Josh Eggleton has been building a dining empire in Bristol since opening his first pub – The Pony & Trap in Chew Magna - with his sister Holly in 2006. He founded his second business – fish cafe and tearoom Salt & Malt - on the banks of Chew Valley Lake - in 2014, opening a second site under the same name in Bristol in 2017. He also co-owns The Kensington 'The Kenny' … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… The Chilli Pickle’s Alun and Dawn Sperring
Husband and wife Alun and Dawn Sperring opened The Chilli Pickle Indian restaurant in Brighton 10 years' ago, moving to a larger site in the city as it became more successful. Alun is a classically-trained chef who has worked in kitchens around the world, while Dawn left her job with the London Ambulance Service 15 years ago to work front-of-house in hospitality. Last year the … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Hasan De Four
Hasan De Four is executive chef of fast-casual Caribbean restaurant Baygo. The company, founded by Chris Morris, opened its first site in the City of London in October 2017 with plans to open more restaurants in the future. Hasan, 41, was born in Trinidad, but moved to the UK when he was 18 to train as a chef. After gaining his NVQ he landed a job in catering at Queen Mary and … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Julie Barker
Yorkshire-born mother-of-two Julie Barker combines her 'day job' as director of Accommodation & Hospitality at the University of Brighton, with a number of volunteer roles at industry organisations. She is currently a director at The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO), having been chairman for six years, and is a fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and the British … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Mark Sargeant
Mark Sargeant carved out a successful career as a chef, including a 13-year stint with Gordon Ramsay, before becoming a restaurateur in 2011 with the opening of Rocksalt and The Smokehouse in Folkestone. With business partner Josh De Haan he went on to open The Duke William pub in Ickham in 2015 and then the Wife of Bath, a Northern Spanish inspired restaurant last year. He is … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Lyn MacDonald
Lyn MacDonald joined Macdonald Hotels & Resorts early last year as group marketing director. Previously, Lyn worked as marketing and PR director at restaurant business Thai Leisure Group where restaurant bookings increased by 41% during her two-year tenure. She went on to work at G1 Group, overseeing website changes which led to a 31% increase in online bookings. Lyn talks … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Graham Squire
Graham Squire trained under John Williams and Martin Nail at Claridge's, working his way up to senior chef de partie before leaving in 2009 to work with Adam Byatt at his Clapham restaurant Trinity. It was at Trinity where Graham worked alongside Tom Sellers, who went on to open Restaurant Story. In 2014, Tom opened his first pub - The Lickfold Inn – near Petworth in West … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Nina Chudasama
Nina Chudasama is CEO and co-founder of Hope & Glory Tea who supply whole leaf organic teas to the hospitality industry and sell direct through their website. Nina launched the company with husband Bharat two years ago after running a mobile coffee business and has seen it go from strength to strength since. She talks to Hospitality & Catering News about how she plans … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Dan Kenny
Chef Dan Kenny took over the full F&B offering at The Artist Residence hotel in Brighton earlier this month having run its restaurant The Set for almost three years. The Midlands-born chef moved to Brighton eight years ago from Vietnam where he'd lived for several years, to work at The Gingerman restaurant. After five years at The Gingerman he left to launch The Set with … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Nick Deverell-Smith
Nick Deverell-Smith left his job as head chef for the Soho House Group in 2014 to open his first business – The Churchill Arms in Paxford in the North Cotswolds. Nick's career as a chef started at Simpsons in Kenilworth, where he worked under Andreas Antona. He then went on to work at Mallory Court in Leamington Spa for two years where he won the Gordon Ramsay Scholarship, … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Tom Aikens
Chef Tom Aikens started in the industry at the age of 19, working with David Cavalier and Pierre Koffmann in London before landing a job with Joel Robuchon in Paris. It was on his return to London and his five years at Pied-à-Terre where he became the youngest British chef to be awarded two Michelin stars, aged 26. In 2003 he opened his first restaurant Tom Aikens in Chelsea, … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Ben Marks
Chef Ben Marks opened Perilla in London's Newington Green in November 2016 with friend and restaurateur Matt Emmerson following a series of pop-ups. The restaurant is supported by leading industry figures, including Claridge's executive chef Martyn Nail, Phil Howard of Elystan Street and Corinthia London managing director Thomas Kochs. Ben started in the industry at 15 as … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Martin Williams
Martin Williams left his role as managing director of Gaucho in 2014 after nine years there to open his own restaurant under the M Restaurant brand. The group now comprises three restaurants – M Restaurant Victoria Street, M Threadneedle Street and the M Bar & Grill in Twickenham, which opened last year. Martin talks to Hospitality & Catering News about building his … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Mark Hardy
Mark Hardy has been general manager at Mayfair's 4 star hotel The Cavendish London since May 2017. The Australian-born hotelier started his hospitality career in the UK in 2004 as hotel manager at Radisson Blu Edwardian Berkshire Hotel in London's Oxford Street. He worked for Accor as general manager for Carlson Rezidor until 2012 when he moved to Millennium Gloucester Hotel … [Read more...]
Five minutes with… Mark Jarvis
Mark Jarvis, chef-patron of London restaurants Anglo and Neo Bistro, will launch his third restaurant – Stem - on Princes Street in Mayfair late next month. The Buckinghamshire-born chef began his career aged 16, learning his trade as a trainee chef at Chartridge Conference Company. He worked his way up the ranks in kitchens in Oxfordshire and worked with Raymond Blanc for two … [Read more...]