The Staff Canteen Live 2026: Front of house networking lunch at HIDE

Today (Monday, July 6), we hosted our latest TSC Live front of house networking lunch at HIDE in Mayfair.

The Staff Canteen launched chef networking lunches in 2016, later incorporating front of house events from 2020. The concept is simple: bring hospitality professionals and key industry suppliers together in an environment where meaningful conversations can happen away from the pressures of service.

Today’s lunch brought together restaurant directors, general managers, operators, sommeliers and senior front of house professionals for a focused afternoon of networking, product discovery and hospitality-led conversation.

Held at Michelin-starred HIDE, the event was designed to give guests the opportunity to connect with suppliers and peers while experiencing one of London’s most recognised dining rooms.

Located on Piccadilly, HIDE is led by chef director Josh Angus and is known for its refined modern cooking, ambitious wine programme and polished approach to hospitality.

Guests were welcomed with a drinks reception before sponsor introductions and a seated lunch, with the HIDE team introducing the menu on the day.

The guests

Today 13 front of house professionals, operators and senior hospitality leaders joined us for the lunch, with combined buying power in the room of nearly £31million. They were:

Abhi Sangwan, founder, Kutir/Manthan and Vatavaran
Javed Sidah, general manager, Vicinity London
Nicolas Poinsot, general manager, Row on 5 by Jason Atherton
Darren Coslett-Blaize, managing director, Marco Pierre White Restaurant Group
Romain Mervelay, restaurant manager, Pavyllon
Joy Norman, assistant general manager, Starling Bistro
Millie Povey, restaurant director, BiBi Restaurant
Barry Mays, operations manager, London Wildlife Trust
Ruby-Mae Bromley, guest relations manager, AngloThai
Marco Lepori, general manager, Mercado Central
Antonio Dandrea, restaurant manager, Wiltons
Ksenia Karpenko, head of wine, Clos Maggiore
Peter Joseph, owner, Kahani Restaurant

Reflecting on the event, Barry Mays, operations manager at London Wildlife Trust, said: “It’s been a really great opportunity to network with software and product providers.

“As quite a young person in the industry, it’s quite intimidating to do these kind of events. But it was such a warm, welcoming atmosphere and I hope to be invited back to another one!

Asked if he plans to follow up with any of the sponsors he met today, Barry said: “Probably everyone I’ve spoken to has something to offer – whether it’s the amazing crockery and glassware we’ve seen, Nyetimber I’ve started to work with quite recently, Lightspeed as a POS I’m looking at at the moment and that vodka was fantastic.”

Barry added that his favourite dish was the Orkney scallop.

Giving her reflections of the day, Ksenia Karpenko, head of wine at Clos Maggiore, added: “It’s been about discussing the newest trends in hospitality, about meeting new people, about meeting inspirational founders that create the different products that were presented today.

“And it’s been about talking how lucky we are to be in this profession.

“It was very well organised with suppliers moving from seat to seat so you get to meet everyone. I think it was very well done by the HIDE team and The Staff Canteen team.

“Definitely I want to meet three suppliers from the event.”

Ksenia added that her favourite dish was also the scallop.

The sponsors

These events would not happen without the support of our sponsors. Today’s front of house networking lunch was supported by: Nyetimber, SevenRooms, Lightspeed, Be WTR, Bespoke 77 and Fox Reds Vodka.

Nyetimber provided the welcome drink and paired wines throughout the lunch, including Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Magnum MV, Nyetimber Rosé MV, Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2017, 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2016 and Nyetimber Cuvée Chèrie Demi Sec MV.

Bespoke 77 provided glassware for the arrival Nyetimber drink, as well as tableware for selected courses.

Be WTR hosted a water tasting for guests at the start of lunch, while Fox Reds provided its Iconic Number 1 Bloody Mary vodka for a Bloody Mary cocktail tasting, followed by a short vodka tasting.

Barnaby Richardson, commercial director at Be WTR, said: “It’s always about networking, but in a very comfortable environment, surrounded by incredible people, gastronomy, food, wine and water.

“It’s always very relaxing and it’s peer-to-peer. I’ve been doing this for eight years, so may be one of your longest alumni!

“I always have good conversations and I always think that if they are not the customer of today, they are the customer of tomorrow or the day after, so it’s all about networking and finding the right people to talk to.

“It’s always incredible, such lovely people, such helpful people and I’m a massive fan.”

Barnaby added that his favourite course was apple tarte Tatin dessert.

Rupert Lee-Uff, founder of Foxreds Vodka, said: “Today was all about connections and trying to get people introduced to our vodka, let them taste it, get to understand it and educate people on the Bloody Mary.

“Moving everybody around the table was perfect and meant I got to speak to everybody.

“Working with The Staff Canteen has been wonderful.”

Rupert added that his favourite dish was the Herdwick lamb.

The menu

Canapés

Brixham crab, avocado & elderflower tartlet
Chicken liver parfait, toasted brioche & fig
Beef tartare, crispy potato cake & smoked egg yolk
Gem lettuce & chamomile, sunflowers

Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Magnum MV

Lunch

Beetroot tartare, pistachios & Sakura granita

Nyetimber Rosé MV
Bloody Mary cocktail - Foxreds Iconic Number 1 Bloody Mary vodka

Barbecued Orkney scallop, Vesuvius tomato, butter roe sauce

Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2017

Herdwick lamb cooked over coals with morels, peas & mint

1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2016

Apple tarte Tatin with Calvados & lemon thyme ice cream

Nyetimber Cuvée Chèrie Demi Sec MV