Christopher Barber · Hospitality Consultant
Help, advice & direction for food, drink and hospitality businesses
Christopher Barber is a London-based hospitality consultant advising restaurants, hotels, pubs and cultural venues across the UK.
Hospitality is a tough business where only the smartest succeed. Getting judicious advice from the right person will bring clarity and success, supporting owners and key people in making the best decisions for the business.
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11 years
Personal Chef to HM The King
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Co-founder
Duchy Originals
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Michelin star
Founder of one of the UK's first Michelin-starred pubs
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Since 2010
Advisor to the Royal Albert Hall
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Officier
Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne
What I do
Hospitality consultancy, from first concept to turnaround
My work spans concept creation, operational implementation and long-term strategic planning, helping restaurants, hotels, pubs and venues develop sustainable visions for growth and success. I also specialise in troubleshooting and turnaround projects, pre-opening feasibility studies, and executive mentoring for both established operators and emerging entrepreneurs. By bringing an independent perspective and fresh insight, I help clients distinguish a genuinely strong business opportunity from simply a good idea.
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Concept creation
New restaurant, bar and hotel concepts, from first idea to menus, drinks and service.
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Operational implementation
Putting the right systems, teams and standards in place to deliver the concept.
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Long-term strategic planning
Growth and development plans for hospitality businesses and venues.
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Troubleshooting & turnaround
For restaurants, pubs and hotels that are struggling.
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Pre-opening feasibility studies
Testing a new site or concept before you commit.
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Executive mentoring
For hospitality owners, operators and emerging entrepreneurs.
You work directly with me
When you engage my services, you work directly with me. Nothing is outsourced or delegated to junior consultants. Whilst I occasionally collaborate with carefully selected specialists to provide additional expertise, all projects remain under my leadership and accountability.
Judging at the Festival Culinaire, Constance Belle Mare Plage
About Christopher Barber
Advice, consultancy and strategy for all sectors of hospitality, food and beverage
For many years I have been at the forefront of hospitality business, primarily as an owner and operator of much loved and celebrated ventures, now as the creator and advisor to some of the best in the business. I help struggling businesses survive, and make good operations even better. A hospitality consultant is how I am best described, with a past and present portfolio second to none.
From award-winning hotelier, chef, restaurateur and business consultant to acclaimed writer for Country Life and numerous national publications, I bring a creative, forward-thinking and commercially astute perspective, combined with extensive experience across every aspect of hospitality business development.
My career began as a management trainee with IHG in Park Lane, London, before I spent 11 years as Personal Chef to HM The King. During that time, I travelled extensively, helping to reimagine the production and delivery of food and beverage services within the Royal Household and being a co-founder of Duchy Originals.
I subsequently founded one of the UK’s first Michelin-starred pubs and a boutique hotel, before establishing myself as a business advisor, board member and investor within the hospitality sector.
Over the years, I have supported many of the industry’s most influential leaders, launched Michelin-starred restaurants and world-class hotels, and worked alongside some of the UK’s most iconic theatres and cultural institutions.
I have also served as a tutor at some of the world’s leading business schools, including Henley Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School and Warwick Business School, where I developed and delivered my own executive education programmes. In addition, I hold the rank of Officier within the prestigious Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, one of the few people in the UK to have been promoted from the rank of Chevalier.
Christopher Barber
Hospitality consultant, advisor, board member and investor
Teaching
Henley, Cambridge Judge and Warwick Business Schools
Writing
Country Life and national publications
Began
Management trainee, IHG Park Lane
Selected clients and projects
Projects
I work with a multitude of diverse businesses, helping develop concepts, solving problems, overseeing and supporting operators, developing sustainable solutions.
Alongside one-off projects and consultancy, I often continue to provide many clients with expert support and business advice on a longer term, ongoing basis.
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Royal Albert Hall
Arts & culture
Supporting, directing and advising on a multitude of F&B concepts and developments. This includes tender management and concept creation.
