Held at Wunderbar on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street, delegates will today (Thursday 18 June) hear from the Scottish Hospitality Group’s Stephen Montgomery and Signature Group’s Louise Maclean, who’ll share their views on the Glasgow and wider Scottish pub and bar scene.
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Senior leadership insight will also take centre stage, with Stonegate Group chief executive David McDowall outlining how the UK’s largest pub company is evolving its business model and operations to respond to ongoing sector challenges.
The agenda will then turn to a broader “State of the Nation” panel, where Buzzworks co-founder/CEO Kenny Blair and Amber Taverns property director Sam Frankland will assess current market conditions, balancing the challenges facing hospitality with opportunities for growth.
Policy and advocacy are also on the programme, with UKHospitality chief executive Allen Simpson set to discuss the Government’s industrial strategy and what it means for the pub sector, alongside the wider role hospitality plays in the UK economy.
Elsehwere, Zonal will highlight how to unlock the secrets to accommodation, looking at the growing opportunity for pubs with rooms as the staycation market continues to expand.
Vibrant hospitality scene
Annica Wainwright, co-founder of 2Forks, will also share insight on how to maximise menus to meet inflationary challenges.
Attendees will then hear how pubs can support schemes like Ask for Angela from the initiative’s CEO Sylvia Oates, as well as the role venues play in tackling loneliness through community-led campaigns like Empty Chairs, with founder Dean Perryman sharing how pubs are crucial to the campaign.
After the conference, the Club will then take to the streets of Glasgow for the study tour to uncover what the city’s hospitality scene has to offer.
Guests will visit a host of venues, including Glasgow’s oldest bar and restaurant, Sloans, which combines historic character with a lively social atomsphere across multiple floors.
The tour will also stop by the Spiritualist - a city-centre cocktail bar and restaurant popular for its after-work drinks, social dining and private events.
Expert sessions
Furthermore, pairing cosy interiors with a sophisticated social vibe, the Club will also take a look at the Last Bookstore, which is inspired by the feel of a classic library lounge.
The Morning Advertiser will be reporting on the conference sessions in the coming days.
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The third and final MA Leaders conference will take place in Nottingham on Thursday 15 October. Join the club here and secure your tickets today.
