Hospitality Consultants
Sometimes we speak to business owners looking for a restaurant marketing agency when it’s clear they are having problems operationally. In those cases, we recommend they get those issues fixed first before seeking new customers.
Hospitality Consultants can help with profitability and making restaurants leaner and better run. Here are some of the best in the UK who help transform restaurants, bars, hotels, and F&B brands.
Lumière Consultancy
Located in London and led by industry veteran Ben Floyd, Lumière delivers end-to-end restaurant and hospitality consulting. They offer concept development, menu engineering, chef training, operational layout, kitchen design, and business development. Their hands-on, adaptive approach ensures clients - from emerging eateries to established brands - thrive with operational clarity and elevated dining experiences, from fine dining to QSR concepts.
Digby + Fox
A collective of consultants, strategists, and designers, Digby + Fox champions commercially impactful hospitality built with creative depth and led by hugely experienced Gary Digby. They’ve designed everything from Scotland’s Blend Family food halls to upscale hospitality spaces like Coppa Club, RH venues, Beef + Liberty in Hong Kong, and SSP outlets. Their services span brand strategy, F&B consulting, operations, guest experience, and space design - perfect for brands that want to “build hospitality that wins commercially and excites creatively.”
Think Hospitality
A global consultancy with teams based in the UK, USA, UAE, Estonia & Denmark. They specialise in strategy & growth, market insight, concept development, brand strategy, international expansion, and asset optimisation for food, beverage, and leisure brands. Their clientele includes hoteliers, developers, investors, and F&B operators looking to scale, pivot, or internationalise with precision.
Forest & Green
Based in London, Forest & Green blends hospitality operations, procurement, concept design, and sponsorship strategy with sharp commercial insight. Managing Director Etienne Pansegrauw, with over 20 years in the industry, has helped clients like Mothership Group streamline systems, optimise supply chains, and drive efficiency - positioning brands for consistent delivery and profitability.
Insight Hospitality
Founded by veterans Des McDonald and Olivier Lavigne du Cadet, Insight Hospitality delivers a full-service plan for hotels, restaurants, and bars crafted across Europe, the US, Asia, and the Middle East. Services include concept creation, brand development, interior design, menu engineering, PR, marketing, staff training, cost control, and operational standards - offering a complete, strategic transformation from vision through execution.
Harris Restaurant Consultants
A trusted partner for independent hospitality operators, Harris Restaurant Consultants specialises in menu development, concept design, financial forecasting, operational audits, and staff training. Their practical, hands-on approach helps cafés, hotels, and restaurants rethink operations and elevate guest experience - backed by no-nonsense advice and industry depth.
Egg Soldiers
Awarded “Best Restaurant & Hospitality Consultancy 2024,” Egg Soldiers is renowned for new concept development, menu innovation, operational audits, brand design, and trend foresight. Their “Insights Lab” offers bespoke workshops, food safaris, and Gen Z trend immersion. Clients include EL&N London, Côte, Loungers, and Chilango - seeking bold, food-forward identities and seamless food operations. Led by ex Fat Duck chef Stefan Cosser.
Maya Hospitality
A luxury-first hospitality agency based in London, Maya delivers consultancy, branding, and experiential activations for premium hotels, bars, restaurants, and cocktail concepts. With over four decades of collective experience across experimental bars, Michelin-starred venues, members’ clubs, and hotel brands, they craft memorable, high-end experiences designed to elevate brand presence and guest engagement.
Your Questions, Answered
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A hospitality consultant provides expert advice to restaurants, hotels, cafés, bars, and other food & beverage businesses. Their role can include concept development, menu design, operational strategy, branding, marketing, staff training, financial forecasting, and more — all tailored to help a business launch, grow, or improve.
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Hospitality consultants are ideal for:
Startups launching a new venue or concept
Established operators looking to refresh or rebrand
Struggling venues that need turnaround support
Businesses expanding into new locations or markets
Investors or landlords evaluating a hospitality project
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The main benefits include:
Expert guidance from professionals with industry experience
Avoiding costly mistakes during setup or growth
Improved profitability, customer experience, and team performance
Access to proven frameworks, supplier networks, and trend insights
A clear roadmap from vision to execution
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No. While many specialise in restaurants, most hospitality consultants work with a broad range of businesses — including hotels, bars, food halls, coffee shops, nightclubs, ghost kitchens, and multi-site chains.
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Fees vary depending on the scope and experience of the consultant. Some offer hourly or day rates (typically £300–£1,000+ per day), while others provide fixed packages or project-based pricing. Larger projects may also include monthly retainers or percentage-based fees.
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Look for a consultant whose experience matches your needs. Consider:
Their track record and client list
Industry focus (e.g. fine dining restaurants vs. hotels)
Their approach to branding, ops, or financials
Whether they offer hands-on support or strategic guidance only
Chemistry — you’ll likely work closely with them
We’ve worked in partnership with a few of the consultants listed above, get in contact if you’d like some personal recommendations based on your needs, positioning and concept.