BEST BEFORE

We’re back! First event of 2026 (better late than never ay) and we’re going straight in at the deep end - the state of hospitality right now. Hospitality is having a real time of it. And yet - there’s still so much good stuff happening. Join us for an afternoon with people from all corners of the industry. Between them they’ve built, staffed, fixed and reimagined some great places - and they’ll be talking honestly about where it’s all at, the highs and the lows, and what it actually takes to make it work. Huge thanks to our friends at Williams, Stanley & Co for supporting this event - They’ll be sharing their take on the numbers, and also running free 1-to-1 finance clinics from 2pm (before the panel talk). As always, there’ll be plenty of time to chat and connect after the panel talk when we’ll head up to the @workatprojectsuk rooftop for drinks and food - all included in your ticket. On the Best Before panel: - Tom Zahir @tomzahir @decaturlondon - Lauren Linford @_homehospitality @actuallygoodtm - Liam Cotter @liamcotter @voya_brighton - Gary Digby, Digby+Fox + final speaker TBC More to come on these guys over the coming weeks. Earlybird tickets available for a week or so (or until they’re gone) - get yours via the link in bio.

We wanted to get a sense of where people are putting their energy right now. Because when you’re spinning a million plates, your focus can shift by the hour (or minute) - but underneath it all, there’s usually something bigger you’re trying to move towards, even if it’s just an idea. This week we spoke to: - Katie Sanderson @katiejsanderson @whitemausu - Gareth Owens @donalds.uk - Cecily Dalladay & Zoe Heimann @baracafelondon @chefilycecily @eatwithzoodie - Harry Dyer & Sam Best, SHRUB @sdrbest - Elisa Furci @cacciaandtails - Mazen Baaklini @eauyeswater Read more via our substack - link in bio.

Hey, guess what? We’re all just figuring it out as we go along! But you knew that… This month we spoke to: - Rachel Knowles @trenchmore_farm @sillymoocider - Dan O’Regan @doregan1 @bankbristol @lapinbristol - Isy Hinchcliffe @isyhinch @plateauwinebar - Steve Dass @curry_smugglers - Julien Farinelli @ourpopoli - Katherine Willis @cupsfullcoffeebags Read more on our substack via the link in our bio 👀

It’s news to absolutely no one that January can feel relentless. So, now we’re firmly in February, we’re asking: what were the silver linings in the cloud of January? This week we spoke to: - Luke Williams @lukebjwilliams @patio______ @vinestreettap - Sofia Buttarazzi @spillteacompany - Elizabeth Haigh @the_modernchef @meimeilondon @meimeigoods - Will Murgatroyd & Rich Judd @curingrebels - Harriet Evan’s @penrhosspirits - Ella McKay @so.fatso - Catherine Wells @sushidoguk Read more on our substack via the link in bio. 👀

Sneaking this in right before the end of Jan - A second dollop of steamy hot takes for you. This week we spoke to: - Louis Bedwell @futurefoodmovement - Liam Cotter @liamcotter @voya_brighton - Riya Patel @alltheauntiesuk - Nicole Compen @nicolecompen @rayethestore - Olivia Reid @blackbirdolivia - Denise Hamilton-Mace @lownodrinkermagazine Read more on our substack - link in bio 👀

Well here we are, It’s 2026 - almost a year since our first Best Before event. 🥫 It only seems right then that we mark this occasion by asking a bunch of industry experts to give us their trend predictions for the year ahead. We’re keeping it super concise for you here, easy to digest, a lil snack, a morsel if you will. 🫒 You can read these in their entirety over on our substack (yes, you read that correctly, we have a substack now). More on that to come. Most importantly though - subscribe to it via the link in our bio. 😘

✨A (SLIGHTLY BELATED) THANK U!✨ It’s almost been a week since Best Before 4, and what a joy it was to welcome you all to @projectsbtn for a slightly later (Autumnal even?) edition of Best Before. Some super inspiring talks from our line up: Riya @alltheauntiesuk , Michael @citizensofsoil , Rachel @trenchmore_farm @sillymoocider , Martyn @lagomchef & Emma @mainlybreakfast plus our esteemed host @beckypaskin . A massive thank you to our event sponsor @stickybeak__ for supporting the event, and to Anna for sharing their story. Final thank you goes to our food and drink pals who provided the goods so that we could eat and drink in abundance - you guys rule! 😘 @pommyspizza @tarorestaurants @curingrebels @cacciaandtails @seriouspigofficial @sipello_aperitif @arteliumwine @unbarredbrewery @picosodrinks @arrowtowndrinks @botivodrinks We’ll be sharing more soon, but for now - thanks for showing up, supporting Best Before and generally making it another banger!

