Brian Turner backs new independent Restaurant Collective
Called Restaurant Collective, the not-for-profit community of restaurateurs and industry professionals is backed by the former founders of restaurant booking service Livebookings (now Bookatable) and includes Brian Turner and Michelin-starred Andrew Pern as its founder members.
Its creation comes as figures from CGA/AlixPartners Market Recovery Monitor March 2021 report reveal that 2,000 independent restaurants closed in the UK in January and February alone.
The collective’s aim is to support independent operators through offering advice on running their business; mentorship and tips from successful restaurateurs who have been in their shoes; access to an exclusive online marketplace offering great supplier deals; and greater power and control over their online presence.
“The pandemic has shone a light on the importance of supporting local businesses and we’ve seen a shift in how people value and connect with their local independent restaurant, takeaway or pub. But these businesses are far from out the woods,” says Paul Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Restaurant Collective.
“As a completely member-led and owned, non-profit community, Restaurant Collective’s purpose is to level the playing field for independents.”
“The ethos of hospitality has always been to bring people together and provide them with an enjoyable and memorable experience. This remains the case today, the difference being, with significantly increased competition and attention on eating out, it’s more complex running a restaurant nowadays compared to when I opened my first venue many years ago,” says patron Turner.
Restaurant Collective is open to all members who run single site venues or a small group of sites, with membership at launch costing £99 per year.
