Most restaurant problems are people problems.
I fix the operation and develop the team, so it stays fixed after I leave.
Why I do this work
I’ve spent thirty years in restaurants, from the floor at The Wolseley to the boardroom. I’ve run rooms doing more than a thousand covers a day, and a room on the World’s 50 Best list.
The same lesson came back every time. A restaurant is only as good as the people running the shift when the owner isn’t in. Systems matter, but only if the people using them understand them and know how to lead.
So that is the work now. I’ve coached hundreds of hospitality leaders across the UK and UAE, from general managers and executive chefs to operations directors and founders, and my companies have run venues for landlords and brands.
What you get
An operator, not a theorist
I’ve opened restaurants, run big rooms, owned the P&L and built teams. I read the numbers and the room before I recommend anything.
A coach trained in psychology
An advanced accreditation in coaching psychology means the people side is a method, not a pep talk. Leaders change how they work, not just what they know.
Work that stays fixed
I work alongside your team, so the systems and habits become theirs. The test is whether it holds the month after I’ve gone.
Where and how I work
On the ground with teams in the UAE and the UK. One to one and group coaching for leaders wherever they are, in person or online.
Who I work with
- Restaurant owners and founders
- Investors and landlords with restaurants in the portfolio
- Managing directors, COOs and operations directors
- General managers, executive chefs and other senior leaders
Away from work
I’m an ultra-endurance runner, and I’ve crewed at Badwater 135, the 135-mile race across Death Valley. Long days, heat and a team that has to keep going. Not so different from a Saturday night.
Over the years I have watched Stephen evolve from learner to teacher. I have been so impressed by his ability to convert all that he has learnt into an ability to be compassionate in nurturing and discovering the best in people whilst transforming them into more effective leaders at every level.Jeremy King OBE, Jeremy King Restaurants
As we all had to seek inspiration at some stage in our careers, I found mine in Stephen. Understand your co-workers but don’t let emotions take over your professional self; drive your team to the best results through rigorous mentoring; work on their communication skills; be fair and square; share your knowledge; follow up and never compromise. These are a few of the traits Stephen taught me. As a business owner or decision-maker, you want to be surrounded by the drive, analysis and leadership that Stephen has developed over the years. Your organisation will thoroughly benefit from it.Antoine Jaillet, COO, Gaia, Fundamental Hospitality
Stephen is able to connect on a multitude of levels with people from all disciplines, coupled with pinpoint precision in getting to the root of the problem. He combines both in bringing about transformational change, as well as personal growth for both the business and the individuals he works with.Zuleika Fennell, CEO, The Thinking Traveller
Stephen is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced operators in the hospitality industry. I’ve learnt so much from his mentorship, and he’s helped me grow my business by making me think and act in new, empowering ways.Riccardo de Pra, Owner and Chef Patron, Dolada
Stephen was a guiding light in my formative hospitality career and I would absolutely credit him with some of the successes I enjoy today. Detailed, focused and driven, he coached me in ways that drew out the best of me and allowed me to develop the potential he had seen. When he talks, you listen.Michael Johnston, General Manager, Jeremy King Restaurants
I was feeling disillusioned with my work and was ready to walk away from the hospitality industry. Stephen helped me recognise the deeper meaning in what I was doing and how that related to my core values.Juan Ramirez, Director of Operations, Sabor Restaurants
Start with a free hour.
An hour online to talk through what’s happening in your business, what you need, and whether I’m the right person to help. No obligation, and you’ll leave with at least one thing worth doing.
Book your free sessionFor:
- Restaurant owners and founders
- Investors and landlords with restaurants in the portfolio
- Managing directors, COOs and operations directors
- Heads of people and HR leads looking at leadership development
- Executive and head chefs stepping up to lead
- General managers exploring coaching for their team