcomed the absolutely epic, and my good friend, Dr Lizzy Bernthal who is a resilience specialist to chat through work place Toxicity and how to eradicate it (Amongst other things). Lizzy has an amazing story of how she ended up specialising in this under discussed, but relevant topic and we cover a lot including:- The Army Fighting back against Toxicity Resilience Forms of Toxicity The Drama triangle Empowerment Language Choices The signs of To...

It's Valentines day and so I got to talk to someone about a subject I LOVE! That being, People! I welcomed the quite superb Jo Harley, Co-founder of Korero and Hendrick & Hyde, to the show. Jo was nervous about coming on the show as she's never had the confidence to do this sort of thing before but she needn't have worried as she brought her natural, chatty self and we laid into a lot, including:- Brewdog Waterloo Marketing Measures of success Coming to work What good looks like Leisure M...

I properly love the people this little show has introduced me to and today you are all the wonderful benefactors of listening to my chat with "wee Scottish livewire", Rachel Thomson. Rachel really brought the triple threat (Passion, Energy and Fun in abundance) to our chat, leaving nothing but gold in her wake. She's got great lessons all the way through in addition to that A game on fun. We get through:- Christmas Managing a pub within the first year of her career The pub life Drive & Res...

A real treat for you this week as I got some time with Alison Cullin-Woodcock who is a Food & equipment development consultant, an area of the industry we have not really explored. And I'll bet that some of this will blow your mind but more than that, Alison really brings the energy and passion so it's very easy to get on board with her journey. We cover:- The dogs in our life Equipment & Innovation Knowing what you want to do Developing the palette College Getting the basics right THE ...

I cannot even describe what a total joy recording this podcast was with 2023 AICR Receptionist of the Year, Chelsea Lacey. Chelsea is also Front of House Receptionist at the quite fabulous Pennyhill Park. Chelsea oozes natural fun and authenticity (Two traits that I'm sure serve her well in her role) all the way through our chat and she's got some cracking stories to boot. We get through:- Midweek weekends Making Rota’d shifts work for you The (Genuine) Joy of working Christmas Having no pl...

We are back in the world of tech this week but have added in more than a pinch of creative and entrepreneurial into the story too. I got some time with the awesome Inge Meijs, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the quite magnificent platform Gastronomixs, the inspiring recipe database for professional chefs. Inge has a great story and there are more than enough lessons and stories from her life as an entrepreneur to whet the appetite here, as well as some great insight into Gastronomixs, We g...

We wouldn't have had todays conversation had our guest not reached out and asked if she could come on the show. And I'm so glad that she did. I chat to Clare Coghill, Chef & Owner of Café Cùil on the Isle of Skye. And what a chat it is, it's got everything, a great story, so many lessons and some cracking anecdotes. We get through:- Island life and weather Positive Social Media Being born into the industry Formative years Going into TV London and the Spark for food Moving into the kitch...

Hospitality is awesome isn't it? And as if to prove that theory, In was on the receiving end of top class hospitality as I was welcomed to Pan Pacific London to chat to their amazing Director of Marketing Communications, Michelle Whittemore. Michelle oozes hospitality and our chat is packed full of stories and learning from someone who has forged a superb career so far. We get through:- Welcomes - Pan Pacific Style Starting in medicine Moving into Marketing Dictation Experiencing Agency Ma...

What a total treat I have for you this week. Hot on the heals from an amazing experience at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year, I thought it was high time we got someone else from this truly world class venue on the show. Enter in the absolute live wire that is Patricia Dickie, Director of Customer Experience at The Goodwood Estate. We get through a mountain of stuff:- The Goodwood Estate Festival of Speed Starting in Bars London's Gold Paved Streets The early life Down Mexico Way ...

What's the saying? Be Kind because everyone you meet is facing a hard battle. Within the story of todays guest, there was one monumental battle. I was over thrilled to get some time with one of my old mates, Natalie Tait - People Director at Artfarm. Our chat played out a little bit like a catch up but there's a lot to take away here including:- Artfarm School Rejecting college for work Finding pubs Running a pub at 20 Changing direction through injury Recruitment D&D Opening a hotel ...

I've wanted to get todays guest on the show for ages and her story does not disappoint. A huge hospitality meets welcome went to Chantelle Nicholson, Chef owner of the Michelin Green Starred Apricity in London and all round force for good in hospitality. We cover:- Apricity Studying law Fate The joy of naivety London Moving to operations The deep end Self Reflection Starting a business Adapting to changing business Looking after yourself Sustaining v Regenerating Following what you...

