Tourism Business Chat

In the first of three special episodes recorded live at the Tourism Business Survey seminar in May 2026, this episode explores the challenges and opportunities the UK tourism and hospitality sector faces as the Larking Gowen team reflect on 20 years of the survey and this years results. Plus we hear from industry expert, and the author of Stand Out Hospitality Cassie Davidson, on what businesses s...

Recorded live on 12 June 2025 as part of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar, Chris Scargill hosted a panel conversation with Steve Magnall, MD of Two Magpies Bakery, Adam Goymour MD of Goymour Group, and Philip Turner, MD of Chestnut Group. The conversation explored the challenges and strategies faced by businesses in the tourism sector, particularly in relation to employment costs, consu...

"If you can't BE the destination, be the destination WITHIN the destination" so says Philip Turner, founder and owner of Chestnut Group, and keynote speaker the 2025 Larking Gowen Tourism Business Survey results seminar, held on 12 June in Norwich. If you missed being there on the day, let this special episode of Tourism Business Chat take you into the room where it happened, and hear Philip cover...

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. One of them is a familiar face on TV and in bookshops, and owner of Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park, Jimmy Doherty. Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trend...

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. Chris Scargill chaired a panel discussion on the day, and the audience heard commentary on the results of the survey and insight on other key issues impacting the sector. The panel included Park Director at Jimmy's Farm...

During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. In this episode, Tourism & Leisure Partner Chris Scargill discusses the results of the survey in detail, with further insight from specialists Emma Hayward and Sarah Pickett. View the full survey results brochure here.

The power of generative AI, and what we can learn from sustainable New Zealand tourism  During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders working in tourism and hospitality. Richard Turvel from SwissCamplings, a leading laundry supplier to the sector, reflects on what he calls 'steady boring growth' and how...

How does a headteacher at the top of her career come to live and work on the Broads? We find out, as Mary takes us on a journey that 'cruises' through a career working with troubled teens, into a battle with cancer, and out into the warmth and wonder of Beccles, a hugely popular part of the Norfolk Broads.  After being told that the stress of her job was the likely cause of her cancer returning, M...

The Tourism Business Survey was relaunched for 2023, after a 'COVID-19 break' and the results were announced at a seminar on 25 April to an audience of sector leaders. We recorded the panel discussions hihglights for listeners to enjoy who were unable to attend on the day.  You can hear reflections on the results of the survey from the team of experts at Larking Gowen, and commentary from Andy Woo...

Chris whisked away some leaders in the tourism sector after the Tourism Business Survey seminar on 25 April 2023, and hosted a very special chat. His guests were Oliver Paul, co-owner of Suffolk Food Hall, Tarnia Robertson, a Hospitality Consultant and Business Coach (and former MD of Ufford Park) and Elliott Attew, Manager of Deer's Glade Caravan and Camping Park.  In this bitesize episode, they...

What does your mind conjure up when we say Great Yarmouth? Whether we've been there or not, we likely all have something come to mind. That's the power of marketing and positive experiences. Asa Morrison is Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) and tourism business improvement district, of which there are only three in the UK.  Asa is passionate about...

This week, Chris speaks to two of East Anglia's big hitters, Park Director of ROARR!, Adam Goymour, and the park's Managing Director, Martin Goymour. ROARR! is the UK's biggest dinosaur themed adventure park, beloved by thousands of families, both locally and across the country. This successful father and son team has taken the park to dizzying heights in recent years. They reflect on what prompte...

Chances are, by now, you'll have seen Steve's bakeries on one of your days out, or if you haven't, you likely will do soon! Steve chats to Chris about how he met the founder of Two Magpies Bakery, Rebecca Bishop, and left the corporate life behind him back in 2018, to help invest and grow the then small bakery into the well-known chain it is today. Steve speaks honestly on the financial situation...

