The State of Hospitality

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we sit down with Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair of UKHospitality, to discuss the realities of running a hospitality business in today’s climate. From rising costs to workforce challenges, Kate shares insight from across the industry and explains how UKHospitality is supporting operators on the ground.

What We Cover:

• What UKHospitality does and how it supports businesses, from independent cafés to national chains.
• The role of a trade body in influencing government, reducing red tape and providing practical guidance to operators.
• The concept of Primary Authority and how it helps businesses navigate inconsistent enforcement from regulators.
• The current state of the industry, with rising costs, shrinking margins and many businesses operating at or below break-even.
• Why resilience in hospitality is being pushed to its limits following COVID and ongoing economic pressures.
• The reality behind closures and openings, and what the data tells us about the sector right now.
• Hospitality as a career: tackling the “stopgap job” perception and the need for clearer training pathways.
• Plans for a digital skills passport and how it could transform training, recruitment and career progression across the industry.
• Practical advice for operators, including smarter pricing strategies and using technology to manage labour more effectively.

Tune in for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing hospitality today—and what needs to change to support the businesses and people at its heart.

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we sit down with the team behind Slow Burn to explore how they’ve built a restaurant in an unconventional setting—operating from a shared space alongside a working jean factory. This honest conversation looks at how constraints can shape a concept, from menu development to day-to-day operations.

What We Cover:

• The story behind Slow Burn and how the restaurant operates within a shared industrial space.

• How the setup has influenced the business model, including a smaller capacity and the role of takeaway within the operation.

• Early menu development and the shift towards a more vegetable-led offering.

• Why the menu evolves gradually rather than changing completely, using a “one in, one out” approach.

• The challenges of balancing creativity with practical limitations like space, equipment and workflow.

• How customer feedback shapes the menu and helps refine the concept over time.

Tune in for a practical look at building a food business in a unique environment, and how thoughtful decisions can lead to a more focused and sustainable operation.

Enjoy and follow us on social media if you like what you hear! Instagram: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast.

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we visit Hampshire Market Garden to speak with Chris about regenerative farming, soil health and the future of how we grow food. Chris shares how a passion for growing vegetables turned into a mission to demonstrate how healthy soil can address some of the biggest challenges facing our food system today.

What We Cover:

• The story behind Hampshire Market Garden and how Chris went from growing vegetables in a back garden to supplying chefs, restaurants and a weekly veg box scheme across Hampshire.

• Why soil health is at the heart of food security, climate resilience and nutrient-rich food production.

• How regenerative and organic growing methods can improve soil biodiversity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

• The connection between farming, community and local food systems, and why rebuilding those relationships matters.

• Practical advice for chefs interested in sourcing locally grown produce and the benefits of working directly with small-scale growers.

• Simple ways hospitality businesses can start growing their own herbs, vegetables or edible plants.

Tune in for an insightful conversation about soil, sustainability and how reconnecting with the land could help shape a healthier future for hospitality and food.

Enjoy and follow us on social media if you like what you hear! Instagram: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast. These are all bios for Simply Hospitality podcast.

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we sit down with Professor Chris Elliott OBE, one of the UK’s leading authorities on food integrity and whose independent review reshaped national food safety policy following the horsemeat scandal. Chris shares his decades of expertise investigating global food crime and explains why food fraud remains one of the most significant threats to the food industry today.

What We Cover:

• Chris’s career-long mission to uncover and prevent food fraud, and how high-profile incidents brought this issue into the public eye.

• How food fraud works in practice: the weak points in the supply chain, the products most at risk, and the evolving tactics used by criminal networks.

• The real cost to businesses — from economic damage to reputational risk — and why prevention must sit at the heart of every hospitality and food operation.

• Practical guidance for operators on staying vigilant, understanding traceability requirements and building safer supply chains.

• An introduction to the Food Industry Intelligence Network (FIIN), a UK-wide initiative that helps businesses protect themselves by sharing industry intelligence on emerging fraud threats and compromised products.

• Why collaboration between suppliers, operators and regulators is the only meaningful path to a safer, more transparent food system.

This is an essential listen for any hospitality professional who buys, handles or serves food — offering practical insight into how to safeguard your business, your customers and your reputation.

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we bring you highlights and insights from The Source Trade Show, the South West’s premier food, drink and hospitality event held at Westpoint, Exeter on 3 – 4 February 2026. We spoke with a range of exhibitors and industry suppliers to explore what makes this trade show so essential for operators, buyers and producers alike.

What We Cover:

• Conversations with exhibitors about why they choose to attend and what products, services and innovations they are showcasing.

• How trade shows like Source help hospitality businesses source new products, discover artisan brands and build relationships face to face.

• Tips from exhibitors on making the most of a trade show visit. Spotting opportunities for your business.

• Reflections on the value of live events for hospitality growth, networking and staying ahead of industry trends.

Tune in to hear first-hand stories from the show floor, honest perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in hospitality sourcing, and practical ideas you can use in your own business.

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to follow us on Linked In and Instagram: Insta: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast Linked In: linkedin.com/company/simply-hospitality.

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we speak to Mike Anderson about the Source Trade Show in Exeter and the brand new Source Roadshow launching in Somerset. Mike shares what visitors can expect, why in-person trade shows remain so valuable, and how exhibitors and buyers alike can get the most out of attending.

What We Cover:

The history of the Source Trade Show and its role in bringing together producers, suppliers and hospitality buyers from across the South West.

Why face-to-face events still matter in a digital world and how they help operators cut through the noise.

What makes the show unique: 200 exhibitors, artisan producers, service providers and opportunities to taste, trial and test new products.

The launch of the Source Roadshow at the Bath & West Showground and what it offers to Somerset’s food and drink businesses.

Practical advice on visiting a trade show: how to plan your visit, how to network naturally, and why it’s worth going with an open mind rather than a hard sales agenda.

How one good connection or new supplier can make an entire visit worthwhile.

Join us as we explore what these shows offer the hospitality community, why they have become essential fixtures in the calendar, and how you can make the most of them when you attend. Enjoy and follow us on social media if you like what you hear! Instagram: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast

In the first episode of Season 3, Ruth and Lucy return to reflect on how the hospitality landscape has shifted since the last season and what operators need to focus on now. This candid conversation explores the challenges facing the sector, the resilience teams continue to show, and the realities businesses are navigating behind the scenes.

What We Cover:

-The current mood in hospitality: resilience, vulnerability and a dose of realism.

-How customer expectations have changed. Traceability, value for money and the demand for ethical sourcing.

-The increasing pressure on teams: communication breakdowns, stress and the impact on service.

-Why operators feel they must train their staff, yet struggle to find the time and why this becomes a false economy.

-What no longer works in 2026: long hours, outdated expectations and ignoring employee wellbeing.

-A preview of Season 3, including conversations on food fraud, sustainable menu design, new dining concepts, industry trends and the fight against no-shows.

-Join us as we kick off a new season with honest reflections, practical insights and a look ahead at the topics shaping hospitality today.

Enjoy and follow us on social media if you like what you hear! Instagram: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast.

How to make a PROFIT

Make your menu work for you.

Key points covered:

• What percentage should you be spending on food and labour to ensure your dishes are turning a profit.
• Menu design psychology – where to position you highest profit items to encourage your customers to order them over anything else.
• Upsell, upsell, upsell! Training your team to see the upsell opportunities with every order.

If you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to follow us on Linked In and Instagram:

Insta: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast

Linked In: linkedin.com/company/simply-hospitality