Speaker Q&A (2019): Matt Grech-Smith, Swingers

When Swingers co-founders Matt Grech-Smith and Jeremy Simmonds first contrived the unique combination of crazy golf, cocktails and street food to create their Shoreditch-based pop-up back in 2014, few could have predicted what a winning formula it would turn out to be.

Five years on the pair are at the forefront of the new experiential hospitality trend, having translated their initial success into a brand that now boasts two permanent sites in the City of London and the West End. Next up is New York, as the duo set their sites on America and plan to roll-out the leisure brand around the globe.

Catch Matt at day one of Casual Dining, where he’ll be in discussion with Nando’s group strategy director Jane O’Riordan, CGA’s VP Peter Martin, Hawksmoor’s CEO Will Beckett and Toby Harris, CEO of Social Entertainment Ventures, about the challenges and opportunities of taking restaurant and bar brands outside their home market.

What restaurant & pub operators do you particularly admire and why?

All the operators who are out there hustling in challenging trading conditions.

What do you feel is the key for operators to successfully compete against their competitors in 2019 and beyond?

A clearly defined, high quality offer that is delivered with great service.

What’s your bestselling dish / drink at the moment?

Our espresso martini made with Nude coffee tops our best-selling drinks list pretty often. Our frozen daiquiri was a surprise hit this year too.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Walking into a busy, vibrant venue where people are having a great time and for a couple of hours forgetting about their everyday lives.

And the most challenging?

Juggling the workload that comes with overseeing a couple of big, busy venues plus planning for expansion in the UK and the US.

Can you tell us a bit about your much anticipated session at Casual Dining 2019?

I’m on a panel of operators, which is being hosted by Peter Martin. He’s a great host and he’s not afraid to get the debate going and ask difficult questions!

Who or what inspires you to be even better?

Our team – I am responsible for so many careers, I don’t want to let anyone down.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The Pizza Pilgrims guys, Thom and James Elliott, gave me a pep talk back when we opened the Swingers pop-up and I was despondent about some negative feedback we’d received from a customer. I can’t phrase it in the way they did (too many swear words) but their words were along the lines of ‘don’t go mad trying to please the small percentage of people with irrational and unrealistic expectations’.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself that most people don’t know.

Crazy golf is amazing, but I can’t stand normal golf. I think it’s a complete waste of time.

See Matt at Casual Dining 2019

Going Global: The Practicalities of International Growth: 3.15pm in Keynote Theatre 2 on Wednesday 27 February. The session will also feature –