Kith and Kin Hospitality: Real Stories from the Hospitality Industry

Kitch In Conversation

In Conversation

Michael Tingsager on Agile Hospitality and What Makes Hospitality Businesses Thrive

In the first Stand Out Hospitality Conversation, Cassie Davison is joined by Michael Tingsager, host of the Hospitality Maverick podcast, to explore what the most resilient hospitality businesses do differently. Through more than 300 conversations with hospitality leaders around the world, Michael has developed a framework he calls Agile Hospitality. It identifies the patterns that help hospitality businesses remain adaptable, people-focused and commercially strong in a constantly changing industry. In this conversation, Cassie and Michael explore the principles behind that thinking and what they mean for independent hospitality operators running pubs, restaurants, cafés, bars and hotels. They discuss: • Why clarity of purpose is essential in hospitality • The idea of graceful growth and building businesses for the long term • The pursuit of mastery rather than settling for average performance • How radical transparency builds trust with teams and customers • Why giving teams a stake in the outcome strengthens culture • The importance of freedom to operate for frontline teams The conversation also explores a wider idea: that hospitality is ultimately about human connection, and the businesses that thrive are those that build systems and cultures that protect that humanity while still running strong commercial operations. This episode is particularly relevant for independent hospitality business owners and leaders navigating the realities of running complex small businesses in a fast-changing world. About the Stand Out Hospitality Conversations This episode is part of the Stand Out Hospitality Conversations, hosted by Cassie Davison. The series brings together leading voices from across the industry to explore leadership, culture and the future of independent hospitality. About Cassie Davison Cassie Davison spent more than 30 years as a hospitality owner-operator and is the author of Stand Out Hospitality. She now works across the industry through speaking, writing and the Kith & Kin Hospitality community, which brings independent operators together for conversation and shared insight.

Ep41: Why Insight Matters & Why Pubs Feel Like Home with Katy Moses, MD of KAM Insight

Episode Summary In this heartfelt and insightful episode, Cassie welcomes Katy Moses, founder and Managing Director of KAM, the leading insight consultancy in UK hospitality. From childhood memories of Chiquitos and fizzy drinks to launching a data-led business that’s shaping the future of pubs and restaurants, Katy shares her journey with honesty and humour. They explore the emotional power of hospitality, why pubs remain the heart of the community, and how insight—not just instinct—drives better decisions. Katy also talks about KAM’s origins, how the pandemic transformed the industry, and what she believes the future of hospitality—and the pub—is really about. Expect stories, laughter, and a dose of proper industry truth. * Katy’s early love of hospitality and first memories of eating out * Why research and insight are essential in modern hospitality * Pubs as places of belonging, choice, and community * The impact of COVID-19 on the sector—and how it accelerated progress * How KAM started (thanks to one determined client and Companies House) * Low and no alcohol trends: zebra striping, bookending, and guest expectations * Why listening to customers is more than just a “gut feeling” * The evolving identity of pubs—and why the best ones never forget their purpose * The future of hospitality: community, technology, and meaningful innovation “The pub is like a microcosm of society—everyone matters as much as everyone else.” – Katy Moses * KAM Insight Website: www.kaminsight.com [https://www.kaminsight.com] * Knowledge Hub (free insight, reports & webinars): Knowledge Hub * Email Katy: katy@kaminsight.com * Follow KAM on LinkedIn: KAM Insight [https://www.linkedin.com/company/kam-media/] * Join the Kith & Kin community: https://kithkinhospitality.co.uk/ [https://kithkinhospitality.co.uk/] * LinkedIn: Cassie Davison [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiedavison] Topics CoveredQuote of the EpisodeLinks & ResourcesConnect with Cassie

Episode 40 – From Pot Wash to Pub Pioneer: Bex Wilkins on Passion, Purpose, and Building Something Better

