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This bonus episode of Talking Hospitality is recorded live at Confex in London and shines a light on an unusual but powerful initiative bringing the industry together. Timothy R Andrews sits down with Paul Gilley, founder of the London Hospitality Festival, to discuss Hospitality Fight Night — an event that takes hospitality professionals with no boxing experience and puts them through a 12-week training journey before stepping into the ring in front of hundreds of industry peers. But this event isn’t really about boxing. It’s about resilience, wellbeing, confidence and community. Participants train together, build friendships and challenge themselves in ways many never expected. The evening itself becomes a celebration of the industry, with leaders and colleagues gathering to support the fighters and raise funds for Hospitality Action, the charity that supports hospitality workers in times of crisis. Paul also shares the wider story behind the London Hospitality Festival — an…

This bonus episode of Talking Hospitality is recorded live at Confex in London and shines a light on an unusual but powerful initiative bringing the industry together. Timothy R Andrews sits down with Paul Gilley, founder of the London Hospitality Festival, to discuss Hospitality Fight Night — an event that takes hospitality professionals with no boxing experience and puts them through a 12-week training journey before stepping into the ring in front of hundreds of industry peers. But this event isn’t really about boxing. It’s about resilience, wellbeing, confidence and community. Participants train together, build friendships and challenge themselves in ways many never expected. The evening itself becomes a celebration of the industry, with leaders and colleagues gathering to support the fighters and raise funds for Hospitality Action, the charity that supports hospitality workers in times of crisis. Paul also shares the wider story behind the London Hospitality Festival — an eve…

Day 9 of 31 Celebrating Women In Hospitality: Shell Righini Shell Righini has used her voice to open up an important conversation around sobriety in hospitality and the reality of building a career in an industry where alcohol is so often normalised. Through her sober work, she has shown that choosing a different path does not mean stepping away from hospitality, but helping shape a healthier version of it. Her honesty, advocacy and lived experience are making space for others to feel seen, supported and less alone. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #Sobriety #HealthAwareness #werecoverloudly #TomKerridge

Celebrating 31 Days of Women in Talking Hospitality for International Women's Day! For day 8 we’re celebrating Lucy Grant-Evans from Electric Mayonnaise, who brought real insight to Talking Hospitality through her experience across operations, learning and development, and hospitality careers. Now Head of Operations at Electric Mayonnaise, Lucy has continued helping hospitality businesses build stronger future leaders through apprenticeships and development programmes that are practical, people-focused and rooted in the reality of the industry. She represents the kind of women shaping hospitality in a meaningful way: not just talking about progression, but helping make it happen. (Electric Mayonnaise) Supporting passionate hospitality professionals and bridging leadership skill gaps. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #LeadershipDevelopment #HospitalityCareers #EmpowerWomen

Celebrating 31 days of women in hospitality for International Women's Day! Day 7 and we feature Dawn Burton Co-Founder of the Caribbean Food Collective. Here, she talks about how after meeting other founder Marsha Bennett the Collective was formed, and why. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #FoodBusiness #CaribbeanFoodCollective #HospitalityIndustry

Celebrating The Women of Talking Hospitality. Day 6 of 31. The hugely charismatic Akashia Carswell Founder of London Talent and HiveCru shares her first days in hospitality and how she had to prove herself against men. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #HospitalityIndustry #CareerJourney #WomenInBusiness

Women In Hospitality | Tracey Rashid #shorts #podcast #hospitality Day 5 of 31 Celebrating Women In Hospitality. Of course no list would be complete with our queen of the show Tracey Rashid. Stepping in from Season 3, Tracey has shared her insights as an entrepreneur, single mum and as a woman bringing a fresh feel and new perspectives to the show. In this clip she shares a special moment from season 4. Women In Hospitality | Tracey Rashid The hospitality industry is fast-paced, competitive, and constantly evolving—but women are increasingly stepping into leadership roles and reshaping the future of the sector. In this video, we explore the inspiring story and insights of Tracey Rashid and discuss the growing impact of women in hospitality. From leadership and entrepreneurship to career growth and overcoming industry challenges, this conversation highlights what it really takes to succeed in the hospitality world today. Whether you're starting a career in hospitality, managing a h…

Day 4 of 31: Women in Hospitality: Jill Whittaker OBE Executive Chair of HIT Training. Jill is a powerhouse for our industry, creating opportunites and fresh starts for people across the sector. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #HospitalityJobs #Recruitment #CareerAdvice #HITtraining

Day 3 of Celebrating Women. In our now legendary 3 part mini series on mental health, Susan Grandfield Transformation Coach shared ways in which people struggling in Lockdown could cope. Her wise words still stand true today. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #MentalHealthAwareness #Mindfulness #SelfCare

Celebrating 31 Days of Women in Talking Hospitality for International Women's Day. Day 2 and we throw back to our first ever guest Kemi Akinola CEO of the charities Be Enriched and Brixton People's Kitchen, focusing on tackling food insecurity and social exclusion in London. She reveals some very interesting facts about why not having money doesn't mean scrimping on quality. #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #FoodInclusion #internationalwomensday #CommunitySupport#CharityWork

Celebrating 31 Days of Women in Talking Hospitality for International Women's Day! And who better than to start with our original first lady Sarah Kettel. Here in our first ever episode in 2020 at the height of lockdown. I wonder if she still feels the same? . #talkinghospitality #womeninhospitality #podcast #HospitalityIndustry #InternationalWomensDay #FoodService #CommunitySupport

Our merch is here! Check out the new Talking Hospitality gear. What do you think? Let us know! #talkinghospitality #hospitality #HospitalityJobsUK #MerchDrop #PodcastMerch

The hospitality sector is a massive economic engine, driving employment and influencing costs like inflation and interest rates. Despite industry expertise, current margins make profitability a challenge. #talkinghospitality #hospitality #EconomicImpact #IndustryChallenges #RestaurantBusiness

Fighting for VAT and tax reform in hospitality. @andyjlennox shares his his journey and why a change in VAT doesn't mean a tax cut #talkinghospitality #hospitality #TaxReform #VAT #HospitalityIndustry

What does the data say about leaders and line managers actively engaging in learning and their teams? Is it actually worse? Steve Dineen, founder of learning platform Fuse Universal, in an upcoming episode, shares. #talkinghospitality #hospitality #LearningAndDevelopment #EmployeeEngagement #PerformanceImprovement

Honestly? The hospitality industry is a powerhouse, employing millions and generating billions in taxation. Yet, it often struggles for recognition compared to its European counterparts, where it's viewed as a respected and viable career path. It's time we elevate the perception of hospitality, acknowledging it not just as a job, but as a significant and respected profession with immense economic impact. What more can be done to boost its standing in our communities? #TalkingHospitality #Hospitality #IndustryRecognition #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth

Discover how a quick onboarding process leads to happier, more confident employees. Get staff to 'I know how to do my job' faster, significantly boosting retention and benefiting HR. #TalkingHospitality #Hospitality #EmployeeOnboarding #StaffRetention #JobSatisfaction

Will there be a VAT cut for Hospitality in 2026? #talkinghospitality #hospitality #VAT #HospitalityIndustry #BusinessNews

Find out what sparked the jump from frustration to action and a campaign leading to Labour MPs being banned from pubs in the UK. Inspired by a 'wonky table' – a symbol of relatable industry struggles – a campaign for vital support like Eat Out to Help Out, COVID grants, and VAT relief gained momentum. For years, advocating for VAT reduction has been a key focus, with significant personal business impact. When faced with further financial strain, the call to action became undeniable: "We've got to do something." #talkinghospitality #hospitality #VAT #Advocacy #SmallBusiness

Pub's rates skyrocketed by 116%! Proposed COVID relief removal + new valuations led to a hike from £33k to £82k. Transitional relief was useless. @andyjlennox & @wonkytablehospitality fought back but the industry is still paying what it was, there are no new savings. #talkinghospitality #hospitality #BusinessRates #PubLife #HospitalityIndustry

Hospitality is busy. Pubs are full. But margins are collapsing. In this upcoming episode of Talking Hospitality, Andy Lennox explains why operators across the UK are struggling to make money despite strong trade. From soaring business rates and rising utilities to the campaign for VAT reform, this conversation digs into what’s really happening behind the scenes in pubs and restaurants. We also discuss the controversial “no Labour MPs” campaign, global press coverage, and why hospitality may need to be more robust in how it fights for survival. If you work in hospitality — or care about the future of pubs and restaurants — this episode is one to watch. Full episode coming soon. hospitality industry, restaurant management, leadership in hospitality, Thai cuisine, entrepreneurship in restaurants, cost of living impact, inflation and hospitality, employment in hospitality, restaurant success stories, pub management, VAT in hospitality, restaurant marketing strategies, hospitality cha…

In this episode, Timothy R Andrews sits down with operator and campaigner Andy Lennox in the Old Thatch pub in Dorset to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes in hospitality right now. Andy shares his journey from building Co-Tai into a multi-site business (and the reality of private equity ownership), to launching Nusara, and growing a pub portfolio in a market that keeps getting tougher. The conversation moves quickly from business story to industry survival. Andy explains why the sector is “busy but broke”: rising utilities, rent pressure, business rates shocks, and margins shrinking to the point where reinvestment becomes impossible. He unpacks the Wonky Table campaign, why the “no Labour MPs” sticker spread, and how press, trade bodies and political pressure combine when an industry finally decides it’s had enough. It’s a practical, blunt, and sometimes controversial discussion about tax reform, VAT, business rates, and why hospitality needs to get better at ex…

Hardly - Service 2026 proved that the industry is still very united and still has great energy, enthusiasm and passionate operators and suppliers. Great event put out by Chris Fletcher from Tech on Toast, his team and the people at Brewdog Waterloo. Real pleasure meeting faces old & new - we even picked up a new sponsor! (Watch this space) #service2026 #hospitality #talkinghospitality #podcast

If someone says No to being an Apprentice #shorts #business #hospitality #podcast If someone says "No" to the offer of an Apprenticeship - how should we respond? What should you do if someone says “No” to being an apprentice”? This video dives deep into the reasons why many young people turn down apprenticeship opportunities and how that decision can shape their future. Apprenticeships offer hands-on training, real-world experience, and a pathway into skilled careers. However, not everyone feels ready or confident to accept this opportunity. Some people worry about low pay, lack of awareness, family pressure, or fear of failure. In this video, we break down these challenges and explain how saying no to an apprenticeship does not mean the end of personal or professional growth. You will learn: ✔ The most common reasons people refuse apprenticeships ✔ The impact of saying no on long-term career development ✔ What alternatives exist after rejecting an apprenticeship ✔ How to build ski…