The Conversation is MCA’s weekly digital event for hospitality leaders. Each week our editorial team are joined by special guests from across the industry to discuss the latest topical issues impacting the sector. In previous weeks we have heard from Kate Nicholls at UKHospitality on her work with government during the covid pandemic, as well as a host of other industry leaders.
You can download previous instalments of The Conversation below, for free.
5th July: In this week’s The Conversation, we hosted return guest Burger King UK CEO Alasdair Murdoch, on the panel as well as Heydon Mizon, joint managing director at McMullen and Sons. Completing the panel was regular guest UKH CEO, Kate Nicholls. Join them with MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany as host, to listen to their discussions on the PM’s latest plans.
LISTEN TO THE WEEK 60 RECORDING
22nd June: In this week’s The Conversation, we were pleased to welcome to the panel Nick Collins, CEO at Loungers as well as David Page, chairman at Fulham Shore, which operates Franco Manca and The Real Greek . Completing the panel was regular guest UKH CEO, Kate Nicholls. Join them with MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany as host, to listen to their discussions on their plans as we move towards the final restrictions being lifted in July.
LISTEN TO THE WEEK 59 RECORDING
14th June: In this week’s The Conversation, we were pleased to welcome to the panel Steven Kenee, chief investment officer at Oakman Inns as well as Des Gunewardena, CEO at D and D London. Completing the panel was UKH CEO, Kate Nicholls. Join them with Peter Martin as host to listen to their discussions on the PM’s delay in fully reopening the sector.
LISTEN TO THE WEEK 58 RECORDING
7th June: In this episode of The Conversation, we were pleased to welcome to the panel Peter Marks, Chief Executive at REKOM as well as Martin Wolstencroft, CEO at Arc Inspirations. Completing the panel was UKH Director of Strategic Affairs, Tony Sophoclides. Join them with Peter Martin as host to listen to their discussions on the imminent reopening of the sector.
LISTEN TO THE WEEK 57 RECORDING
24th May: In The Conversation this week, we were pleased to welcome two returning guests to the panel. First Will Beckett, Founder and CEO at Hawksmoor. He was joined by Roger Wade, Director at Boxpark. Completing the panel was regular guest UKH CEO Kate Nicholls. Peter Martin hosted this week.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 56 RECORDING
17th May: In this week’s The Conversation, we were delighted to welcomeGavin George, CEO at the Laine Pub Company to the panel, along with Andy Laurillard, Co-founder of Giggling Squid. Completing the panel was regular guest Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKHospitality. MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany hosted.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 55 RECORDING
10th May: This week’s episode of The Conversation was hosted by MCA contributing editor Peter Martin who was pleased to welcome Hugh Osmond, high profile champion for our sector in the High Court alongside Sacha Lord, who on Question Time last week, challenged the government to provide evidence for imposing severe operating restrictions and extended phases of reopening. Kate Nicholls contributed her regular update from UKH, including some practical advice on what operators can do to help steer the industry successfully back to full trading. Completing the panel was entrepreneur David Abrahamovitch, founder and CEO of cult coffee shop chain Grind, discussing the brands emergence from the lockdown period and it’s positive plans for the future.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 54 RECORDING
4th May: Finn Scott-Delany hosted this week’s session and was deligted to welcome David McDowall, President and COO at BrewDog to the panel. Joining them was Mark Davies, CEO at Hawthorn Pubs, the community pub group discussing the groups recent plans to list on the stock market, as well as exploring the option of an IPO. Kate Nicholls completes the panel with her weekly update.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 53 RECORDING
26th April: Joining Peter Martin on the panel this week were pub sector giants Nick Mackenzie, CEO at Greene King and newly announced Phil Urban, CEO at Mitchell & Butlers. We were also pleased to welcome back Kate Nicholls for her weekly update.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 52 RECORDING
19th April: Joining MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany on the panel this week was regular guest Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKHospitality, along with Natasha Waterfield, COO at the World Trading Company and Paul Gilchrist, CEO at Thunderbird Fried Chicken.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 51 RECORDING
12th April: Joining Peter Martin on the panel this week wias regular guest Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKHospitality, along with Clive Chesser, CEO at Punch Pubs, for his second appearance on The Conversation. Completing the panel was Robert Cook, CEO at TGI Friday’s.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 50 RECORDING
