The London-based show will join UK Food & Drink Shows that encompasses Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show, and The Forecourt Show, enhancing the UK’s largest food and drink event, which will be held at the NEC Birmingham in April 2024 from 29 April – 1 May.
Supported by William Reed’s portfolio of media publications, the industry renowned UK Food & Drink Shows already deliver more than 1,200 exhibitors to a highly engaged visitor base of food and drink professionals and are viewed as the go-to events for the entire UK food & drink supply chain.
In 2023, The Restaurant Show made significant investments to deliver a world-class content programme, with dedicated areas for restaurant trends, bar and drinks insight and chef mentoring sessions. Speakers included Gareth Ward, Cyrus Todiwala, Tommy Banks, Michael O’Hare, Sacha Lord, and Sally Abé.
2024 will see the same investments and more, as The Restaurant Show moves to a national scale in the centre of the UK.
“London has been a great home for The Restaurant Show, however the UK needs a national show that is representative of the entire industry. This has been in the making for some time, as we continue to grow the hospitality audience at the UK Food & Drink Shows. With 30% of our existing audience in Birmingham operating in hospitality, the timing is right to build on the UK’s largest food and drink event," says Andrew Reed, managing director – wine and exhibitions at William Reed.
“We remain as committed as ever to providing the hospitality industry with the content, education and inspiration that will help them thrive. The UK Food & Drink Shows provide the perfect platform to achieve this, offering visitors and exhibitors the platform to engage with a wider pool of business opportunities and gain inspiration from adjacent sectors.”
William Reed retains a strong footprint in the capital through its hospitality events portfolio, consisting of 36 events, 21 of which are in the London, including The Publican Awards, The Restaurant Conference, The Pub Conference and National Restaurant Awards.