Speaker Q&A (2019): Lesley McIlroy, Bill’s Restaurants

Speaker Q&As

Lesley McIlroy is head of marketing at Bill’s Restaurants. With an extensive background in commercial marketing for the hospitality industry, including roles at Comptoir Group, Peach Pub Company, Greene King and Hall & Woodhouse, she’ll be sharing her insights and expertise with show visitors as part of The Casual Dining Marketing Panel. The WE ARE Spectacular marketing podcast (hosted by Mark McCulloch) will also feature wagamama’s Andre Johnstone, Pizza Pilgrim’s Thom Elliot, Revolution Bars Group’s Kate Eastwood, and Las Iguanas’ Lucy Harwood. What do you feel is the key for operators to successfully compete against their competitors in 2019 and beyond?…

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

Speaker Q&As

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…

Speaker Q&A (2019): Peter Borg Neal, Oakman Inns

Speaker Q&As

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…

Speaker Q&A (2019): Andre Johnstone, wagamama

Speaker Q&As

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.

Speaker Q&A (2019): Will Beckett, Hawksmoor

Speaker Q&As

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…

Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food Restaurants

Speaker Q&A (2019): Nisha Katona, Mowgli Street Food Restaurants

Speaker Q&As

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…

Casual Dining Keynote speakers 2018

Pub & restaurant leaders share the best advice they’ve ever been given

Press Releases, Speaker Q&As

For Mitchells & Butlers’ Susan Chappell, “sharing stories that inspire and energise us to do something differently” is a big part of Casual Dining show’s long-standing appeal.  Its popular Keynote Theatre, which attracts hundreds of visitors per session, offers an invaluable opportunity to hear expert insights, business strategies and advice from some of the biggest names in the business. We asked Susan, and a few of our other 2018 speakers, to share the best advice they’ve ever received — those nuggets of wisdom that helped inspire them to think ‘differently’. Susan Chappell, divisional director/exec co, Mitchells & Butlers: “Do a…

Richard Boon Hubbox

Speaker Q&A (2018): Richard Boon, Hubbox

Speaker Q&As

Our final speaker Q&A for 2018 features Richard Boon, MD and founder of Hubbox.  He’ll appearing alongside Flat Iron’s Jo Fleet and KuPP’s Lesa Kleidon in the ‘Large multi-site brands of the future’ panel session on the show’s opening day (21 February).  With over 20 years’ of experience within the hospitality, tourism, nightclub, and restaurant sector, he’ll be sharing his insights into building — and expanding, a regional brand. What do you see as key trends for the casual dining sector in the coming year?  I love reading the trend forecasts published at the beginning of the year.  How many of them were forecast…