Operators Episodes

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...

You'll most likely know today's guest as Co-Founder of Honest Burgers but he's been working away on something transformative and has also Co-Founded another business in the form of Pineapple described as "future proofing hospitality through people data and research". I am of course talking about Philip Eeles. Philip is high on energy from the outset and to the backdrop of his balcony in Brighton, and a Gin & Tonic, we set to getting through his rather wonderful story. There's so much to love, ...

Goodness, have I got a beast of a chat for you this week. After much "toing and froing" of diaries, I finally got some time with one of the Pre-Eminent Hoteliers of our time, all round legend David Taylor, CEO of Lore Group. And I really don't know where to begin with this chat as there were so many wonderful takeaways both in story terms and some general career and business learning. It's an epic chat and we get through loads including:- Boarding school A hotel glimpse Being bold Taking ...

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 ...

Another corker for you again this week as I got some time with Barry Makin, General Manager at Cromlix, the hotel known for its famous owners, Kim & Andy Murray. Barry's journey is immense, having worked his way through some quite outstanding hotels and not arriving in Hospitality until his late 20's. As always, we get through loads including:- The Murrays Starting in the Army Army to Police Moving to hotels out of necessity Having the right people around you Mistakes Making progress in...

To say I was a little excited to get today's guest on would be the understatement of 2023. I was so delighted to get some time with total industry legend, and all round top bloke, Robin Hutson OBE - Chairman of Home Grown Hotels. Home Grown hotels look after such well known brands The Pig & Limewood. The conversation is full from start to finish and he does not disappoint as we get through:- The Pig Distractions Going to college with no real plan Acing college Savoy Management programme T...

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...

Welcome to our Season 3 Finale week where I've got 3 wonderful chats from one of the finest businesses going, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons (https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/). On a cold Decembers day, I headed over to Oxfordshire to get some time with three of their incredible leaders. And first up is Niall Kingston, The General Manager. Niall took the reins of Le Manoir at the age of 31, an achievement not to be sniffed at. Not only that, h...

This week, I bring you none other than Hotelier of the year 2022, Adrian Ellis. When he's not leading the wonderful The Lowry Hotel (https://www.thelowryhotel.com/) in Manchester, he's elevating the industry and all around him at every opportunity. As always, we get through loads including:- - Manchester - Traveling early - Taking a year out - Approaching owners out of nowhere - GM by 26 - Living and learning the experience - Rounding off your experience - Working nights - Takeovers -...

I've wanted to get today's guest on for a while (I should have just asked him as it transpires) as I'd seen a few of his posts around on LinkedIn and there was this wonderfully positive and inspirational theme running through his message. So I was delighted to welcome Simon Maguire to the show. Simon has spent his career in hotels but towards the end of 2022 he opted to pursue a passion, leadership and performance coaching with West Peak (https://www.thewestpeak.com/). As usual, we get through...

Well, have I got a belter for you this week (I mean, they're all belters of course). I got some time with superstar that is Alexander Schneider, President of Nikki Beach Global's Hotel division (https://nikkibeach.com/) And this chat does not disappoint and whatever stage you are at in your career, there is gold for you here. We get through:- Building a brand according to the market Customisation v Standardisation Being authentic The McDonald's effect The changing face of travel Startin...

What to say about today's guest? Occasionally I'm lucky enough to stumble upon stories that just completely captivate you. Nassar Khalil, CEO of Rogue City Hotels (https://www.roguecityhotels.com/) has a story that will shock you and inspire you in equal measure. There is also a phenomenal amount of learning in here. In amongst an incredible story of overcoming adversity we also chat about:- Battersea Being Educated in the UK Having discipline Graft, Being accepted into Imperial College T...

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 don't really know where to begin with this weeks guest. I was welcomed to the (rather beautiful) Mayfair Townhouse (https://www.themayfairtownhouse.com/), part of Iconic Luxury H...

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. One of the many joys of hospitality is that it is a global industry, so imagine my delight when today's guest had his people reach out to my people (I have no people) to see if I'd...

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. Hosting this podcast has put me in front of so many interesting humans from within hospitality and today's guest is no exception. I got some time with Pix Ashworth, Founder of Lan...

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 Back to the world of Hotels this week as I got some time with the wonderful David Connell, General Manager at the stunning South Lodge Hotel (https://www.exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge...

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. Another exciting career journey this week as I got some time with the wonderful Simon Drake, General Manager of The Other House (https://otherhouse.com/), one of London's most exci...

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. Another week passes and we have another one of the industry's gentlemen and all round exceptional human being, Douglas Waddell - Operations Director at Handpicked Hotels (https://w...

What a treat I have for you this week as I managed to get some time with the incredible Robert Cook, CEO of Hostmore PLC (https://www.hostmoregroup.com/) and all round industry Titan. Robert has such an epic career so far and is an inspiration to us all. He's a natural story teller throughout and my word he's done some very cool things. We get through sooo much, including :- Peterhead Being born into the industry Learning 5 star Stephen Carter Climbing the ranks The first GM role Malmai...

I am absolutely thrilled to unleash this weeks episode as todays guest, and the sector in which he operates, do not get nearly enough exposure as an area of Hospitality. I was delighted to get some time with Rob Byrom, Group Hospitality Services Manager at Hallmark Care Homes, a leading luxury care provider (https://www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk/) As usual, we get through loads including:- Beards Busting some care home myths Starting out as a laborer Making the move to hotels Discovering ca...

Another week and another rising star of the industry. This week I got some time with the wonderful Katariina Reissaar, Front Office Manager at Jurys Inn Birmingham (https://www.jurysinns.com/hotels/birmingham). Despite being quite new to the hotel world, Katariina is already making her mark and co Chairs the Institute of Hospitalitys Youth Council, giving a much needed voice to the next generation of hospitality stars. In our chat we covered:- Birmingham The weather (Obvs) Being busy Start...

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. We're back for the 2nd half of season 2 and we get things moving fast with the Industry champion that is Matt Townley, Regional Operations Director for Dakota Hotels (https://www.d...

What a week UK Hospitality has had since our last episode. 3 huge fundraisers - Lunch4Ukraine, The Springboard Awards for Excellence and Back to the floor for Hospitality Action. The Latter, gave me the opportunity to meet today's guest. I got some time with Jason Adams, Managing Director of the beautiful Rockliffe Hall in the North East (https://www.rockliffehall.com/). As always, we get through loads including:- Taking on a new role at the beginning of Covid The Staycation The North East ...