An Hour With An Indie

Josh worked in some of Liverpool's most loved indie hospitality brands before opening his first business just three years ago. East River is a New York inspired venue in South Liverpool offering specialising in brunch, dining and drinks. 

During the podcast Josh spoke to us about some of the challenges he's faced opening the business and how the business has overcome those to become a very popular venue in Liverpool.  We also touched on some industry topics such as the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, the importance of local authorities and how they can play a more effective role and the use of social media in building a business right now.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Paola runs Flour Will Fly, a very popular Italian cooking class business based in Liverpool. During the podcast Paola, and her dog Bertie, spoke to us about her journey so far moving from a corporate marketing job into the world of small business. 

As well Paola sharing some great tips on how to make great pasta and cannoli, we also covered some important topics such as happiness, personal and business growth, Brexit, team culture and more.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Since learning his craft at 60 Hope St in Liverpool City Centre, steve has gone on to try his hand at several different types of venture - all of which led to the opening of The Workshop Restaurant seven years ago. 

Now, Steve and his team are preparing to open two more venues in the same area - a cocktail bar in December and a steakhouse in 2022. During the podcast, Steve talked us through the journey of opening a hospitality business, a process he is right in the middle of at the moment. 

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Jonathan is the Co-Founder of Red and Blue Restaurants, an independent restaurant group who have created four of Liverpool's most loved brands (Salt House Tapas, Bacaro, Bouchon, Hanover St Social).

During the podcast, Jonathan spoke to us about his journey in the hospitality sector so far,  starting as Franchisee in the mid 90s all the way through to opening Bouchon just a couple of months ago. 

We also touched on important hospitality topics such as culture, training, leadership and more.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

Try Free

Tian and Remy come onto the podcast to talk about Table Chocolate. A new artisan product which is being made in the basement of Ropes and Twines in Liverpool. 

Ropes and Twines traditionally serves coffee and wine and this new product is a passionate experiment for the pair who want to promote ethically sourced, hand-crafted chocolate much in the same way that speciality coffee was promoted a decade ago. 

During the podcast Tian and Remy  spoke to us about exactly why the hospitality business is diversifying into retail and taught us about the nuances of chocolate sourcing and making.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Paul and Harry are the about to open Barnacle restaurant in Liverpool. The new venue will be based in Duke Street Market and will offer a taste of the world, using local ingredients. 

The pair have known each other for nearly a decade after Harry came to Liverpool and started working for Paul at London Carriage Works. Since then they have taken their own journeys but remained in touch are now looking forward to working together again as partners. 

During the podcast we spoke about the concept for the new restaurant but also some important industry topics such as VAT, team culture, training staff and how the industry is represented within Government. 

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Conor is a pub operator with three venues in Liverpool. He has been an active figure and defender of the hospitality industry throughout the COVID19 pandemic both locally and nationally. 

During the podcast, Conor talked us through some of the local challenges and opportunities that face the Liverpool region as well the pub industry in general. 

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Jamie Mcilhatton and Warren Norton are the founders of Wylde Coffee and Lateral. Both venues are based in the Wirral peninsula and bring something new to their respective locations of Heswall and West Kirby.   

The pair are focussed on bringing sustainable, speciality coffee and great hospitality to the Wirral. They are considerate and thoughtful operators who care about the industry and promote a positive culture within their businesses.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Chris Edwards is the Co-Founder and Operator of Madre and Belzan, both in Liverpool. Before that he Co-Founded Filter & Fox and Volpi, both firm favourites in the Liverpool Ropewalks district. 

During the podcast Chris talks us through his journey so far in hospitality but we also discuss some pressing issues facing the industry right now, such as staffing, culture and using a business to make a difference to the lives of others. 

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

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Simon Thompson is the Owner and Operator of Present Company cocktail bar in Liverpool City centre and he has recently opened the Longshot sports bar at the Albert Dock in Liverpool. 

This is Simon's second time on the podcast. He featured on episode #9 of the show in June 2020 right in the middle of the first COVID19 lockdown. At that time Simon was creating and delivering cocktail packs into peoples homes via Present Company.

The world has moved on significantly since then. During this podcast episode, Simon updates us on what the last 12 months has been like for him and his business and he talks us through his second venture 'The Longshot' in detail including the concept, the difference between a bar and a pub and what the future holds for the brand.

An Hour With An Indie is created by Pilla - the app where retail and hospitality work happens.

Scheduling shifts is just the start - Pilla's automation and work templates make sure teams get the right work done, at the right time, in the right way.

Try Free