Event Timings

10.15 am	Guest Arrival and Refreshments
11.00 am	Insight Presentation by Simon Stenning, Director, FutureFoodservice
11.45 am	Drinks and Canape Reception
12.45 pm	Three course lunch
3.00 pm	Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A
4.15 pm	Drinks and Networking - Mandarin Oriental
5.00 pm	Drinks and Networking Continues - The Wilton Arms Pub

The Event

The event program will concentrate on strategic growth and opportunities within the foodservice and hospitality sector. We'll tackle today's challenges head-on, explore the latest innovations, and look ahead to what the future holds.   

The event includes an inspirational insight session, drinks and canape reception, three-course seated lunch and panel discussion plus plenty of opportunities for networking.

Meet Our Speakers

Richard Lewis, CEO, RedCat Hospitality

Richard Lewis is the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at RedCat Hospitality, the operator of award-winning Coaching Inn Group and RedCat Independent Pubs.  The company operates 95 sites in total - 37 managed operating under its 'RedCat Independent Pubs' arm, 22 leased and tenanted sites operating under its 'RedCat L&T' arm and 36 managed hotels under the Coaching Inn Group brand.

Richard joined as CEO in 2023 to lead a passionate and engaged team to deliver the business strategy: to grow Coaching Inn Group, while maintaining its strong identity and culture, and transform RedCat Independent Pubs into a standalone group of pubs that are an integral part of their local communities.

Before he joined RedCat Hospitality, Richard was the Chief Executive Officer for SSP Group Plc UK & Ireland from 2019-2023, where he managed the business during Covid, and developed a new strategy for the UK & Ireland to drive recovery through innovation post pandemic. Prior to this, Richard also spent eight years at Greene King, where he worked his way up from Managing Director of Local Pubs to Chief Operating Officer – responsible for the operations of over 1,700 retail sites and brands, including Greene King Local Pubs, Hungry Horse and Chef and Brewer.

Passionate about making a difference within the charity sector, Richard is also an Advisory Board Member at Pennies, the leading fintech charity in the UK & Ireland, working to protect and grow micro-donations, where he plays a part in helping the charity reach more businesses and consumers.

Allen Simpson, CEO, UKHospitality

Allen joined UKHospitality in 2024 as Deputy CEO after five years as Executive Director and Acting Chief Executive of London & Partners, the global trade, investment and tourism promotion agency for the UK’s capital city as the city recovered from the pandemic.

After starting his career at the Foreign Office, Parliament and Ministry of Justice, Allen worked during the financial crisis and Brexit period at the London Stock Exchange and Barclays Bank. He has served on the boards of several think tanks and political organisations.

Outside of work, Allen divides his time between food, renovating his house, and exploring the UK with his wife Katy, and their daughter.

Meet Our Panel Host

Robyn Black, Head of Content, Fleet Street

Robyn Black is Head of Content at Fleet Street, the specialist PR, comms and content agency for the hospitality and leisure sector.

Formally an editor and journalist, she is an award winning writer with over 20 years-experience in the food, drink, retail and hospitality sectors. In her time she has written for a number of key national and trade titles including The Guardian, The Grocer, and The Morning Advertiser, and is the former editor of InaPub and Imbibe.

With a wealth of experience and in-depth industry knowledge, Robyn is a regular commentator on the sector, frequently chairs panels at industry events, and is a judge of several sector business competitions.