Another wonderful CEO journey for you this week. I got some time with Kalindi Juneja, CEO of PoB hotels. Kalindi is a first time CEO and its a fascinating journey to get to that point. We get through:- Growing up in Singapore Going against the expectation Singapore Airlines Attention to detail Relais & Chateaux Sales & Marketing Learning and Progressing Serendipity Food Becoming a CEO Authenticity POB Hotels Dogs And so much more. Kalindi's story is brilliant and is a shining ligh...

Ever wondered what goes on in the world of an Environmental Health Officer? Well, wonder no more (And even if you didn't wonder, pay attention as there's some awesome content afoot) as I got some time with Natalie Stanton, Founder of the Safety Expert. I know what you are thinking, how is that hospitality? Well, quite frankly, the industry of hospitality would not exist without a massive focus on keeping our guests safe, environmental health does just that. Not only that but Natalie talks so p...

What a vibrant and energetic chat I have for you this week as we delve into a little corner of hospitality that you may not have even considered as part of the industry. I chat to Rosa Brough, Founder & Creative Director behind 7 Fifty - an un-conventional video production agency that specialises in content for the hospitality industry. I had the joy of working with Rosa earlier this year at HRC, she was a livewire then and she is livewire throughout our chat. We cover off:- Media and Conten...

What can I say about today's guest that has not been said already? Well, let me give it a go. I got some time with one of the most recognisable names in the UK hotel scene, Sally Beck - General Manager of the quite stunning Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Sally's career is just brilliant and we get through a lot, including:- Growing up in pubs Getting a start in sales Citroen 2CVs Advancing through Sales Stepping up to GM Hosting UEFA (And the creative thinking that won it) Last minute...

Another belter for you this week as I got some time with Masterchef: The Professionals champion 2022, Nikita Pathakji. One of the the joys of that competition is that it gives chefs of all levels the opportunity to compete against each other, with Nikita winning the competition whilst at Junior Sous Chef level. Her career has of course accelerated since then which we cover in our chat. We also get through:- Using brownies to get out of University Moving to London Finger sandwiches Moving to...

We've got another epic journey for you this week as I got some time with CEO of Umbrella Training and Employment Solutions (and almighty Apprenticeships champion) Adele Oxberry. And what a story she has, getting involved in hospitality from an early age right through to now, heading up one of the sectors most prominent training and apprenticeship providers. Adele is super chatty and so we get through loads including:- Starting young The lessons of housekeeping Moving to reception Developing...

Did you know that it's International Margarita Day today? Well, sit down, pour yourself a beautifully crafted Mockarita and listen into my wonderful chat with the awesome Pooja Sharma-Jones, Chief "Mock"eting Officer (You see what they did there?) at Mocktails (https://mocktails.com/) And it's quite a bizarre story how we came across each other, but we talk about that in the chat so I won't bore you with it twice. We also get through:- Nicknames Finding the fun Being inspired by parents S...

What happens when you put two recruiters together to talk about people? The answer is this weeks chat. Abi Dunn, Founder of Sixty Eight People (https://www.sixtyeightpeople.com/). I was connected with Abi through Jo Harley of Purple Cubed (Thanks Jo!!!) as Abi had conducted some very interesting research around candidate experience. We thought the world should here it so here we go. Abi also covers her story so far and so we also get through:- The state of things Starting in pubs Sylvia Gl...

It's been a while since I've had a people and culture guru on the show so I've rectified that by getting today's guest on. I welcomed Di Gwinnell, Group People & Culture Director at Edyn Group (https://www.findingedyn.com/) for a chat about her story so far, and a whole lot more too. We got through:- Portishead Edyn Good intent Hospitality plans Travelling Starting on an HR Graduate scheme Moving into Hospitality Cross sector experience The people landscape Retail v Hospitality The f...

Nestled upon a hilltop in a dramatic location is the setting for today's guest. I chat to Veryan Palmer, Director of the iconic Headland Hotel & Spa in Cornwall. There's so much joy in todays chat including:- The Headland Starting as a chalet Chef The Demands of Dogs Cliveden House Moving to contract catering The role of a director Attention to detail Super Grammar Lady Bridezillas The Art of Hospitality The Thursday Club Community Minimum wage for teenagers And so much more. Very...

This week’s episode is brought to you in partnership with Zero Procure who are here to make procurement simple, offering great value and quality for products and services, all for zero cost. Just click on this link or visit their site at www.zeroprocure.com/podcast to help support both this podcast and your business I am super excited to introduce today's guest to you all. I've been a staunch advocate of collaboration for nearly as long as I can remember so you can imagine my excitement when th...