Charlie Gilkes on the Inception Group being named one of Britain’s 1,000 most inspiring companies
Gilkes said he was "honoured" to appear on the list of 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2016, which is put together by the Daily Telegraph and London's Stock Exchange, and added it was great to see smaller food and drink-led businesses get the recognition they deserve.
He said the Inception Group's second Bunga Bunga site, a pizza and cocktail concept, was its biggest challenge for 2016, describing it as a "mammoth project". He said: "It's the largest site we've ever had, the highest premium we've paid and will have the most staff." The group is also concentrating on more London sites for its Mr Fogg's concept.
Making "every trading window pay" is the trick to making sites with sky-high rent successful, Gilkes said. "For example, at Mr Fogg's Tavern we've introduced afternoon teas and gin safaris all days of the week. It's about making sure that every moment you're open, you're sweating your assets."
He added that finding the right sites in the crowded and increasingly expensive London market is still a challenge. "In 2009, when we opened our business in the height of the recession, we could have picked up sites for half of what they're going for now. We've just lost out in a great site in Marylebone because our competitor was willing to pay twice the rent we were - in London you're up against international, as well as national operators."
However, he stressed that there are still opportunities for multiple-site operators in the capital, although admittedly it's for those with some cash to spend. There are still sensible landlords focusing on creating a good mix of food and drinks offers, Gilkes said, and operators must prepared to see the advantages in unusual or difficult sites.
