PREVIEW
Casual Dining returns This year’s Casual Dining show will be taking place on 23 and 24 September 2021 at London ExCel (www.casualdiningshow.co.uk), and alongside the lunch! show and Commercial Kitchen. WORLD-CLASS SPEAKER LINE-UP The organisers of Casual Dining, widely received by many as the definitive restaurant, pub and bar event, have a world-class keynote speaker line-up for their comeback show. The seminars take place alongside the event across three Keynote Theatres (sponsored by Yumpingo), and will offer trade attendees exceptional access to industry leaders and experts. The award-winning trade show has announced the welcome return of industry leader Peter Borg-Neal, chief executive of Oakman Group, which was recently named by Alix Partners as the UK’s fastest growing pub business. Peter BorgNeal said recently that: “Casual Dining has very quickly become a must visit event in the industry calendar. As well as learning about new innovations on the supply side it provides a great networking opportunity and some hugely informative debates and speaker sessions.” 26
Also returning to the show are Nick Collins, who in only six years as CEO of Loungers has overseen the group’s expansion from 56 to 166 sites across the UK, and Zoe Bowley, managing director, Pizza Express. A regular at the show, Zoe Bowley commented in the countdown to the event that “the sheer scale of Casual Dining and seeing our industry brought together in one place always reminds me that this an industry that people can join and thrive in. It reflects how big and great we are and, particularly post-COVID, it demonstrates how our industry will be a force for good in the future.” Casual Dining has also confirmed a ream of fantastic first-time speakers too who will be gracing the stages this year, including Chris Miller (founder & CEO, White Rabbit Projects), Darrel Connell (partner, Imbiba), Duncan McEwan (executive development chef, The Big
Table Group), Laura Morris (co-owner director, Yard & Coop), Paul Barham (founder and director, Red Engine – Flight Club and Electric Shuffle), Rob Pitcher (CEO, Revolution Bars Group), Steve Wilkins (founder, Little Gems Country Dining TV), Charlie McVeigh (founder, Bunker Projects) and Winston Matthews (commercial director, Busaba). As in previous years, the show is being supported by UKHospitality, whose CEO Katie Nicholls will be leading an exclusive session providing an overview of the government strategies needed to help the sector recover and grow. The organisers have also confirmed an array of compelling panel sessions, including the first ever Casual Dining Investors Panel, looking behind the scenes at how some of the most talked about brands are funded. The panel will feature Charlie McVeigh (founder, September 2021
