Brian Keeley-Whiting is owner of Whiting & Hammond — a small, award winning, independent pub group in the heart of the Kent, Sussex and Surrey. He’ll be appearing alongside Flat Iron’s MD Jo Fleet, the Yummy Pub Co’s Tim Foster, MEATliquor’s MD Scott Collins, and Simon Stenning, founder of FutureFoodservice.com, to discuss ‘Coping with Crisis’.
From limited edition beer, craft sodas, and vegan ice-creams to easy-to-serve cheeseboards, fishless fillets, premium coffee, gin alternatives and eco-packaging – there’s an exciting range of new launches to discover at Casual Dining 2019, taking place on 27-28 February at London ExCeL.
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…
Next up in our series of speaker Q&As, we talk to Peter Borg Neal, CEO of Oakman Inns. He founded the now 25-strong pub and restaurant group in 2007, with the aim of creating modern public houses with a welcoming environment and a strong focus on customer service. Peter will be sharing his expertise on the second day of the show, in his talk ‘Leadership in Uncertain Times’, where he’ll discuss the importance of keeping your business moving forward rather than just battening down the hatches when facing headwinds. What restaurant & pub operators do you particularly admire and why? My industry hero…
Andre Johnstone, UK marketing director of Japanese-inspired restaurant chain wagamama, will be taking part in the show’s first ever WE ARE Spectacular marketing podcast (hosted by Mark McCulloch). The Casual Dining Marketing Panel session also includes Pizza Pilgrim’s Thom Elliot, Bill’s Restaurants’ Lesley McIlroy, Revolution Bars Group’s Kate Eastwood, and Las Iguanas’ Lucy Harwood.
Will Beckett, co-founder and CEO of acclaimed British steakhouse and cocktail bar, Hawksmoor, will be making not just one, but two appearances at this year’s show. Since opening the original Spitalfields-based restaurant with Huw Gott, in 2006, the brand has gone from strength to strength, with nine sites now operating around the UK and a new restaurant due to open in New York in June this year. Don’t miss the chance to hear Will sharing his views on the past, present and future of Hawksmoor, the other impressive ventures he’s involved in, and the sector as a whole, at his talk…
2019 is already set to be a record year for Casual Dining show, as it announces its free Keynote line-up featuring some of the biggest names from the nation’s best casual dining operators.
Barrister-turned-restaurateur, executive chef and TV presenter, Nisha Katona’s inspirational (and fast-growing) business is known for championing authentic and healthy Indian recipes in a home-from-home setting. Founded just four years ago, Mowgli Street Food Restaurants now operates six sites in Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford, Nottingham and Birmingham – with four new openings planned in the next 12 months. A self-proclaimed ‘curry evangelist’, she’ll be sharing insights into her career so far – and future plans for Mowgli – in a highly-anticipated opening day Keynote interview. What restaurant & pub operators do you particularly admire and why? Karen Jones for the way that…
PizzaExpress, Zizzi, Toby Carvery, wagamama, Dirty Martini, All Bar One, Las Iguanas, ASK Italian, Mowgli, Jamie’s Italian, Bella Italia, Harvester, Pizza Pilgrims, YO!, Frankie & Benny’s, Miller & Carter and Pho are among the big-name brands in the running to receive a Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Award. Over 100 casual dining restaurants and pubs from across the UK are among the finalists to make the shortlist, which was announced in full today. Now in its fourth year, the annual awards celebrate the very best of the multi-billion pound casual dining sector. The winners will be announced at a prestigious awards…
An unprecedented 220 exhibiting companies – from the biggest to the newest names serving the UK’s restaurants, pubs and bars, are preparing to showcase 1000s of innovations at Casual Dining, when it opens at ExCeL London on 27-28 February.