Host: Cassie Davison Guest: Bex Wilkins, Co-Founder of Makers of Hospitality In this energising episode of the Kith & Kin Hospitality Podcast, Cassie sits down with Bex Wilkins, co-founder of Makers of Hospitality and former Marketing Director at Peach Pubs. With a journey that started aged 13 washing pots and now sees her launching her second independent pub, Bex’s story is proof that the best operators are built, not born. We talk about growing up in kitchens, falling in and out of love with the industry, and what it really takes to build a values-led hospitality business today. From corporate frustrations to freedom, Bex shares why she left a high-profile career to create something of her own—and how she’s doing it differently this time, with purpose, leadership, and the right people around her. Whether you're a pub operator, future founder, or just love a great comeback story—this is for you. 00:01 – Meet Bex: From KP to co-founder of Makers of Hospitality 01:28 – Aged 13, pot washing in Bromsgrove (and now back again, with her own pub) 04:11 – Young people in pubs: why early work builds confidence and resilience 07:19 – Learning the value of work early—and the lessons that stay for life 10:14 – From reluctant manager to passionate marketer 12:56 – Life at Peach Pubs: learning, growing, and finding her voice 15:16 – Moving from operations to marketing leadership (without a degree) 18:42 – When the corporate dream doesn’t fit: knowing it’s time to leave 20:48 – Craving change, making the leap, and backing yourself 22:31 – The pub that sparked it all—and convincing her wife to join the journey 24:46 – Transforming a derelict building into a vibrant community pub 26:20 – The hard truth: not all independents survive, but the best still can 28:35 – Being proactive, staying competitive, and using social media well 30:24 – Adapting to change: lower alcohol, higher standards 33:08 – What makes a pub matter: it’s not the drink—it’s the feeling 35:21 – Inside the pub: quality-led, seasonal food and a warm welcome 37:37 – Fish on Fridays, Chianti on Saturdays: listening to what guests want 38:46 – No safety net: the reality of being your own boss 39:56 – Opening pub #2—and why tenancies made sense for their growth 41:23 – Building the team she never had: mentorship, equality, and fun 44:11 – Paying fairly, promoting internally, and creating a workplace people love 45:54 – Fortune favours the brave—and Bex is just getting started Co-Founder – Makers of Hospitality With over a decade at Peach Pubs and a passion for people-first business, Bex is on a mission to build beautiful, high-quality pubs where food, values, and leadership all matter. Alongside her wife and business partner, she’s creating spaces that feel good to visit—and even better to work in. 🔗 Follow Bex on LinkedIn 🌐 Visit Makers of Hospitality (add link when available) At Kith & Kin, we believe hospitality is more than a business—it’s a calling. We tell the real stories behind independent hospitality with warmth, honesty, and a deep respect for the people who make it happen. 🌍 cassiedavison.co.uk [https://cassiedavison.co.uk] 🔗 Connect with Cassie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiedavison/] 📲 Want to join the Kith & Kin WhatsApp community? Message Cassie via LinkedIn or the website to request access. * Set High Standards – From menu design to team culture, Bex leads with quality and care. * Stand Out – Makers of Hospitality is carving out a niche in a crowded space—with values at the core. * Define Your Identity – From free-range menus to community connection, everything reflects a clear vision. * Build Loyalty – The team stays because they’re supported, developed, and respected. * Tell a Great Story – Bex’s journey is one of courage, growth, and rewriting the script. This episode is a reminder that great businesses start with brave decisions—and the belief that it can be better. 🍻 From KP to co-founder: a story of guts, grit, and going your own way in hospitality.

EPISODE 39 – From Pubs to Purpose: Jackie Moody McNamara on Belonging, Leadership, and the Power of Story

Cassie Davison welcomes Jackie Moody McNamara—a hospitality lifer who’s gone from sleeping on pool tables as a child to shaping executive teams across sectors. Founder of Be Brilliant, Jackie now works as a coach and consultant for businesses and individuals, helping them unlock confidence, align with purpose, and build safe, thriving environments for growth. Episode Summary With a rich story that starts in Birmingham’s community pubs and stretches all the way to boardroom influence, Jackie brings warmth, wisdom, and hard-won perspective to this episode. She shares how being raised above pubs by Irish immigrant parents shaped her deep sense of hospitality and belonging, and how that lived experience still guides her coaching today. We explore Jackie’s transition from pub manager to training lead, to executive director running 500 pubs—often as the only woman in the room—and how she learned to embrace her voice and values along the way. She and Cassie discuss motherhood, resilience, and how adversity and purpose often intertwine. Most powerfully, Jackie reflects on the work she does now: holding space for others, encouraging senior women to own their impact, and helping teams rediscover connection through storytelling. If you’re passionate about people, purpose, and what it really takes to build a strong, values-led business—this one’s for you. Key Discussion Points & Timestamps 00:28 – Meet Jackie: Founder of Be Brilliant and veteran of the hospitality industry 01:57 – Growing up in pubs: A family home full of warmth, community, and customers 03:12 – From stew for the regulars to Christmas dinners for the homeless—hospitality as heart 08:46 – Early work behind the bar, high standards, and falling into hospitality (and loving it) 10:05 – First pub at 18: A stand-in relief manager turned full-time career 11:25 – Learning by doing: Building empathy and adaptability from short-term pub placements 13:03 – Walking into someone else’s business—and learning how to lead with respect 14:24 – The unparalleled early career training hospitality provides young people 15:32 – Being the only woman in the room—and not letting it stop your rise 16:30 – Turned down for a pub because she was single—and how that opened new doors 17:29 – Imposter syndrome, quick progression, and learning to own your place at the table 24:38 – Four intense years: marriage, loss, motherhood, and managing a 500-site estate 26:41 – A bold choice: leaving a 21-year career for family time—and what came next 29:23 – Full circle: Watching your former team members rise—and being invited to work for them 32:55 – When values don’t align: Learning when to walk away 33:25 – Founding Be Brilliant: From accidental coach to strategic mentor 34:51 – Who Jackie works with: SMEs, senior women, and leadership teams across industries 36:36 – Coaching women to know their worth—and negotiate for it 38:19 – From pub kid to safe space creator: Why storytelling is everything in building connection 39:22 – The timeline exercise: How personal stories change team dynamics 42:08 – Sharing the hard stuff: Building true belonging through emotional connection 43:12 – Turning heartbreak and heaviness into purpose and progress 45:47 – The biggest change in hospitality: Losing pubs—but not losing hope 47:16 – Hospitality’s magic formula: Opportunity, growth, and real people-first careers Connect with Jackie 🔗 Find Jackie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-moody-mcnamara/] 🌐 Visit: bebrilliantcoaching.co.uk [https://www.bebrilliantcoaching.co.uk] (or search "Be Brilliant Jackie Moody McNamara") 💬 Jackie works with individuals, teams and businesses—especially where people, purpose and leadership matter most. Keep up with Kith & Kin 🌍 Visit: cassiedavison.co.uk [https://www.cassiedavison.co.uk] 🔗 Connect with Cassie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassiedavison1/] 📲 Want to join the Kith & Kin WhatsApp community for hospitality? Message Cassie via LinkedIn or the website to request access This episode is a reminder that behind every confident leader is a story—and the courage to share it.