Dynamic line-up unveiled for The Caterer's new Hotel Forum event

14 April 2016 by Amanda Afiya

Four more dynamic speakers have been confirmed for The Caterer's inspirational new event for hotel managers and aspiring operators, the Hotel Forum, which takes place in three weeks' time.

Joining the half-day forum, which takes place on 4 May at Kings Place in King's Cross, will be Luke Cowdrey, co-owner of Volta Restaurant, Manchester, Robin Gill, executive chef-owner of London restaurants the Dairy, the Manor, Paradise Garage and Counter Culture, Ben Russell, acquisitions director of private equity group Ennismore Capital, the owner of Hoxton, and Jackson Boxer, chef-owner of Brunswick House in Vauxhall, London.

The speakers will be taking part in a panel discussion with the Gorgeous Group's Robbie Bargh, who will be chairing a session on the rise of disruptive food and beverage.

Gill, who won the Good Food Guide's Chef of the Year title last year, worked at Marco Pierre White's Oak Room, Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and enjoyed stints at Noma in Copenhagen and Franzten in Stockholm before he opened the Dairy, the Manor, Paradise Garage and most recently Counter Culture with his wife Sarah. Each restaurant follows their product-led, back-to-basics approach to cooking.

Boxer is the chef and restaurateur behind Brunswick House, who has also written for The Guardian and The Financial Times. He is frequently asked to host pop-ups for brands, gallery openings and album launches. He has an illustrious culinary heritage as the grandson of cookery writer Arabella and the son of Charlie, novelist and owner of Italo Delicatessen in Vauxhall. He is currently writing his first book.

Russell undertakes all strategic acquisitions and reviews at Ennismore where the key focus is on the global expansion of the Hoxton. Alongside this, Russell also works alongside the operation team in curating a series of standalone neighbourhood restaurants, where it currently has three operations in the pipeline.

Cowdrey is one half of the The Unabombers, who DJ'd around the world and in 1995 launched Electric Chair, one of the best-loved clubs in Manchester, before opening Electrik bar in 2009.

In December 2013 he and his partner Justin Crawford opened Volta, a West Didsbury casual restaurant that brings together "great drinking and great dining in one place", inspired by their travels around Europe. Their next venture is a partnership with Manchester Palace, which is currently being refurbished by the yet-to-be named urban, lifestyle hotel brand by Starwood Capital.

The operators join an eminent line-up of speakers including David Elton, director of Lime Wood Group and Home Grown Hotels, Jill Stein, co-founder of the Seafood Restaurant group, Daniel Pedreschi, general manager of the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, 2015 Gold Service Scholarship winner Daniele Quattromini of Club Lounge 39 at One Canada Square, and the Employee Assistance Programme team from Hospitality Action.

To book now, visit www.hotel-forum.co.uk. Tickets cost £119.

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