Renowned Head Chef Cameron Bradshaw reveals what it takes to build a positive kitchen culture. Taking us behind the scenes on his expansive career, Cameron shares why great leadership is about so much more than producing great food.

Cameron Bradshaw is the current head chef at the Coastal Kitchen Family's flagship The Briny, largely agreed to be one of the best restaurants in Hampshire. Born and raised in Bosham, Cameron put his life and relationship on hold, working under some of the best head chefs in the country, in pursuit of becoming one himself. in this episode, we'll explore

• Cameron's unconventional route into hospitality and how he progressed from starting his chef career at 22 to becoming Head Chef.
• Why positive leadership is the key to retaining talented chefs in an industry known for high staff turnover.
• Creating a kitchen where people feel supported, respected and motivated to stay.
• How mentorship, coaching and open communication help chefs develop both professionally and personally.
• The importance of recognising when team members are ready to take the next step in their careers and supporting their progression.
• Why changing kitchen culture starts with leaders who are willing to listen, learn and lead by example.

Tune in for an honest conversation about modern kitchen leadership, developing people, and why investing in your team is one of the best investments you can make in your business. If you found this episode helpful, we encourage you to follow along for more

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, Ruth and Lucy are back on their own for a bite-size conversation, sharing real situations from the week and practical tips for handling them. From supporting new managers to navigating relationships with environmental health, this episode focuses on making confident, balanced decisions in hospitality.

What We Cover:

• Supporting newly promoted managers and helping them build confidence when there’s no clear “right answer.”
• Why hospitality is often about operating in the grey—and how to move away from fear-based decision making.
• A simple decision-making framework based on values like hospitality, family, honesty and community.
• Real-life scenarios, including how to handle team members turning up unfit for work, and balancing team support with customer experience.
• The importance of backing your managers and creating a culture where decisions are supported, not criticised.
• A fresh perspective on environmental health officers and why collaboration, communication and proportionality are key.
• The wider impact of enforcement decisions on businesses, employment and local communities.

Tune in for a practical, honest discussion packed with real-world examples and simple tools to help you make better decisions in your business. Enjoy and follow us on social media if you like what you hear! Instagram: @simply_hospitality_the_podcast.

The State of Hospitality

In this episode of Simply Hospitality, we sit down with Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair of UKHospitality, to discuss the realities of running a hospitality business in today’s climate. From rising costs to workforce challenges, Kate shares insight from across the industry and explains how UKHospitality is supporting operators on the ground.

What We Cover:

• What UKHospitality does and how it supports businesses, from independent cafés to national chains.
• The role of a trade body in influencing government, reducing red tape and providing practical guidance to operators.
• The concept of Primary Authority and how it helps businesses navigate inconsistent enforcement from regulators.
• The current state of the industry, with rising costs, shrinking margins and many businesses operating at or below break-even.
• Why resilience in hospitality is being pushed to its limits following COVID and ongoing economic pressures.
• The reality behind closures and openings, and what the data tells us about the sector right now.
• Hospitality as a career: tackling the “stopgap job” perception and the need for clearer training pathways.
• Plans for a digital skills passport and how it could transform training, recruitment and career progression across the industry.
• Practical advice for operators, including smarter pricing strategies and using technology to manage labour more effectively.

Tune in for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about the challenges facing hospitality today—and what needs to change to support the businesses and people at its heart.