2026 Agenda
Leaders’ panel: Investing in the future
With costs rising and consumer behaviour evolving, restaurant leaders must make bold decisions to drive sustainable growth. This high-level panel considers how decisionmakers are navigating these cost pressures, investing in their brands, building resilience, and identifying the next opportunities for expansion.
Panellists:- Steve Holmes, CEO, Azzurri Group
- John Eckbert, CEO, Five Guys
- Lucy Worth, CEO, Mowgli
Popeyes: Hot chicken, hotter growth
Tom Crowley, CEO UKI, Popeyes
Tom shares the latest on the brand’s ambitious growth strategy and continued focus on innovation. Fresh from being named Europe’s fastest-growing food and beverage company by the Financial Times, Popeyes has expanded its footprint with a flagship Tottenham Court Road restaurant, entered travel hub locations, secured the master franchise rights for Ireland, and continued to evolve its menu offering. In a fireside, chat, he’ll share how the brand is scaling at pace while maintaining the distinctive proposition that makes it one of the UK’s stand-out success stories.
The Italian Job: James Brown on building Brava
James Brown, CEO, Brava Hospitality Group
Join James Brown, CEO of Brava Hospitality Group, for a conversation tracing his journey from arriving at Prezzo to leading the creation of one of the UK’s most ambitious multi-brand restaurant groups. He’ll discuss the transformation of Prezzo Italian, the return of Jamie’s Italian and Brava’s growing portfolio of restaurant concepts, alongside the thinking behind its acquisitions and growth strategy.
Inside Gaucho’s evolution: Baton Berisha on growth, investment and reinvention
Baton Berisha, chief executive, Gaucho Restaurants
Twelve months into his tenure as CEO, Baton Berisha has overseen a major transformation at Gaucho, from reshaping the leadership team and supply chain to broadening the brand beyond its Argentine steakhouse roots. Join this Q&A to hear how the 20-strong restaurant group is driving repeat visits, evolving its customer proposition and building momentum towards a return to double-digit growth, as the premium dining brand enters its next phase of investment and expansion.
From Pilgrims to pioneers: Pizza Pilgrims’ next growth frontier
Gavin Smith, CEO, Pizza Pilgrims
Following a landmark period of growth, a return to profitability and a string of new openings, Pizza Pilgrims is entering an ambitious new phase under CEO Gavin Smith and as part of McWin-backed L'Osteria. With expansion accelerating across the UK, and the brand preparing to make its international debut in Munich, Smith will discuss scaling the business while staying true to the culture, quality and value that have fuelled its success, as one of the UK’s most dynamic restaurant brands targets growth on both sides of the Channel.
A cut above: How Miller & Carter became the UK’s biggest steakhouse
Anna Marie-Mason, divisional director - premium, Mitchells & Butlers
Miller & Carter has consistently outperformed the casual dining market, cementing its position as the UK’s leading steakhouse operator. In this Q&A, Anna-Marie Mason will discuss how the Mitchells & Butlers premium brand has gone about calculated estate expansion, why consumers are still seeking out affordable luxuries and memorable dining experiences, and how Miller & Carter is capitalising on this demand to drive sustained sales growth.
Luxe, actually: How Thesleff Group re-invented upscale hospitality
Markus Thesleff, founder and CEO, Thesleff Group
Fresh from being the only luxury restaurant operator recognised on The Sunday Times’s 2026 list of the UK’s fastest growing businesses, Thesleff Group owner Markus Thesleff joins us for a fireside chat. With a portfolio that includes the Los Mochis, Sale e Pepe, LUNA Omakase and recently-launched MA/NA brands, Thesleff Group is becoming a dominant force within London’s dining scene with turnover projected reach £64.7m in 2026. Here, Thesleff will discuss the growth of the luxury hospitality space, and examine the opportunities he sees for expansion both in London and internationally.
Not bowing out: David Page comes back for a third slice of the Italian casual dining market
David Page, chairman, Bow Street Group
David made his name during his 25 years at PizzaExpress, floating the chain on the London stock exchange and growing it to 350 sites. He returned to pizza with Franco Manco which he grew and sold in 2023. Now he’s dived back into Italian casual dining with The Bow Street Group’s 25 strong Wildwood brand, he’ll share prospects for acquisitions and consolidation at his third and latest investment vehicle.
Going global: the UK premium restaurant brands looking overseas for growth
As economic conditions remain persistently challenging in the UK, ambitious restaurant operators are turning their attention overseas in search of new growth opportunities. From the US to the Middle East and India, businesses are exporting proven concepts to some of the world's most attractive restaurant markets. Join this panel to hear why international expansion is rising up the agenda, the challenges of entering new territories, and what it takes to build a successful British brand abroad.
Panellists:- Dan Purnell, chief executive, Permanently Unique
- Joytin Sethi, chief executive, JKS Restaurants
- Samyukta Nair, CEO and creative director, LSL Capital
Lumina Intelligence: Exclusive market insights, consumer behaviour and menu trends
Katie Gallagher, insight lead, Lumina Intelligence
Katie will exclusively preview Lumina’s new Restaurant Market Report, presenting the latest consumer insights, including how the current economic landscape is impacting the restaurant market spend and purchasing behaviours, and which trends are making waves in the sector.