29th March: Joining MCA editor Finn Scott-Delany on the panel this week were Spencer Craig, founder at Pure, with Phil Thorley director of family-run Thorley Taverns. Completing the panel is Director of Public Affairs at UKHospitality, Tony Sophoclides.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 49 RECORDING
22nd March: Hosted by Peter Martin, with panellists Kate Nicholls and Capital Pub Co CEO Clive Watson this session covers all the latest updates from government, as we move through the roadmap to recovery.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 48 RECORDING
15th March: Peter Martin welcomes regular guest Kate Nicholls to the panel for some helpful advice on how best to put pressure on government to assist the hospitality industry’s road to recovery. Contributing panellists this week were William Lees-Jones, MD at JW Lees and Brian Trollip, MD at Dishoom.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 47 RECORDING
8th March: Budget discussions were front and centre in this week’s the Conversation. Peter Martin joins Kate Nicholls, Alex Reilley, Chaiman of the Loungers Group and Scott Matthews, CEO at Covent Garden Restaurants.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 46 RECORDING
1st March: One week on from the PM’s roadmap announcement and in this week’s session Peter Martin joins Kate Nicholls to discuss the practicalities of the announcement on the industry. Joining them were Jon Lake, MD at the Chopstix Group and Kris Gumbrell, CEO at Brewhouse and Kitchen for their unique perspectives on the industry’s recovery phase.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 45 RECORDING
22nd February: This session was recorded whilst the government’s roadmap to recovery was being broadcast. Access the online recording to listen to Peter Martin, Kate Nicholls & Gusto CEO Matt Snell discuss the PM’s plans leading up to the summer.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 44 RECORDING
15th February: Peter Martin returns this week as guest host, for this interesting session with panellists Des Gunewardena, Founder & Chair of D&D London, along with David Fox, CEO at tampopo.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 43 RECORDING
8th February: Guest host Peter Martin was pleased to welcome entrepreneurs Martin Williams, CEO at Rare Restaurants and Charlie Gilkes, Founder of The Inception Group to the panel this week. They joined Kate Nicholls, UKH CEO to discuss the latest news surrounding the pandemic and key points regarding Brexit.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 42 RECORDING
1st February: Guest host Peter Martin returns for another episode of The Conversation. For this week’s event we were pleased to welcome back regular guestKate Nicholls, CEO at UKH along with returning guest panellist John Eckbert, CEO at Five Guys and Simon Potts, CEO at The Alchemist.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 41 RECORDING
25th January: Guest host Peter Martin welcomed Burger King UK CEO Alasdair Murdoch and Ego Restaurant’s James Horler for a discussion on the brands varying positions througout the pandemic.
Donwload the week 40 recording
18th January: Peter Martin returns as guest host for our popular update event for hospitality leaders. Joining the panel this week was regular guest Kate Nicholls OBE, CEO at UKH, along with Rob Pitcher, CEO of The Revolution Bars Group and Peter Marks, CEO of Rekom UK (formally Deltic) to discuss the state of play for the late-night and wet-led sectors.
Download the week 39 recording
11th January: The Conversation returns for the first session of 2021. This week we were delighted to welcome Peter Martin (MCA Contributing Editor and CGA VP) as guest host. Joining him were two OBE recipients, our regular guest Kate Nicholls (CEO at UKH) and hospitality veteran Robin Rowland.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 38 RECORDING
7th December: Finn Scott-Delany, MCA Deputy Editor was joined this week by our regular guest Kate Nicholls, along with Shepherd Neame CEO Jonathan Neame and Swingers CEO Matt Grech-Smith for a conversation around Christmas trading and a view in to early 2021.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 37 RECORDING
30th November: This week’s Conversation delved in to the specific challenges being faced by the pub industry during the pandemic, with panellists Nick Mackenzie (Greene King CEO) and Clive Chesser (Punch Pubs CEO) offering their insight, along with Kate Nicholls, UKH CEO.
Download the week 36 recording
23rd November: MCA Deputy Editor, Finn Scott-Delany hosted this week’s Conversation, in advance of a poignant update from the PM on his ‘winter plan’. Joined by UKH CEO Kate Nicholls, MCA Contributing Editor Peter Martin and Imbiba Partner Darrel Connell, we discussed the likely new restrictions in the PM’s plans and what these might mean for the sector over the Christmas trading period.
