Independent coaching inns operator, the Bulldog Hotel Group, has appointed a well known restaurateur and food and beverage specialist as Non-Executive Chairman.
The award-winning Group, which recently secured a £4.5m investment from the Business Growth Fund to support its planned £20 million expansion across England, has appointed Ed’s Easy Diner CEO and Frankie & Benny’s founder Andrew Guy, who brings more than 30 years’ experience operating pub, food and restaurant chains across Europe and the U.S.
“Food and beverage accounts for over 65% of our trade, so Andrew’s extensive experience with successful restaurant and pub-food groups in Europe and America, will add significant value to our board,” said Bulldog Finance Director, Edward Walsh. “We set out last year with a clear goal to be the best independent operator of coaching inns in the UK and Andrew’s appointment, alongside the investment from BGF, now provides us the platform to achieve this.”
Andrew Guy comments: “My career has been all about great restaurant brands and successful F&B operations, so I’m delighted to be joining a Group which clearly recognises the vital importance of that offer, both for tourists and local and business trade. I hope to be able to offer industry insights and advice to support Bulldog as it expands its high quality coaching inns operation across England.”
Andrew Guy is currently Chief Executive of Ed’s Easy Diner Holdings and has held CEO and senior board roles with Autogrill, Gourmet Holdings, City Centre Restaurants, My Kinda Town and 1776 Revolutionary Restaurants. His career in the F&B sector began with Berni Inns Group where he was a graduate trainee and Area Manager.
Awarded Caterer Magazine’s Group Restaurateur of the Year in 2003, Andrew is a Director and Life Fellow of the British Hospitality Association, where he chairs the Audit Committee. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and Trustee with hospitality industry charities Springboard and Hospitality Action.
Bulldog Hotel Group was recently named as one of the London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain – an annual celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK. The Boston-headquartered business operates eight hotels in Yorkshire, Leicester, Lincolnshire, Northampton, Gloucestershire, County Durham and Wales.
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