Casual Dining – the award winning trade event for the UK’s pub, restaurant and bar sector – is set to take casual dining to the next level as it takes over three floors of the Business Design Centre in London this week.
Already an essential date on many hospitality buyers calendars, Casual Dining opens for business at 10am on Wednesday 25 February. Over 4,000 attendees (representing multiple and independent pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, wholesalers, distributers, and contract caterers from across the UK) are expected to pack the aisles over two days.
Casual Dining 2015 will feature over 150 sector leading exhibitors showcasing a vibrant choice of food and drink, equipment, interior design, furniture, technology and table top supplies. The full exhibitor list is available here
In addition to extra stands for 2015, the show’s new upper feature level is also home to the new Drinks Innovation Theatre, new Speciality Wine Village, Innovation Challenge Showcase, and Craft Beer & Cider Showcase.
Free Keynotes & tasting sessions
The CEOs of TGI Friday’s, ASK Italian and Gourmet Burger Kitchen are among the names of Keynote speakers confirmed for Casual Dining 2015. Recent additions to the line-up include Simon King, director of operations at Burger and Lobster restaurant group and director of Wiltshire Pub Company, Alex Reilley, executive vice chairman at Loungers, and Stephen Evans, development director at GBK – joining Trevor Watson, director at David Coffer Lyons, in The Casual Dining Property Panel.
Full listings are available at Casual Dining Keynote Theatre and Drinks Sessions
Wednesday 25 February
- Peter Backman, MD of Horizons: Who is setting the casual dining pace? And where are they going?
- Anthony Pender, chairman of The BII & MD of Yummy Pub Co: How we’ll raise standards in licensed retail together
- The CGA Peach Pioneer Panel: Chaired by Peter Martin, VP of CGA Peach, featuring Martin Morales (Ceviche), Harald Samuelsson (Côte), and Brandon Stephens (Tortilla)
- Mark McCulloch, founder & CEO of WE ARE Spectacular: Knockout Social Media – why you need to think more like a boxer when posting
- Design in the Casual Dining Sector & Casual Dining Design Awards 2015: Chaired by David Worthington, featuring Afroditi Krassa, Theo Williams, and Tina Norden
- Marco Reick, HR Director at Bill’s: How to grow rapidly without losing your identity
- The Casual Dining Property Panel: Chaired by Trevor Watson, director at David Coffer Lyons, featuring Simon King (Burger and Lobster restaurant group & Wiltshire Pub Company), Alex Reilley (Loungers), and Stephen Evans (GBK)
- Stephen Holmes, CEO of ASK Italian & Zizzi: Transforming the ASK Italian Business
Thursday 26 February
- Jamie Campbell, Account Director, CGA Peach: Mind the Gap: Life Beyond the Capital
- Karen Forrester, CEO of T.G.I Friday’s: Theories, Philosophies, Values and Traditions
- The Propel Info Panel – How Pub Operators are Diversifying: Chaired by Paul Charity, MD of Propel Info, featuring James Nye (Anglian Country Inns), Tim Foster (Yummy Pub Company), Oliver Thain (Cambscuisine) and Kevin Charity (Bulldog Hotel Company)
- Alasdair Murdoch, CEO of Gourmet Burger Kitchen: How to stay relevant in a crowded marketplace
- The Casual Dining Innovation Challenge Live 2015
- Kate Nicholls, CEO of The ALMR: New government – future high street
- The Casual Dining Legends Interview: industry icon Ian Neill in conversation with Peter Martin, VP of CGA Peach
Casual Dining returns to the Business Design Centre, in Islington, London, on Wednesday and Thursday 25-26 February 2015.
Advance visitor registration closes at 8am on Wednesday 25 February (after which a £20 door charge may apply). To register for a free trade pass click here and quote priority code CDPR1 (direct link)