Download the week 35 recording
16th November: James Halliwell hosted this session, along with Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKHospitality. They discussed the likelihood of another EAT Out to Help Out campaign from government, along with the potential of an extension to the VAT cut in to Spring 2021. Joining Kate and James this week was Jens Hofma, CEO at Pizza Hut, for his second appearance on The Conversation. Jens contributed unique insight in to the challenged being faced by a multi-site operator during the crisis. Finally, Stephen Finch, founder of Vagabond Wines completed the panel. Formerly of Deloitte, Stephen’s London-based concept was due to open its 10th site in Principal Place, Bishopsgate before the virus struck.
Download the week 34 recording
9th November: This session was hosted by MCA Deputy Editor Finn Scott-Delany, who was pleased to welcome back Kate Nicholls UKH CEO and Hugh Osmond, Director of Various Eateries. Hugh Osmond was the original founder of Punch Taverns and took Pizza Express public in 1993. The entrepreneur acquired Strada in 2014 via his Sun Capital Partners vehicle, and founded upmarket all-day brand Coppa Club. Hugh has forthright views on the lockdown measures, using a recent Daily Mail opinion piece to warn government, after it announced a second national lockdown, that Christmas is already over in the hospitality sector, and that many hospitality venues will never reopen.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 33 RECORDING
2nd November: This week’s session followed the announcement of a second lockdown for England, to begin on 5th November. Kate Nicholls joined James Halliwell to discuss the new guidelines and the likely impact on the sector. This week they were also joined by Karl Chessel, CGA’s Business Unit Director for Food and Retail who shared his insight on what CGA’s tracker is demonstrating about the regional impacts of trading in higher tier areas. Completing the panel was Thom Elliot, co-founder of Pizza Pilgrims, whose early response to the covid-19 outbreak helped their business weather the storm during the lockdown period.
Download the week 32 recording
26th October: MCA Editor James Halliwell welcomed Night Time Advisor for Greater Manchester, Sacha Lord to this week’s Conversation, to discuss the perception of a north/south divide, created by government across the industry. Sharing his experiences of the pandemic in the South West was Mitch Tonks, CEO of popular Rockfish chain of restaurants and award winning chef. Completing the panel this week was Emma McClarkin, CEO at the British Bar & Pub Association, contributing her insights in to the future of wet led businesses in the UK.
Download the week 31 recording
19th October: For this session, Finn Scott-Delany, MCA Deputy Editor was joined by UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls, to discuss the impact of the new tier structure for hospitality leaders. We were also pleased to welcome back to The Conversation, Alchemist CEO Simon Potts for his second session with us. Also joining the panel was Matt Farrell, Co-Founder and Director of the 10-strong, Liverpool bar group Graffiti Spirits.
Download the week 30 recording
12th October: For our 29th weekly update James Halliwell, MCA Editor welcomed back Kate Nicholls who looped us in on the latest announcements from government. Attendees had the opportunity to ASK questions on the new three-tiered lockdown structure and gained some further insihts on how this might affect the industry.
Joining Kate and James was Leon Managing Director Shereen Ritchie, who spoke about how the business has been adapting to meet new consumer needs during the pandemic. The final member of the panel was Ashton Crosby, Managing Director of Capdesia, the investor behind Wasabi to discuss F2G during lockdown and beyond.
download the week 29 recording
5th October: For this week’s session, James Halliwell, MCA Editor welcomed Clare Clough, Managing Director at Pret, along with John Diviney, CEO of Welcome Break to discuss the challenges being faced by these two diverse businesses.
DOWNLOAD THE WEEK 28 RECORDING
28th September: James Halliwell, MCA’s Editor, was joined by two leaders who have campaigned tirelessly to support our sector: UKHospitality’s Kate Nicholls and Oakman Inns’ Peter Borg-Neal, as well as MCA’s contributing editor, and original founder, Peter Martin.
As ever, the event kicks off with Kate Nicholls updating us on her conversations with government, followed by commentary from our two panellists.
Download the week 27 recording
21st September: During this session Finn Scott-Delany spoke with Kate Nicholls, UKH CEO to discuss the growing infection rate of Covid-19 in the UK and the potential impact of local and national lockdowns for the hospitality industry. Joining Kate was Mark Fox, CEO at Roadchef, along with James Nye, Managing Director at Anglian Country Inns, bringing their own unique insight to the discussions.
James Nye runs premium family-run operator, Anglian Country Inns, which was founded by his father Cliff more than 20 years ago. The East of England collection of 10 sites and a microbrewery includes the award-winning The White Horse Inn on the North Norfolk coast, while James’ brother Howard is the company’s operations director.
