PODCAST SEASON 2 - EP 2 - ALEX REILLEY, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF LOUNGERS
I’m in Soho Radio today to run through some sessions, including a real star today who is Alex Reilley, the Chairman of Loungers and Cosy Club. I am really chuffed that Alex agreed to come on the podcast… he doesn’t do a lot of these things but he can offer such a masterclass. From starting from not much at all with some hospitality experience in the ops side of things, and then taking a chance and putting everything on the line to launch Lounge (as it was back then in Bristol) and growing it to 165 different independent feeling outlets. Alex and the team have really carved out what all-day casual dining could be and also some more formal, premium businesses in the Cosy Club. It’s really incredible talking to Alex and it’s so hard from the outside to try and figure out how these people do it… how they grow great businesses with great people, quality products and also that there is a whole world of business outside of the M25. We can be blinkered sometimes that London is everything, but Alex and all of his team have proved that the UK has a lot of love to give for the right offer, in the right place, at the right time for the right value.