Event: HRC 2024
Hotel Restaurant and Catering 2024 returns to ExCeL London on 25th to 27th March.
Hotel Restaurant and Catering 2024 (HRC), which is part of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week, returns to ExCeL London on 25th to 27th March for an immersive dive into the future of hospitality, offering invaluable networking opportunities, a chance to explore the very latest trends and a firsthand look at new innovations in foodservice. With sections covering hospitality tech, foodservice, design, décor and tableware, and professional kitchen equipment, visitors to HRC can source anything needed to grow their business and elevate their customer experience.
The Vision Stage, designed by Harp Design, will see a packed programme of content across the three days of the show, with speakers including UKHospitality chief executive officer (CEO) Kate Nicholls OBE, HRC chef ambassador Lisa Goodwin-Allen and futurist Simon Stenning. Nicholls comments: “The rise in the National Living Wage is set to have a profound impact on the UK hospitality sector and I look forward to breaking down the implications of this change, both positive and negative, at HRC 2024.”
The Vision Stage will also be hosting the awards ceremony for the inaugural World Catering Technology Awards, in partnership with FoodBev Media. They will recognise the innovative suppliers changing the face of catering and streamlining processes, both front- and back-of-house.
The 2024 event will also see the return of stage and demo kitchen Chef HQ, curated by Chef Publishing, where visitors can enjoy presentations by chefs including Glynn Purnell, Simon Hulstone, Kerth Gumbs, Tom Shepherd and Pierre Koffman. The show’s TechX stage will be the home of all things hospitality tech, with discussions taking place on a wide range of topics including labour productivity tools, rebuilding a fractured tech stack, future opportunities in the changing hospitality landscape and how modernised shift patterns can results in a healthier workforce. In the show’s Networking Hub, designed by Design Command, a number of industry associations and key partners of HRC will be hosting networking events including the Foodservice Equipment Association, Arena and HOSPA.
Taking place alongside HRC at ExCeL London on the Monday (25th) will be the Love Hospitality gala dinner by The Burnt Chef Project, a celebration of hospitality and an opportunity for the industry to raise funds for a great cause. Kris Hall, founder and CEO of The Burnt Chef Project, says: “Launching Love Hospitality, our second gala dinner, is a really proud moment for all involved with The Burnt Chef Project. Following the success of our first event, Out of the Shadows, in November 2022, we have been looking at how we can deliver one on an even bigger scale. Thanks to our returning headline sponsor, Unox, and the support of HRC, ExCeL Hospitality and Talent Hive, we’re now able to do just that.”
The Pub Show
The Pub Show is set to return bigger and better for 2024, as it adds a new stage and new features to elevate its offering for the pub and bar sector. A new partnership with the British Institute of Innkeeping, (BII) will see the organisation curating three days of pub and bar-focused content, tackling some of the major trends and challenges impacting on the sector.
Steve Alton, CEO of the BII, says: "Coming together, sharing best practice and collaborating have always been at the heart of the BII. Last year, this gave us a fantastic opportunity to bring some of our key members and ambassadors to the show to talk about their brilliant businesses.
“We are delighted to be partnering with the team at HRC to bring The Pub Show 2024 to life as part of this brilliant show once again. For anyone in the industry, taking time out of your business to network, attend panel discussions and source new suppliers is a must, and this year’s event will be a key date in the calendar for the extended BII team of colleagues, partners and ambassadors.”
Visitors to The Pub Stage this year will have the opportunity to attend sessions including a look at hospitality trends in 2024 and beyond hosted by KAM managing director Katy Moses; a session on health and wellbeing featuring Paddy Howley of So Let’s Talk and Kayleigh Fox of the Licensed Trade Charity; and a number of sessions focussed around low and no curated by Club Soda’s Laura Willoughby.
The Pub Show will also see the return of popular feature The Taproom, which showcases a diverse selection of independent and craft beer and cider brands. From the contemporary sour beer creations of Vault City Brewing to the inaugural offerings of Dundee's newest brewery, 71 Brewing, as well as the inspired creations from the Gosport-based Powder Monkey Brewing, the Taproom promises to be a treat for the tastebuds.
Another new addition to this year’s event is The Beer Garden, an inviting and informal space brought to life by Black and Stainless Creative Metalwork. Far beyond just a physical space, it’s the bustling epicentre of The Pub Show, playing host to an array of events spanning the three-day show. Attendees can look forward to brain-teasing Pub Quiz sessions and the infectious energy of The Pub Show Bingo games, all creating a welcoming atmosphere for industry professionals to connect and engage, hosted by Simon Wilson of Hashtag Hosts.
HRC 2024 is also co-located with the International Food and Drink Event (IFE), IFE Manufacturing and International Salon Culinaire, as part of Food, Drink and Hospitality Week.
Essential info
What? HRC 2024
Where? ExCeL London
When? 25th to 27th March
More info: www.hrc.co.uk
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