Mark Fox has been CEO of Roadchef since 2018. He can offer an informed perspective of the impact of the current crisis upon diverse trading operations in our sector, given his previous senior roles as MD of Pizza Hut Delivery, CEO of Pizza Hut UK, MD of Starbucks and CEO of Bill’s.
Download the week 26 recording
14th September: For this session, Finn Scott-Delany, MCA Deputy Editor was joined by Charlie Gilkes, CEO of the Inception Group and Martin Williams, CEO of Rare Restaurants.
Charlie Gilkes is joint founder and CEO of Inception Group, an award-winning group of eclectic experiential venues including Bunga Bunga, Barts, Cahoots and Mr Fogg’s.
Martin Williams leads Rare Restaurants the eponymous M Restaurants and 16 Gauchos. The group includes award-winning restaurants, destination bars, members lounges, private dining and events spaces.
Download the week 25 recording
7th September: Joining Deputy Editor Finn Scott-Delany this week was Peter Marks, CEO of The Deltic Group and Roger Wade, Founder and CEO of Boxpark.
Multiple award-winning Deltic Group is the UK’s largest operator of late night bars and clubs. This segment of our sector is under extreme pressure, awaiting clear guidance for a reopening date. Peter Marks is a respected sector leader of long experience and has led the business as CEO since 2011.
Roger Wade originally launched BoxPark as a pop-up retail mall in Shoreditch, before evolving the concept into more of a food and drink proposition in Croydon and then Wembley. With several more sites and formats in the pipeline, Roger also founded British Streetwear brand Boxfresh.
Download the week 24 recording
24th August: This week we welcomed Steve Moore, co-founded competitive socialising darts concept Flight Club along with Gusto MD Matt Snell to The Conversation. Hosted by MCA Editor James Halliwell, with guest speaker Kate Nicholls, we discussed opportunities in the sector post EOHO.
Download the week 22 recording
17th August: Finn Scott-Delany was joined this week by seasoned hospitality leader David Page, Chairman of Fulham Shore which operated Franco Manca and The Real Greek. Former Pizza Express chief executive David Page recently said sales at his 64 sites soared by up to 48 per cent in the first week of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme. In a recent Mail on Sunday piece he also said that Britain has too many restaurants, criticising especially the private equity backed, debt fuelled model of the larger chains. Use the link below to download his conversation with MCA contributing editor, Peter Martin.
Download the week 21 recording
10th August: During this session, Finn Scott-Delany, MCA Deputy Editor updated us on topic issues affecting the sector in August. He was joined by two highly regarded sector commentators, panellists Graeme Smith, MD at Alix Partners and William Lees-Jones, MD of JW Lees, a family owned national brewer, operating 150 pubs, primarily in its heartland of NW England and N Wales.
Download the week 20 recording
3rd August: There was plenty to discuss at this session, including new restrictions in Greater Manchester and other areas, the launch day of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, and government advisors suggesting in the press that pubs should perhaps shut again, to help schools re-open from September. Join James Halliwell with special guests Karen Bosher, MD at Greene King, Ian Edward Non-Exec Director at Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Pizza Pilgrims and Hippo Inns, along with Kate Nicholls, CEO at UKH.
Download the week 19 recording
27th July: Finn Scott-Delany, MCA Deputy Editor welcomed Alastair Darby, CEO of S.A. Brain, Richard Morris, CEO of Tortilla and Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality for a discussion on different approaches to reopening the industry across the UK.
Download the week 18 recording
20th July: During this week’s event James was joined for a lively discussion with Kate Nicholls and expert panellists Rob Pitcher, CEO of Revolution Bars Group and John Eckbert, CEO at Five Guys.
Download the week 17 recording
13th July: This week MCA’s editor James Halliwell was joined once again by Kate Nicholls, who updated us with the latest she is hearing from government, following Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcement to support the hospitality industry with a £30bn recovery plan. We were also pleased to be joined by panellist Simon Potts, CEO at The Alchemist and MCA Contributing Editor, Peter Martin.
Download the week 16 recording
6th July: During this session MCA Deputy Editor Finn Scott-Delany welcomed Peter Borg-Neal, CEO at Oakman Inns and Jo Fleet, CEO at Flat Iron to the panel, who joined Kate Nicholls at UKH to discuss their experiences on reopening weekend and their thoughts on the future of the industry.
Download the week 15 recording
29th June: For this session, MCA’s editor James Halliwell was joined by UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls, as well as panellists Jens Hofma, CEO at Pizza Hut and Jonathan Neame, CEO at Shepheard Neame.
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