Tweet

Fresh from the successful opening of his first Manchester restaurant, The Bull & Bear, the Michelin starred chef will appear at the Bruntwood NRB Debate on Tuesday 17 March 2020 to talk openly about how he has delivered critical acclaim and commercial success whilst constantly evolving his business, and the extent of his Northern ambitions.

This year’s annual Bruntwood NRB Debate, one of the UK’s leading hospitality forums for discussion, insight and inspiration, takes place at Northern Restaurant & Bar in Manchester on Tuesday 17 March. The debate will be headlined by Tom Kerridge, whose business has developed with the support of his wife Beth and many members of key staff since the launch of The Hand & Flowers in 2005.

Tom’s current operations include the two Michelin starred Hand & Flowers, the one Michelin starred Coach, and The Butcher’s Tap, all in Marlow, as well as Kerridge’s Bar & Grill at the Corinthia Hotel, London. Tom also launched Pub in the Park, which is now the biggest food and music festival tour in the UK. Since 2019, Tom’s business has developed a Northern edge, with the opening of his first Manchester restaurant, The Bull & Bear, followed by a catering collaboration with Manchester United.

The Bruntwood NRB Debate offers ambitious Northern operators a unique opportunity to hear honest and candid business insights from some of the hospitality industry’s most revered names. Host Thom Hetherington will explore how Tom Kerridge has achieved his success to date, what values and philosophies still drive him, what structure and systems allows his business to thrive, and why Manchester is the right place for him to further his ambitions.

Hetherington says, “Tom is renowned as an award-winning chef and well known for his high profile TV work and his books but I think people under-appreciate quite what a brilliant restaurant operator he is. He has built a superb team around him and delivered growth which has been both steady in pace and spectacular in execution. I feel he is uniquely well placed to achieve the same consistent success up North, despite the operational stretch from the South East, and we’ll explore how people are at the heart of everything he has achieved.”

Lucy Noone Blake returns to chair a panel discussion with some of food & drink’s most agile

operators. This year’s topic is ‘The Human Capital of Restaurants’ which will explore the art of recruiting, retaining, inspiring and training to create a successful and empowering culture. Panellists are Kate Nicholls, CEO of trade association UK Hospitality, James Bates, director and co-founder of innovative Liverpool-based operator Maray, Nick Clarke, founder of Hop Training who has worked with Wahaca, Polpo and Flat Iron, and restaurant consultant Sebastian Fogg from Montana Fogg, who have worked with Richard Caring, Corbin & King and Mark Hix.

The NRB Debate is sponsored for the third year by leading property developer Bruntwood and owner of over 100 properties across Manchester, Liverpool & Leeds.

“Northern Restaurant & Bar has created a chance for the F&B sector to collaborate and network as a community – something that those who work in the hospitality industry don’t often get time to do. Events like the Bruntwood NRB Debate allow attendees to explore the industry’s most relevant and challenging issues in-depth, alongside some of the restaurant and bar sector’s leading commentators and luminaries” said Andrea George, Director of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood.

“For us at Bruntwood it’s a chance to support talent, innovation, and sharing of knowledge within the hospitality sector – something which is very important to us as quality restaurants, bars and cafes are a big part of what makes a neighbourhood special. Our aim is to build amazing places to live, work and play and that’s why we nurture independent food and drink businesses as much as we can. Supporting Northern Restaurant and Bar is a fantastic extension of this ethos”.

The Bruntwood NRB Debate starts at 11:45 and includes a buffet lunch. Tickets are priced £55+VAT (£66). Book tickets now and save 20% online at nrbdebate.co.uk using EARLYBIRD

2020 is the twentieth edition of Northern Restaurant & Bar, taking place 17-18 March 2020

at Manchester Central. NRB provides an opportunity for leading operators, suppliers and

industry figures to meet, speak and do business. From Liverpool to Leeds, the North East to the North West and the Lake District to the Peak District, NRB brings the cream of the hospitality industry to Manchester. Free trade only tickets are available on the website.

For further information about the exhibition visit northernrestaurantandbar.co.uk Follow us on twitter, facebook & Instagram