Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

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:-...

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 H...

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 th...

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 Authentic...

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:-...

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 throu...

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...

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 n...

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 Olive...

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 t...

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 thro...

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 Michel...

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...

To round off your digital meal this week, for your dessert (he had to be the dessert really) I chat to Benoit Blin, Chef Pattisier at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons and TV Judge from Bake off: The Professionals. We get through:- Winter in Le Manoir The Pastry Section Born to be in Pastry Committed parents Learning bread Changing perceptions The Financier The process of pastry Creating new dishes Learn...

In the second of our three chats this week (The main course), I was lucky enough to get some time with the absolutely awe inspiring and industry icon that is Raymond Blanc , Chef Patron at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons , founder of Brasserie Blanc , author of several books and of course, TV personality extraordinaire. The chat is laden with gold including:- Inclusive luxury The many strings to Raymon...

Welcome to our Season 3 Finale week where I've got 3 wonderful chats from one of the finest businesses going, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons ( https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/oxfordshire/belmond-le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons/ ). On a cold Decembers day, I headed over to Oxfordshire to get some time with three of their incredible leaders. And first up is Niall Kingston , The General Manager. Nial...

Did you know that it's International Margarita Day today? Well, sit down, pour yourself a beautifully crafted Mockarita and listen into my wonderful chat with the awesome Pooja Sharma-Jones , Chief "Mock"eting Officer (You see what they did there?) at Mocktails ( https://mocktails.com/ ) And it's quite a bizarre story how we came across each other, but we talk about that in the chat so I won't bor...

This week, I bring you none other than Hotelier of the year 2022 , Adrian Ellis . When he's not leading the wonderful The Lowry Hotel ( https://www.thelowryhotel.com /) in Manchester, he's elevating the industry and all around him at every opportunity. As always, we get through loads including:- - Manchester - Traveling early - Taking a year out - Approaching owners out of nowhere - GM by 26 - Liv...

Where to begin with this weeks bonus episode. You might recall from my chat earlier in the week with Mark Lewis that we talked about the fact that the vast majority of humans on this planet are wonderful, just doing their best with what they've got. Well, today, I have two of finest humans alive in Chris Mitchell & Robbie Laidlaw , both of the Genuine Dining Company ( https://www.genuinedining...

There won't be many people in the UK hospitality scene that have not heard of today's guest, and if you haven't then sit back, relax and soak up the brilliant journey of Mark Lewis, CEO of quite fabulous Hospitality Charity, Hospitality Action ( https://www.hospitalityaction.org.uk/ ) Marks journey is possibly a little unexpected (My favourite kind of journey) and we cover off lots including:- Stu...

I've wanted to get today's guest on for a while (I should have just asked him as it transpires) as I'd seen a few of his posts around on LinkedIn and there was this wonderfully positive and inspirational theme running through his message. So I was delighted to welcome Simon Maguire to the show. Simon has spent his career in hotels but towards the end of 2022 he opted to pursue a passion, leadershi...

Well, have I got a belter for you this week (I mean, they're all belters of course). I got some time with superstar that is Alexander Schneider, President of Nikki Beach Global's Hotel division ( https://nikkibeach.com/ ) And this chat does not disappoint and whatever stage you are at in your career, there is gold for you here. We get through:- Building a brand according to the market Customisatio...

There won't be many people the UK hospitality scene who haven't heard of today's guest, and if you haven't, then have I got a treat for you. I chat to none other than award winning HR legend Sean Wheeler , now running his own consultancy. Sean has had one hell of a career so far having worked with many recognisable brands. We chat through his epic journey and get through:- Marlow Avoiding Academia...

What happens when you put two recruiters together to talk about people? The answer is this weeks chat. Abi Dunn, Founder of Sixty Eight People (https://www.sixtyeightpeople.com/). I was connected with Abi through Jo Harley of Purple Cubed (Thanks Jo!!!) as Abi had conducted some very interesting research around candidate experience. We thought the world should here it so here we go. Abi also cover...

I love coffee, I mean I REALLY love coffee and coffee tastes even better when it's doing some good (Crediting that line with today's guest 100%). So I thought, let's have a chat with someone in the coffee business as lets face it, where would hospitality be without it? So I got some time with Jonathan Reed , CEO of Coffee Rockstar's and all round doers of great work, Paddy & Scott's ( https://...