Tag Archives: Speaker Q&A

Speaker Q&A (2019): Seamus O’Donnell, The Alchemist

Seamus O’Donnell is executive chef at The Alchemist, the multi-award-winning bar and restaurant brand famed for its molecular mixology and theatrical venues. He’ll be appearing in the ‘Menu innovations in pubs’ panel session alongside Fuller’s Paul Dickinson, Young’s Chris Knights, Oakman Inns’ Ross Pike and Jay Morjaria, recent winner of the BBC’s My Million Pound Menu. What restaurant & pub operators do you particularly admire and why? The breakfast/brunch trend will continue to grow as it’s such a versatile day-part meal which can be easily influenced by different cuisine – Dishoom are a great example of this. What do you…

Speaker Q&A (2019): Chris Hill, The New World Trading Company

Chris Hill is CEO of The New World Trading Company / The Florist.  A regular show visitor and speaker, he’ll be appearing in an opening day panel session alongside other industry high flyers (including Sarah Weir, MD of Albion & East, Gordon Ker, founder of Blacklock, and Steve Moore, CEO of Flight Club) to talk about the journey so far and what’s next for their brands.

Speaker Q&A (2019): Jane Treasure, PizzaExpress

Next up is Jane Treasure, PizzaExpress’ food and beverage director.  She’ll be at the show on opening day discussing ‘Menu innovation for multi-site restaurants’. The session will also feature Las Iguanas’ Glenn Evans, wagamama’s Steven Mangleshot, and Jay Morjaria, recent winner of the BBC’s My Million Pound Menu. 

Speaker Q&A (2019): Glenn Evans, Las Iguanas, La Tasca & La Vina

Our next speaker Q&A features Glenn Evans, head of food development at popular Latin American and Spanish restaurant chains Las Iguanas, La Tasca & La Viña. With a diverse career spanning 21 years, including roles at Hilton Hotels, Compass Group, Marks & Spencer, Reynolds Foodservice, SSP and Greene King, Glenn has plenty of experience creating inspiring menus. Don’t miss the chance to catch Glenn sharing his expertise on the opening day of the show, when he’ll be appearing in an exclusive panel session, alongside Jane Treasure, PizzaExpress’ food and beverage director, Steven Mangleshot, wagamama’s executive chef, and and Jay Morjaria, recent winner…

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

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): Brian Keeley-Whiting, Whiting & Hammond

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’. 

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…

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

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

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

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…