The Big Table Group | About Us - The Big Table Group

About Us

The Big Table is one of the leading independent restaurant companies in the UK. We operate some of the most recognisable and loved restaurant brands to be found anywhere in the eating-out market, such as Bella Italia, Las Iguanas, Banana Tree, Frankie and Benny's, Chiquito, Cafe Rouge and Amalfi.

We operate over 230 restaurant sites in a variety of locations including leisure parks, shopping centres and high streets. We are a national business, with restaurants located across the country, from Inverness to Torquay, employing thousands of people and serving millions of meals each year.

At The Big Table Group we value diversity and inclusion as a core part of our business. We are proud to say that everyone is welcome at The Big Table. We ask everyone to be their individual selves and no matter what their background, race or gender, every person has an opportunity to grow and develop their careers here with us, and we place great importance on treating one another equally.

The group is owned by private equity firm Epiris, which is committed to supporting a strategy of creating exceptional dining experiences by investing in culture and people through an award-winning training and development programme.

Meet the Management Team

Alan Morgan

Chief Executive
Officer

Alan Morgan, previously CEO of GLH Hotels, joined us as CEO in April 2021. Alan brings with him a wealth of leadership experience gained across the hotel, leisure and hospitality industries.

Whilst at GLH he was responsible for all the departmental functions and setting the strategic agenda that will ensure future growth. Previous to GLH Alan was Managing Director of Rank PLC where he led the transformation of the retail business.

Mike Tye

Non-Executive
Chairman

Mike has more than 30 years board and leadership experience in the UK restaurant and eating & drinking out market. He is currently also chairman of private equity backed The Club Company & ARC Inspirations, as well as The Mindful Birth Group and charities The Fore and The Hospice of St Francis.

Mike is the former CEO of Spirit Group plc. Additionally, he has led Costa Coffee, David Lloyd Clubs & Premier Inn.

Adrian Walker

Chief Financial
Officer

Originally from Australia, Adrian’s first role was with KPMG. He subsequently held a number of roles in a range of multi-site leisure businesses including Odeon Cinemas, Virgin Active Health Clubs and Vodafone stores.

Prior to joining The Big Table, Adrian was CFO of Pizza Hut Restaurants and was part of the team that delivered the turnaround of the business and an exit for Rutland Partners at four times their investment.

Adrian joined the Big Table team in November 2019.

John Baker

Managing Director
Bella Italia

John joined BTG in November 2022 and brings a wealth of leadership experience across hospitality and retail. His previous roles have included Chief Operating Officer for Krispy Kreme, and Operations Director with Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate.

John started his career with Allied Domecq and has held senior roles at Mitchells & Butlers, Pizza Hut, and Debenhams.

Debbie Husband

Managing Director
Leisure Division

Debbie joined Travelodge Hotels in 2004 as a Flagship General Manager and over the course of her 12-year tenure, she worked as a General Manager, Regional Director (North, London and South), Director of Service Quality and latterly Operations Director for over 540 hotels reporting directly to the Chief Executive.

In 2017 Debbie made the move from hotels to the UK Casino business, working for the UK’s largest Casino chain first as the UK Director of Operations across 52-Casinos before being promoted to Managing Director for Grosvenor Casinos. For the last 2-years of her tenure, Debbie was an active member of the Rank Group Executive Team.

Debbie joined the Big Table Group in October 2024 as Managing Director for the Leisure Division.

Kate Wilton

Managing Director
Banana Tree

Kate joined the Big Table Group in January 2024 having led the Slug and Lettuce brand for Stonegate Group for nine years.

A highly experienced operational brand leader, Kate has held roles in a variety of brands in Laurel, Spirit Pub Company and Whitbread.

In 2020 she qualified as an ICF Accredited Business and Personal Coach having completed the Barefoot Coaching program.

Sarah Pope

Chief Information
Officer

Sarah oversees all Information Technology areas for the group, with a focus on digital advancements, data and improving technical services and process efficiencies.

Sarah joined the group in June 2019 with over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, having previously worked with hotel brands such as Ramada Jarvis, Mercure, Thistle, Amba and the launch of the Hard Rock Hotel London. Sarah also worked in British Tennis, leading the Technology roadmap for the Lawn Tennis Association and helped drive the digital agenda in a multifaceted sports consumer organisation.

Matthew Ainger

Group Property
Director

Matt is a chartered surveyor with over 20 years-experience in the leisure and hospitality industry.

He began his career at Scottish & Newcastle plc before taking up senior roles in portfolio management at Spirit Group and Punch Taverns, with responsibility for over 500 sites in London and the south-east before joining the The Big Table Group in 2008 to head up the estates team.

His role covers property acquisitions for all brands, together with development, facilities management and estate management responsibilities.

Simon Galkoff

Procurement & Supply Chain
Director

Simon oversees Procurement, Supply Chain and Food Technology across all The Big Table Group's brands.

He previously worked in the Supermarket, Oil & Gas and Foodservice industry, with experience in Operations, Marketing, Buying, Category Management, Quality & Innovation and Strategy.

Prior to joining The Big Table Group he held a number of senior management roles at Sainsbury’s, BP International, Whitbread and Morrisons.

Simon is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.