Episodes

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 ...

You can't beat a good old chat about all things leadership and that's exactly what you get this week as I welcomed the host of the superb Hospitality Leadership Podcast and Leadership coach, Andy Jones to the show. As you can imagine, there's more than a little chat around leadership but we also get through Andy's journey into hospitality and a whole lot more besides, including:- Leadership The Pre-Hospitality Career Experiencing bad leadership Taking on a cafe Covid, Day one Resourcefuln...

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 ...

A little sneaky bonus for you all this week as I wanted to showcase one of the wonderful highlights of the Hospitality Calendar, that being The Walk for Wellbeing. So what better way to showcase that than get its founder on the show, Craig Prentice. We also chat through Craigs journey to figure out where this idea came from and cover off:- Starting at a Money brokers Moving to a theatre & Music venues Finding Hospitality Neglecting self care Recruitment Ennismore Mental struggles Starti...

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...

Prepare to be educated! A bold statement for sure but if you have even a remote interest in food, there's something for you in here. I welcomed seasoned (A little food pun for you, you're welcome) educator Jose Souto, Senior Chef Lecturer in Culinary Arts at Westminster Kingsway College. And by god is he passionate about his craft. That comes through effortlessly all the way through and I'm pretty sure that he and I could have spoken well into the night about food. We didn't, but we did get t...

Another treat for you this week as I got some time with the walking industry legend that is Peter Hancock. Peter has had a wonderful career so far and is one of the most respected people within hospitality, now plying his trade as a public speaker and MC extraordinaire. We chat about:- The Changing face of the mid life crisis The unplanned start Quick Promotion Moving to Hotels Publishing Evolution Pride of Britain Getting into speaking Having a laugh Being a MasterChef eater Hospita...

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...

If you name some of London's most famous stadiums and venues, chances are today's guest is involved in the catering operation. I got some time with Mark Reynolds, Regional Executive Chef - London for Levy UK and National Vice Chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs. It's an epic career which has taken him all over the world, having worked on a number of film sets on his way as well. We chat about:- Starting in the family pub The army Youngest Sous Chef in Hilton Being a Chef on Film sets Mov...

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...

I've spoken about the importance of networking many times on this show and without that, I may never have met today's guest. And you are absolutely going to love it. I chat to Stephen Trigg, Managing Director and Founder of Lauden Chocolate, a truly world class chocolatier, and all round top bloke. I can't let this pass without a big shout out to Claire Bosi and the team at Chef Publishing for the introduction. There's so much to love in Stephen's story and we get through:- Getting started ...

A sneaky bonus for you this week as I welcome back absolute rockstar of a human, Jim Knight - Author, Speaker & Podcaster. Jim's super power is all about elevating through culture and having just written another book in his series, this time "Service that Rocks", I thought it was high time we had him back. Jim is just box office in every minute and we get through:- Music Jim's Books Authenticity Creating wow experiences Price of admission stuff Service Attitude and personality Rita Gill...

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...

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...

I've gone all luxury this week as I head into Hampshire and specifically within the rather wonderful Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire where I got some time with their fantastic General Manager, Andrew Harrison. As always, we get through a lot including:- Getting started Getting the right kind of experience Learning attention to detail Discovering wine cellars Getting the travel bug in Asia Graft The nomadic career journey Four Seasons Sleeping in a jungle Luxury Tents Sugar based produce ...

And so here is part two of Matt's epic journey. In the first part we learned about an incredible amount of adversity that Matt had to deal with. By his own admission, some of it self inflicted. In the second part, there's definitely a transfer over to hope and moving forward. In this part, we get through:- Bluebird Restaurant Re-focussing Energy into the positive Maze Restaurant People Jamie Oliver Learning leadership Giving back Caravan restaurants Covid Extra Curricular Collaborat...

My life have I got a story for you this week. Introducing Matt Burgess (Known as Matt Blak on Instagram) who has a story so epic, a Hollywood writer should pick it up. I made a decision half way through chatting to Matt that I'll just let this one roll for as long as it takes as frankly, there's learning from the outset and all the way through. It's a 2 hour chat so I'm breaking this up into two this week, the first part for you now and the second part on Friday. So here is Part one. And crik...

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...

A big hearty welcome back to every one of you and we are kicking off season 4 in style! I was lucky enough to get some time in the more than hectic diary of rockstar chef and restaurateur Adam Handling (https://www.adamhandling.co.uk/). Not only did he make time for me, but he did it on the day he launched Eve Bar (https://www.evebar.co.uk/) to add into his 3 other amazing places - The 1 Michelin starred Frog by Adam Handling, Ugly Butterfly in Cornwall and Loch & Tyne in Old Windsor. A more p...

WE'RE BACK - Well, nearly anyway. Welcome to the all new season of Hospitality Meets with me your host Phil Street. After the all time high of season 3, we’re back with more awesome guests from within Hospitality and some shiny new things including a brand new Sponsor in the form of Rotacloud, a huge thank you to them and a whole lot more on them as we go through the season. We’ve also got a brand new website now at www.hospitalitymeets.co.uk and we’ve made it much easier for you to find the c...