Episodes

To round off your digital meal this week, for your dessert (he had to be the dessert really) I chat to Benoit Blin, Chef Pattisier at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons and TV Judge from Bake off: The Professionals. We get through:- Winter in Le Manoir The Pastry Section Born to be in Pastry Committed parents Learning bread Changing perceptions The Financier The process of pastry Creating new dishes Learning the classic basics Bakers Shop to Restaurant to Hotel The Ritz Paris Being bad at ...

In the second of our three chats this week (The main course), I was lucky enough to get some time with the absolutely awe inspiring and industry icon that is Raymond Blanc, Chef Patron at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, founder of Brasserie Blanc, author of several books and of course, TV personality extraordinaire. The chat is laden with gold including:- Inclusive luxury The many strings to Raymond's Bow Family & Values Humble beginnings An early understanding of food Le Manoir and future ev...

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...

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...

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 -...

Where to begin with this weeks bonus episode. You might recall from my chat earlier in the week with Mark Lewis that we talked about the fact that the vast majority of humans on this planet are wonderful, just doing their best with what they've got. Well, today, I have two of finest humans alive in Chris Mitchell & Robbie Laidlaw, both of the Genuine Dining Company (https://www.genuinedining.com/). What makes them the finest? Well, if you haven't picked it up from the title, these two mad men a...

There won't be many people in the UK hospitality scene that have not heard of today's guest, and if you haven't then sit back, relax and soak up the brilliant journey of Mark Lewis, CEO of quite fabulous Hospitality Charity, Hospitality Action (https://www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/) Marks journey is possibly a little unexpected (My favourite kind of journey) and we cover off lots including:- Studying English Literature Teaching The Rough Guides The Caterer Travel around Asia Human kindnes...

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...

There won't be many people the UK hospitality scene who haven't heard of today's guest, and if you haven't, then have I got a treat for you. I chat to none other than award winning HR legend Sean Wheeler, now running his own consultancy. Sean has had one hell of a career so far having worked with many recognisable brands. We chat through his epic journey and get through:- Marlow Avoiding Academia Getting on a management training programme Moving to Coffee shops Miss Selfridge TGI Friday’...

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...

I love coffee, I mean I REALLY love coffee and coffee tastes even better when it's doing some good (Crediting that line with today's guest 100%). So I thought, let's have a chat with someone in the coffee business as lets face it, where would hospitality be without it? So I got some time with Jonathan Reed, CEO of Coffee Rockstar's and all round doers of great work, Paddy & Scott's (https://paddyandscotts.shop/). This chat is a joy from start to finish as we cover off:- Ambition House The c...

Another year passes us by and just as we thought we were leaving all the drama that Covid brought us, 2022 decided that it wanted some of the action too with a brand new set of challenges. It therefore felt appropriate to bring you a brief moment of joy at the most wonderful time of the year with some more tales of Christmas past with some more previous guests from our 120+ conversations so far, alongside those two legends Chris Fletcher & Kieron Bailey, who always bring the fun. We've got Mar...

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...

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 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...

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 love a bit of networking, and that's what led me to today's guest. I got some time with Greg Früchtenicht, Director of Partnerships at Saira Hospitality (https://www.sairahospita...

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 There was no way I could let you all tackle the cold winter months on your own so I'm back with more amazing stories from hospitality. This week, I speak to Andy Aston, Head of Wel...