Norfolk is famous for a lot of things, and back in 2015 when the BBC commissioned a behind the scenes reality TV series about life on Wiveton Hall Farm; Normal for Norfolk , Desmond MacCarthy and his infamous eyebrows were added to the list! Chris chats to Desmond about life on and off camera; Desmond's passion for the environment; and how you pivot a business model from fruit picking and farming,...

Nick oversees the well-known, and well-respected, Imperial Hotel, in Great Yarmouth. In February 2020, the business won the title of 'Customer at the heart of everything' at the Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions awards. No sooner had they got the award on the mantle-piece, COVID-19 hit and Nick reflects on the headless chicken feeling they experienced. As a hotel that could remain open, they f...

We are back for series three with a bang! There are not many with more experience or passion for the tourism sector than Peter Williamson, former Chair, now Vice Chair of the Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO), Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions. Peter is the former owner of the hugely popular Merrivale Model Village, but when he sold the village in 2017 retirement didn't suit him, so he...

The series finale is a chat with Karen Hester, Chief Operating Officer of Adnams brewery in Southwold. Karen describes her story as 'from mop to top' – starting her career at Adnams as a cleaner, she's now an award winning, glass ceiling breaking COO. She chats to Chris about all things lockdown, pivoting, the digital revolution, stay-cations, the importance of wellbeing coming out of the pandemic...

What is customer experience? It's the emotional connection that the customer has with a business. Better known as customer service, it's more than just functionality – experience is about how people are made to feel. Judy is here to explain why this is incredibly important for tourism, leisure and hospitality businesses to focus on, moving out of the pandemic, and to secure their future past the i...

Chris chats to Oliver Brown, General Manager at Wivenhoe House Hotel, about all things hospitality and lockdown; his experience on the board of Visit Essex; and his work with the University of Essex's Edge Hotel School and Hospitality Action. Oliver has worked his way up through the sector, including spells working in America, at The Ritz, and The Dorchester, where he serviced the likes of Sylvest...

In this latest conversation, Chris chats to Geoff Bligh, a co-owner of Hanks Deli, Suffolk's popular vegan supermarket. Where many hospitality businesses faced struggles and closures during lockdown, Hanks Deli pivoted and expanded, meeting a demand that shocked even them! The success of Hanks, and their expansion into a supermarket, take-away and pub means, for them, veganism is good for business...

Series 2 launches with a real treat – a behind the curtains look at Thursford, famous for its Christmas Spectacular show, weddings and more. A favourite of locals, tourists, and celebrities alike!  Looking back on March 2020, brothers Charlie (General Manager) and George (Project and Marketing Manager) Cushing were positive and thinking, "Thank goodness the pandemic isn't happening at Christmas!"...

In the final episode of series 1, Chris chats to Richard Turvill, the managing director of Camplings. Operating out of Great Yarmouth and Cambridge, they are the region's leading laundry and linen supplier to the hospitality, food production and leisure sector. With many of their customers closed due to lockdown, Richard and his team had to find ways to pivot and adapt during the last 12 months, a...

In this week's episode, Chris chats to Ruth Knight, Director of Norfolk Broads Direct, Broads Tours and Waveney River Centre, and recently retired chair of Visit the Broads. Ruth lives and breathes the Broads, and the tourism sector, but both Ruth and her businesses faced huge challenges with lockdown restrictions and closures. This valuable conversation can be summed up into: innovation; implemen...

This week, Chris speaks to Richard Hughes, Chef Director at The Assembly House in Norwich, and founder of the Richard Hughes Cookery School. In his long career, Richard has gone head-to-head with Gordan Ramsey for National Chef of the Year; worked in Michelin starred restaurants; worked at the Ritz and Norwich Theatre Royal, amongst others; he's even cooked for the Queen Mother! Richard is credite...

This week, Chris Scargill speaks to Philip Turner, founder and managing director of Chestnut; a collection of pubs, inns and restaurants throughout East Anglia. In their conversation, Philip speaks frankly about the impact that restrictions have had on his own business, as well as the leisure and hospitality sector. He speaks candidly about the Government's handling of the pandemic, and the anger...