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IHG
Hotels & resorts
I was retained for several years by IHG to support and lead its Restaurants & Bars, Brand and Operations teams. My work ranged from concept creation to operating procedures, recruitment strategy and innovative training solutions across all brands.
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Value Retail
Property & corporate
Value Retail own and operate a collection of world class shopping villages under the Bicester Collection brand. I have spent time in London, NY and Paris, looking at F&B and hospitality.
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Unilever
Food & drink brands
Advised on how to get well known retail products into foodservice environments.
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Garsington Opera
Arts & culture
I have a longstanding role as catering and hospitality adviser to the opera company. During my tenure, I tendered and awarded the catering contract and oversaw the Opera’s move from Garsington to the Getty family’s Wormsley Estate.
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Number One Bruton
Hotels & resorts
Number One Bruton is one of the best new boutique hotels in the UK. Located in uber cool Bruton, it launched with my help, bringing in Merlin Labron Johnson to deliver Osip restaurant. Now with a new restaurant, Briar, it goes from strength to strength and our partnership continues.
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Rathfinny Wine Estate
Heritage & estates
The Rathfinny Wine Estate is a hugely impressive market leader in English Sparkling Wine. Family owned and run; I have been supporting them with business development and strategy.
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The London Library
Clubs & institutions
I have been helping the directors plan for the years ahead by adding a hospitality offer on the 6th floor and 5th floor terrace, plus a new communal space to increase private event capacity.
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Arundel Castle
Heritage & estates
Their Graces The Duke and Duchess of Norfolk asked me to take a look at hospitality at The Castle. This has been sensitively reimagined, making a more unique proposition.
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Pan Pacific
Hotels & resorts
I guided the owners on their first European hotel in the City of London which is now established as an excellent and successful operation.
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The Ministry
Clubs & institutions
The Ministry of Sound is continually evolving and seeking new opportunity. I have been working personally with Lord Palumbo, the owner and founder, to create new visions and projects.
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London Coliseum
Arts & culture
Hospitality, food and beverage will become more prominent in the coming years and I have been helping to guide the visions with a potential rooftop bar and new dining options.
Plus more than 40 other hotels, restaurants, venues and cultural institutions across the UK and internationally.
Case study
Royal Albert Hall: catering tender and food and beverage strategy
Client
The Royal Albert Hall
Engagement
2010 to present
Role
Catering review, tender oversight and ongoing advisory
Hospitality partner
Rhubarb Hospitality Collection
In 2010 I was engaged by The Royal Albert Hall to assess their existing catering offer which led to a full tender which I oversaw, and the appointment of Rhubarb Hospitality Collection succeeding Compass as the hospitality partner. This partnership has gone from strength to strength, with RHC being re-engaged through an informal tender for an extended period.
During that time, I have liaised with both parties and carried out key administrative, contractual and conceptual developments. One such initiative was my introduction and championing of Eric Chavot as the named chef in the premium restaurant offer, Coda.
My varied role has seen me represent the RAH executive, board and trustees through a period of extraordinary growth and success which continues to this day where I remain engaged in an advisory role. Currently this is focussed on planning the next 7 years of development within The Hall where food and beverage will be reimagined and in partnership with RHC taken to even greater heights.
Being part of the RAH team, working alongside RHC and seeing success in the most prestigious venue in the UK is one of my proudest achievements.
“Christopher Barber has been a trusted partner of the Royal Albert Hall since 2010, giving wise advice to the Hall’s team and also challenging the in-house caterers to reach new heights. Chris is creative yet pragmatic, highly knowledgeable about hospitality yet cognisant of the financial realities (of both the Hall and its caterer), able to think strategically about space, design, service standards, logistics etc and he is a direct communicator whilst being full of tact and charm. I would recommend Chris wholeheartedly to any venue who needs a fresh view of how to move their catering forwards.”
James Ainscough
Chief Executive Officer, The Royal Albert Hall
Contact
Get in touch
Most of my work comes through recommendation. If you would like to talk about a business, a new opportunity or a problem that needs solving, email me directly. I work with clients in London and across the UK, from Sussex and Berkshire to Manchester and Scotland.