✨ BEST BEFORE 4 IS TOMORROW ✨ If you’re coming along, we’ve got a real treat of an event in store for you! You’ll be hearing from: Riya Patel - @alltheauntiesuk Michael Vachon - @citizensofsoil Rachel Knowles - @trenchmore_farm @sillymoocider Martyn Odell - @lagomchef Emma Cantlay - @mainlybreakfast @beckypaskin will lead our event plus a Q&A with our speakers. And yes - there’ll be delicious things from: @pommyspizza @tarorestaurants @seriouspigofficial @curingrebels @cacciaandtails Plus drinks from: @sipello_aperitif @botivodrinks @arteliumwine @unbarredbrewery @picosodrinks @arrowtowndrinks 🍸🍷🍺 SEE YOU TOMORROW! 🎟️ Link in bio for any last-minute stragglers. Massive thanks to our event sponsor @stickybeak__ who we’ll be hearing more from tomorrow. — 👉 WORK IN PROGRESS: Vol II 🗓️ Tuesday 14th October | 16:00 – 21:00 📍Projects, Nile Street, Brighton @projectsbtn

🐥 STICKYBEAK l @stickybeak__ 🐥 Huge thanks to our event sponsor Stickybeak, who are joining us all the way from New Zealand for this event! Stickybeak is a platform helping brands get honest, actionable feedback from real people before they launch something new. Founded by a team of researchers, marketers and tech folk, Stickybeak was built to make testing ideas simpler, faster and more human. From packaging and campaigns to taglines and market launches, it gives brands a clear read on what resonates - and what doesn’t (without the jargon or hefty price tag.) They call it getting a truthier truth: real reactions from real people, gathered quickly so you can move with confidence and stay close to your audience. Past clients include @proper , @eatrealsnacks , @minorfigures , @karmadrinks , @vodafoneuk - as well as organisations like the @who , @oxfamgb , and @ogilvy . 👋 Make sure you say hi to them at the event! — 👉 WORK IN PROGRESS: Vol II 🗓️ Tuesday 14th October | 16:00 – 21:00 📍Projects, Nile Street, Brighton @projectsbtn Tickets via link in bio

🌾 RACHEL KNOWLES | @trenchmore_farm | @sillymoocider 🌾 Bonus speaker alert! Rachel is a farmer, cider maker and all-round force behind Trenchmore Farm in Cowfold, West Sussex. Alongside her dad, Rachel runs a mixed farm producing Sussex Wagyu beef from a 500-strong herd, farmhouse cider made with 19 varieties of apples, and eggs from hens roaming their orchards. But Trenchmore is far more than the sum of its parts - it’s a regenerative farm built on the belief that good food should nurture the land it comes from. Their approach supports soil health and biodiversity while producing some of the best beef and cider in the country - served everywhere from local pubs to Michelin-starred restaurants. Rachel’s leading Trenchmore’s regenerative shift - from solar-powered barns and herbal pastures to carbon-capturing soil practices that bring wildlife back to the land. Beyond the fields, she’s turned the farm into a vibrant community hub - hosting supper clubs, tastings, markets and the much-loved Apple Swap, where locals trade fruit for cider. We’re really looking forward to hear Rachel’s tales from Trenchmore ✨ — 👉 WORK IN PROGRESS: Vol II 🗓️ Tuesday 14th October | 16:00 – 21:00 📍Projects, Nile Street, Brighton @projectsbtn Tickets via link in bio

🥃 BECKY PASKIN | @beckypaskin 🥃 Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks writer, presenter and consultant - and one of the most influential voices in the global drinks industry. Across two decades, she’s written for The Times, The Telegraph, Club Oenologique, Waitrose and Whisky Magazine, edited The Spirits Business and Scotchwhisky.com, and worked with the likes of Diageo, Bacardí, Chanel and Edrington. Her work spans TV, radio and international drinks festivals, from ITV’s Love Your Weekend and This Morning to Tales of the Cocktail and The Whisky Show - combining her knowledge with a love for storytelling. Through the OurWhisky Foundation, Becky is leading a global movement for equality and inclusion within whisky - supporting women across the industry and challenging outdated stereotypes along the way. Her advocacy and writing have earned her titles including IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year, Tales Catalyst 2024, and a place among the 50 most influential people in drinks five years running. We can’t wait to have Becky join us as our host and moderator! — 👉 WORK IN PROGRESS: Vol II 🗓️ Tuesday 14th October | 16:00 – 21:00 📍Projects, Nile Street, Brighton @projectsbtn Tickets via link in bio

🧀 RIYA PATEL | @alltheaunties 🧀 Riya is the founder / Entrepaneer (🥁) at All The Aunties, and she’s leading the paneer revolution! What started as a mission to solve what Riya calls the “paneer black hole” - finding a way to make high-quality, delicious paneer an everyday staple - morphed into All The Aunties, a family-inspired business celebrating the women who shaped her story. Riya grew up surrounded by strong women - her mum and aunties - who moved countries, built families, and worked full-time while keeping food at the heart of everything. Food was the family’s constant, a way to stay connected and keep heritage alive through the chaos of everyday life. Through All The Aunties, Riya’s continuing that legacy - reimagining paneer as a modern kitchen staple that celebrates family, flavour and community. Lovingly handmade here in the UK, it’s now stocked in Tesco, Ocado, Bayley & Sage and Zapp. ✨ We can’t wait to hear from her! — 👉 WORK IN PROGRESS: Vol II 🗓️ Tuesday 14th October | 16:00 – 21:00 📍Projects, Nile Street, Brighton @projectsbtn Tickets via link in bio