On the Knife Edge:
The Future of the Restaurant & Hospitality Sector
LIVE WEBINAR | Thursday 22 October 10:00am-11:00am BST
Chamber Members – Complimentary
Non-Members & Guests – £15
The cohort of Aussies and Kiwis who flock to the UK each year bring with them a passion for high quality produce and boundary-pushing food. Equally the Antipodean influence on London’s dining scene extends from flat whites to inventive brunches to fine dining, with some of London’s best chefs and food entrepreneurs hailing from Down Under and across the ditch.
Sadly the hospitality sector has been one of the hardest hit during COVID-19 due to the closure of restaurants, cafes and bars under lockdown. The sector has also since been a focal point for post-lockdown measures in the UK including ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, the 10PM curfew and social distancing. In the face of these pressures, it’s crucial that the sector adapts and innovates during the COVID-era and is strategically positioned for recovery.
Join some of the London food scene’s most well-known Aussie and Kiwi leaders to hear about why Antipodeans have been so successful in the UK, how the hospitality and restaurant industry is adapting in the face of COVID-19 and how it will need to reinvent itself permanently.
About our speakers:
Skye Gyngell, Chef-Patron, Spring & Culinary Director, Heckfield Place Hotel
Originally from Australia, Skye Gyngell is now one of Britain’s most respected and acclaimed chefs. After initially training in Sydney and then Paris, Skye moved to London to work at The French House and with a number of high-profile private clients before taking on the role of head chef at Petersham Nurseries. It was at Petersham that Skye became renowned for her distinctively seasonal, elegant cooking, creating dishes inspired by what she saw growing and blossoming around her.
Skye was the Independent on Sunday’s food writer for five years, and has also published three books: A Year in My Kitchen (2006), My Favourite Ingredients (2008) and How I Cook (2010), all to great acclaim.
Chris Ammermann, Co-Founder, Caravan Restaurants
Caravan Coffee Roasters was founded in 2010 by New Zealand trio Miles Kirby, Laura Harper-Hinton and Chris Ammermann. The roastery was a leader in bringing specialty coffee to the UK with a focus on provenance, quality and craft. Caravan Coffee Roasters has now grown to be one of the UK’s foremost speciality coffee companies. The beans are expertly roasted in London and distributed to retail customers, cafes and restaurants across the UK and Europe.
JP Then, Founder, Slerp and Co-Founder, Crosstown
JP is a Co-Founder of the F&B brand Crosstown and the Founder of technology platform Slerp. Crosstown is a London-based omni-channel bakery brand that was founded in 2014, known for its in premium doughnuts and specialty coffee. The brand has a cult-like following, with 20 locations across London, as well as events & catering segments, and premium wholesale accounts such as Wholefoods and Harrods. Crosstown also has a fast growing online business, much of which is driven off the development of Slerp, a direct-to-consumer ordering platform that recently launched to the broader market at the end of 2019.
JP was recently named as one of the top fifty people shaping London in 2019 by Bumble. Before founding Crosstown, JP spent several years in consulting, working with businesses and brands on all things strategic. He was born in Scotland, grew up in Australia, and has resided in London for ten years. He holds two degrees in Economics and Business, graduating on the Deans Honour Role for High Achievement.
With thanks to our Sponsor:
