In Episode 21 of the Kith & Kin podcast episode, Gareth Hazard and Alex Munford share their journeys through the hospitality industry, highlighting themes of courage, growth, and connection. Gareth reflects on the bravery of walking away from misaligned ventures, while Alex explores how chasing titles led him to rethink leadership. Together, they’ve founded Why Hospitality, a business dedicated to supporting the industry through training, resources, and community. Their stories remind us that hospitality thrives on nurturing teams, learning from mistakes, and creating meaningful connections. It’s a call to embrace resilience, lead with heart, and build a stronger future for hospitality.
Why Hospitality Feels Like Home
Hospitality is more than just an industry; it’s where many of us first learned to thrive. It’s a place where every role matters, from entry-level to leadership, and where teamwork is key to delivering exceptional customer experiences. For young people, it’s often the first taste of belonging—a family that values effort and care. It teaches responsibility, discipline, and the joy of serving others. Hospitality gives us purpose: knowing a simple act, like a smile or kind word, can transform someone’s day. Yes, it’s challenging, but for those who love it, the rewards—connection, growth, and purpose—make it all worthwhile.
The Pub Tie: A Double-Edged Sword and J Mark Dodds’ Fight for Change
The pub tie is both a cornerstone and a challenge in the British pub industry. For some publicans, it offers support, resources, and a stepping stone into the trade. For others, it becomes a financial burden, with high rents and inflated supply costs making profitability almost impossible. J Mark Dodds, a long-time advocate for publicans, knows this struggle all too well. Despite running The Sun and Doves, an award-winning pub in London, Mark faced immense pressure under his tied lease, culminating in eviction. Determined to make a difference, he co-founded the Fair Pint Campaign, which contributed to the 2016 Pub Code. While the code introduced protections, it left many systemic issues unresolved. Now, through the People’s Pub Partnership, Mark envisions a fairer, sustainable future for pubs—one where investment in communities and local sourcing restores pubs to their rightful place at the heart of British life.
Stop Underestimating Small Businesses: What Really Makes My Blood Boil
As a small business owner in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, there's one thing that still makes my blood boil—the assumption that small businesses need the expertise of big corporate CEOs to succeed. While larger companies have their strengths, small business owners are constantly innovating, learning on the job, and building deep customer relationships. We don’t have vast resources or teams of specialists, but we do have creativity, resilience, and a sense of purpose that drives us forward. Small business entrepreneurs are scrappy because we have to be, finding solutions with limited resources and pushing boundaries through experimentation. It’s time to recognize that the real innovation and exciting talent in the hospitality industry often come from these small operators, not the corporate boardroom. At Kith & Kin, we celebrate this scrappiness and provide a space where hospitality professionals can come together, share ideas, and support each other.
