David Taylor is here! Trained under the guidance of Glynn Purnell before heading to Norway, David was part of the team that earned three Michelin stars at Oslo’s Maaemo, shaping his passion for seasonality, the discipline of responding to what the land yields, and the power of food as cultural storytelling.

In 2022, David opened his first solo restaurant, Grace & Savour at Hampton Manor, alongside his wife and restaurant director Anette Taylor. The response was instant, with a Michelin Star awarded just one year after opening. His second restaurant, Kynd, followed in February 2025, further cementing his thoughtful, produce-led approach to modern British cooking.

Tune in to hear us dive into peak-season British fruit, the emotional toll of picking crab , and why Hobnobs are an undefeated snack.

Quickfire favourites include many Birmingham greats including Early Bird Bakery, Grace & James and 670 Grams (providing the best meal David has had this year) plus a minced monkfish curry by chef DavidThompson that David still dreams about.

Biggest shout out of all to David’s Hospitality Hero: Brian Turner - an unsung legend of the industry whose generosity with time, mentorship, and encouragement has shaped countless careers, including his.

Chantelle Nicholson is here! She’s a multi-award-winning chef, restaurateur, and all-around force for a more conscious way of dining. As chef-owner of Apricity in London, proudly awarded a Green Michelin Star, Chantelle champions regeneration and circularity, weaving seasonality, locality, and a deeply people-first ethos into every corner of her kitchen and dining room.

Tune in to hear us chat conscious cooking, circular kitchens, favourite snacks, ultimate food memories, and why butter (specifically Kerrygold) reigns supreme.

Quickfire hits include Tyrrells salt & vinegar crisps, Supawan Thai as the go-to local gem, a pineapple red curry eaten in Thailand that still lives rent-free in Chantelle’s mind, and celebrity crushes of note including Nicola Walker, Gillian Anderson and Pamela Anderson (excellent taste, no notes).

While Chantelle's Hospitality Hero is still TBD, special shoutouts to Will & Hugh of Hawksmoor and Dan Barber of Blue Hill Farm for being industry inspirations.

Adam Leydon is here! Originally from the lovely Mersea Island in Essex, he has spent 20 years in hospitality, with the last 12 at Hawksmoor where he’s now the L&D Manager. He’s all about helping people grow their careers and takes a really people-focused, empathetic approach to everything he does. He’s a big foodie, loves eating out, and is the vice-captain of Graces Cricket Club, the world’s first LGBTQ+ cricket team. He's passionate about mental health, having hosted the Kelly's Cause ‘Reducing the Stigma’ event for International Men’s Day for the past two years.

Tune in to hear us get into the magic of empaths in hospitality, why curiosity is the antidote to judgement, and the soul-healing comfort of a good bowl of spaghetti carbonara.

Huge shoutout to Luigi’s Al Fresco at The Griffin for best meal of the year and to the kind, calm and empathetic Madeleine Geach for scooping up the title of Adam's Hospitality Hero!

Gina Knight is here! With 18 years of hospitality experience spanning hotels, bakeries, and restaurants, Gina brings sharp insight, compassion, and a mindset-first approach to everything she does. Now Head of People at Flat Iron and a coach, she’s all about helping others cut through the noise and focus on what really matters.

Tune in to hear us chat about creating a career in hospitality that works with your individuality, the power of the Lake District for a mindset reset and what it means to truly listen to your team.

Shout out to Bubala for best meal of the year, Vlatko Trayanov at Paul Rhodes for being a true Hospitality Hero, and to celebrity crush Ed Sheeran for being vibe captain.

Sarah Clark is here! With 30 years of hospitality and retail know how, from pubs up and down the country to leading operations at Pret, Sarah brings a whole career’s worth of wisdom, grit, and humour to the table. Now an executive coach and founder of Nine Yards Coaching, she is helping hospitality leaders go from surviving to thriving.

Tune in to hear us chat about the twists and turns of a hospitality career, navigating an IVF journey while working in operations and why Aberdeen is in fact the greatest city in the uk!

Shout out to Brat for snagging best meal enjoyed so far this year, to Sarah Heward for being an incredible example, and to Sarah's Hospitality Hero Clive Schlee for setting the bar by being a heart led and people focused leader.

Amber Francis is here! Just crowned as the winner of Great British Menu 2025, Amber has cemented herself as a top culinary talent with over ten years of experience operating in some of London’s best restaurants. Named as "one of Britain’s most talented rising culinary stars", she became a head chef at the age of 26, was crowned Young Chef of The Year in 2022, as well as making Square Meal’s Ones To Watch list.

Not limiting herself to the confines of fine dining kitchens, Amber is heavily involved with community projects; having been a Young Chef Ambassador, Mental Health Ambassador, and volunteering with food-based charities. Amber currently works as Head Chef and Senior Food Educator at a school in North London, building communities around food.

Tune in to hear us talk about being the first pregnant WINNER on Great British Menu, the importance of celebrating and elevating unconventional routes through a culinary career and the ultimate superiority of beans on toast with cheese.

Shout out to all of the contestants on Great British Menu 2025 who supplied the best meals Amber ate this year (and possibly ever), Will Faris for starting the Hay-onaisse Revolution and to Amber's Hospitality Hero, Nadiya Hussein, who stays true to herself, carves a path forward for others to follow and cooks beautiful food.

Hans Cook is here! The founder of Cap'N'Chino, he blends his love for specialty coffee with a mission to raise mental health awareness. Starting in 2019 as an Instagram coffee review page, Cap n Chino has grown into a platform supporting mental health initiatives through merchandise, football sponsorships, and a signature coffee blend with Jericho Coffee Traders.

Hans launched his podcast Flat Whites and Insights in 2023 providing a space for open, honest and vulnerable conversations with folks from across the coffee industry. Tune in to this episode to hear us talk a lot about making peace with our mental health, a little about Hilary Duff and why the little things aren't just the little things.

Big shout outs to Vine & Spice in Long Wittenham for being Hans's best meal of the year, James at Farm Boy Brews for being the very best of us and last but not least, hospitality hero Aaron, formerly of Columbia Coffee Roasters, for offering care and connection when it was needed the most.

TW: suicide, suicidal ideation 13:55 - 14:37

Missy Flynn is here! A smashing restaurateur and hospitality human, Missy is the co-owner of the always brilliant restaurant Rita’s and also co-runs Malik-Acid, a beverage design and events agency. She is a trustee for Food Behind Bars, a charity improving food in UK prisons and armed with a master’s in the Anthropology of Food from SOAS, has contributed to various industry thought and trend forecasting pieces across her 20 year hospitality career. Named one of Code’s 100 Most Influential Women in Hospitality in 2022 and a Code 30 under 30 in 2016, Missy’s impact on the industry is undeniable.

Tune in to hear us dissect why a job in service to others is the best kind, the undeniability of fresh prawns with gnocchi and how to bring your values with you to work in hospitality.

Shout outs all around to Eric Ripert and the team at Le Bernardin in NYC for taking the title of the best meal of the year and the biggest one of all to pastry chef and Countertalk founder Ravneet Gill who takes the crown of Missy's Hospitality Hero!