Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

What do a biochemist, a Chinese mansion house, Heathrow Airport, 250 burger restaurants, a pub turnaround, student accommodation, retirement living, and more than a few bottles of Mao Tai have in common?

This week's guest... Duncan Garrood.

And trust me...

You're going to want to hear this one.

Duncan's career began in a laboratory as a scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry.

It then took him through Unilever, a decade living in China, He...

What do a kitchen porter, a Swedish adventure, a hotel fire, a freezing swimming pool, and the CEO of one of Britain's most iconic hotel groups have in common?

This week's guest is John Badley, CEO of Andrew Brownsword Hotels.

Today, John oversees a collection of some of the UK's most beautiful and historic hotels.

But his story starts somewhere much humbler.

A teenage job sweeping a car park for £10, a desperate desire to escape the c...

What do dough balls, coffee, Covid crisis meetings, global expansion, and one very determined mum have in common?

This week's guest is Caroline Ottoy, Managing Director of WatchHouse.

Today, WatchHouse is one of the most exciting hospitality brands on the planet, with 29 locations across the UK, USA and Dubai, and ambitious plans to reach 100 sites globally over the next few years.

But Caroline's journey started in a very different pl...

What do holiday parks, imposter syndrome, accidental career sabotage, and one of the UK's most respected hospitality leaders have in common?

This week's guest is Barrie Robinson, National Operations Director at Parkdean Resorts and Chair of the newly launched North Star Competitive Career Accelerator.

Barrie's journey into hospitality wasn't exactly traditional.

After lasting just six weeks at university ("reading newspapers and prete...

This week I sat down with Jonny Bramwell, Regional Head of Operations for Rosa’s Thai — a man responsible for 22 restaurants, thousands of miles of motorway, and quite possibly the most unexpectedly philosophical conversation we’ve had on Hospitality Meets in a while.

What starts as a chat about pubs, restaurants and leadership quickly becomes a brilliant conversation about burnout, ambition, balance, accidental li...

This week I sat down with Adam Hamadache, founder of Formula and host of the Hotel Growth Podcast, a man who has spent the last 15 years helping hotels figure out how to grow in an industry that never seems to sit still for more than five minutes.

What followed was part hospitality strategy masterclass, part therapy session for modern business owners, and part beautifully chaotic conversation about AI, audience-less keynote speeches...

This week, I sat down with Gareth Rees, and this is one of those conversations that feels properly important.

Not just for hospitality… but for how we think about people, performance, and what “doing a good job” actually means

Gareth now runs ADHospitalityD, with a mission to educate the industry on neurodiversity, breaking down misconceptions, supporting individuals, and helping businesses create environments wher...

This week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with another Phil, that being Phil Andreopoulos, CEO of YOTEL, for a conversation that starts with washing pots in restaurants… and somehow ends with power naps, gorilla trekking, hotel disruption and leadership philosophy.

Inspired by a first class airline cabin and created by the founder of YO! Sushi, YOTEL has always challenged the “that’s just how hotels work&rdqu...

This week, I sat down with the brilliant Guy Freedman, Hotel Director at The Pig & The Pig in the Wall, and honestly, this one felt like a giant exhale.

A conversation about leadership, yes.

Culture, absolutely.

But also… naked guests, rogue deer, flood rescues in a Land Rover, student days in a fudge kitchen, and why maybe fun has been unfairly underestimated as a serious business strategy.

Guy’s journey, from a self-...

This week, I sat down with the brilliant Basel Jabri, and this one’s got everything.

Global upbringing, accidental career pivots, iconic hotel brands, and a journey that goes from literally steering boats in Dubai… to leading people & culture across a luxury London hotel group.

And the best bit?

It all started with a dream that didn’t happen.

In this episode, Basel and I get into…

• Growing up internation...

This week, I sat down with the brilliant Newton Fernandes - and this is one of those conversations that reminds you just how non-linear careers in hospitality can be.

From starting out as a journalist, to working in airline reservations, to quite literally being invited across the road into a hotel career… Newton’s journey spans continents, cultures, and some seriously big roles.

We’re talking global brand, marketi...

This week, I sat down with the brilliant Dawn Lister - and honestly, I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get someone from the world of sales on the show.

And what an introduction to it this was.

From wanting to be an air stewardess at 10 years old, to building a 20+ year career in hotel sales, Dawn’s journey is packed with graft, growth, resilience… and a lot of persistence (some might call it “r...

This week, I sat down with the brilliant Paul Hunter, and after nearly a year of trying to make it happen, we finally got the conversation in the can.

And it was worth the wait.

From early days in hospitality (and admittedly being a “bit of a mischievous lad”) to launching hotels across London, navigating redundancy during COVID with twin new borns, and now stepping into a brand new luxury estate role back in Yorkshire&he...

This week I sat down with the brilliant Gemma Glasson, Managing Director of Wahaca and one of those leaders whose journey reminds you that careers rarely move in straight lines… and thank God for that.

From starting out in the world of KPMG and Ernst & Young, to stepping into hospitality with a desire to have more impact, more energy, and a bit more colour in her working life, Gemma’s story is packed with intelligen...

What do you get when an introvert ends up running one of the most iconic hospitality resorts in the country?

A very good reminder that the loudest person in the room isn’t always the best leader

This week, after what feels like about 17 years of trying to line up diaries, I finally sat down with the legend that is Chris Eigelaar, Managing Director of The Belfry Hotel & Resort.

Now, if you know The Belfry, you’ll know i...

Show your support for Hospitality Sector Letter to the Chancellor

What happens when two people who love a bit of unstructured behaviour get together for a structured conversation?

The answer?

Lots of unstructured conversation

This week I sat down with Conrad Brunton, founder of Tonic Talent, passionate hospitality advocate, charity champion, networking powerhouse… and a man who clearly believes that if you’re going to do s...

This week I sat down with the brilliant Ella de Beer co-founder of Electric Mayonnaise and one of those hospitality people whose career reminds you just how brilliantly unpredictable this industry can be.

From waitressing at 14 in South Africa (while telling everyone she was 16… obviously), to opening restaurants, running pubs, building multi-site businesses, leading people functions at brands like Ottolenghi & MJMK and ...

Still Building

Born in a hotel, thrown out of university

Built the UK’s biggest hospitality recruitment business, Lost control of it, Lost his driving licence, Broke his back.

You'd think this was a lesson in how not to do it?

But far from it!

This week on Hospitality Meets, I sit down with Roddy Watt, recruitment pioneer, hotel strategist, owner of one almighty black book and living proof that setbacks are not full stops, they&rs...

From Baptism of Fire to Michelin Leadership

This week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with Douglas Balish - Executive Chef and Director at Grove of Narberth, Hotel Chef of the Year, and a man shaped by some of the toughest kitchens in the business.

From washing dishes in Ayrshire…

To getting “pans thrown at his head”

To learning to run in kitchens where nobody walked…

To leading his own Michelin starred br...