Interviews

Our latest interviews with the hospitality industry's leading lights and upcoming stars

Viewpoint

Eric Partaker on Chilango and spearheading a new funding route for SMEs

22-Aug-2014 By Melodie Michel

Eric Partaker is the co-founder of Chilango, the Mexican chain that has raised £1.8m via a mini-bond hosted on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. He talks to BigHospitality about the success of this initiative and why crowdfunding is a great alternative...

Small talk

Michael Warren on heading up Harbour Hotels, his Hotel du Vin experience and why no two days are the same in hospitality

14-Aug-2014 By Melodie Michel

Michael Warren spent 17 years at Hotel du Vin and Malmaison, helping with the development and expansion of the brand. He recently took on a managing director role at Harbour Hotels, and plans to use his wealth of experience to push the company forward.

Joanne Barratt: Pearls of Wisdom

31-Jul-2014 By Melodie Michel

QHotels’ group operations manager talks about how important a strong team culture is in maintaining excellent standards and achieving great results within the conference and events sector.

Viewpoint

Ian Daniels on City Marque and the evolution of serviced apartments

24-Jul-2014 By Melodie Michel

Founded in 2009, City Marque now runs nearly 200 serviced apartments across the capital. The company started outsourcing some of its front office operations in the Philippines three year ago and now has 60 per cent of its 80-strong staff based in Manila....

Scott Hallsworth to open late night venue in South Kensington

18-Jul-2014 By Carina Perkins and Joe Lutrario

Ex-Nobu head chef and Kurobuta founder Scott Hallsworth is to open a new late night venue and restaurant in the former Brompton Club in South Kensington.

Small Talk

Alexander Salussolia on Silk & Grain, market niches and nurturing future talent

26-Jun-2014 By Lauren Houghton

Managing director of Glendola Leisure Alexander Salussolia joined the company in 1992 as an area manager, before becoming its managing director in 2000. The company is about to open its first venture in the City of London, restaurant and aged cocktail...

Mark Poynton: Pearls of Wisdom

20-Jun-2014 By Carina Perkins

The British chef-patron of the Michelin-starred Alimentum and star of Great British Menu Mark Poynton talks about being on TV, the importance of customer satisfaction, and his belief in simple, seasonal food.

Small Talk

Tom Peake, Mark Reynolds and Nick Fox on the expansion and diversification of Renaissance

12-Jun-2014 By Melodie Michel

Renaissance Pubs recently opened its first hotel rooms above the Tommyfield in Kennington Cross. We caught up with the company’s founding trio to discuss this diversification, future plans for their pubs and their love for breathing new life into neglected...

Business Profile: CAU

11-Jun-2014 By Joe Lutrario

Gaucho’s more accessible little brother CAU has carefully refined its premium casual offering and is now beefing-up its presence in the south of England with northern expansion planned for next year

Ryan Clift: Pearls of Wisdom

06-Jun-2014 By Laura Price

The British-born chef who ran Vue de Monde in Melbourne for eight and half years before setting up the Tippling Club in Singapore talks about pairing drinks with food, serving £30 cocktails and making cauliflower cheese using sound waves.

Small Talk

Anjie Keegal on joining Belgraves and why hospitality is like Marmite

15-May-2014 By Carina Perkins

Anjie Keegel has worked in the hospitality industry for 19 years. She started her career within the operations team at the Edwardian Group London, but swiftly progressed to the sales team, working her way up to director level. She recently joined Belgraves...

Business Profile: Bath Ales

06-May-2014 By Stefan Chomka

From its chop-house brand Graze and charcuterie bar Gordito to craft beer and pizza bar Beerd – not to mention its brewing business – Bath Ales is going places, as managing director Robin Couling explains.

Small Talk

Ulrike le Roux on Sudbury House and her passion for hospitality

25-Apr-2014 By Lauren Houghton

Ulrike le Roux completed her studies and hospitality training in South Africa. She has spent time working in a number of different sectors of the industry including B&Bs, restaurants, boutique hotels and chains. She moved to the UK to gain some international...

Mourad Mazouz: Pearls of Wisdom

04-Apr-2014 By Joe Lutrario

The Algerian-born restaurateur behind London’s Sketch and Momo and a number of other restaurants and bars in Paris and the Middle East on pop-ups, seeking investment from friends, and why he objects to his restaurants being referred to as a mini empire.