Sheffield born Jason Atherton is one of the UK’s most successful global restaurateurs and headlined the 2019 Bruntwood NRB Debate at Northern Restaurant & Bar on Tuesday 19 March. Jason, who was head chef at Manchester’s legendary Mash & Air in the ‘90s, has built a global restaurant empire that now includes sixteen restaurants, four of which have Michelin stars, across three continents, seven countries and eight cities.

Jason started out working alongside great chefs including Pierre Koffmann, Marco Pierre White, Nico Ladenis and Ferran Adria at el Bulli, before joining the Gordon Ramsay Group in 2001. After launching Maze Jason left to launch his own flagship restaurant Pollen Street Social, which was awarded a coveted Michelin star within just six months of opening. 

Host Thom Hetherington explored what fired this Northern chef to global success and about his role as principal patron for Hospitality Action.

Food is truly analogue but how we experience it is increasingly digital

Chaired by Lucy Noone-Blake, the panel discussed how brands and businesses build brand loyalty and ensure their share of the marketplace, how to bridge the gap between their online presence and driving actual footfall and whether social media really is the be all and end all.

Panelists:
Libby Andrews, Marketing Director at Pho Restaurants
Russell Danks, Marketing & Strategy Director at Punch Taverns
Oisin Rogers, Landlord at The Guinea Grill
Andy Windsor, Head of Marketing, Mission Mars