Leiths Food Solutions

David Lancaster, Chris Barber, Caroline Waldegrave and Christopher Bland

Chris Barber is a chef and consultant who spent eight years as personal cook to HRH The Prince of Wales, and David Lancaster is a writer and publishing professional. Chris and David have spent many years consulting and working on various projects.

Their projects include:

• Evaluating restaurant/hotel opportunities for would-be purchasers
• Devising and implementing management systems
• Monitoring and improving finance and cost control
• Plotting future strategy for larger companies
• Writing tender documents for high profile opportunities
• Fund-raising for start-ups or business development
• One-to-one start-up advice to new businesses
• Recruiting chefs and management teams
• Coaching and advising Michelin-starred chefs on business opportunities
• Training kitchen and front-of-house staff
• Designing and installing kitchens and equipment
• Fact finding, research and industry reports
• Liaising with media and PR partners
• Product development
• Critiquing cooking, menus and wine lists
• Writing copy for in-house and marketing material
• Ghost-writing for chefs and restaurateurs
• Scripting and tutoring for TV and radio work
• Successful exit strategies and business disposals

Their range of skills and experience extends from running a Michelin-starred gastro-pub and award-winning hotel with two restaurants, through holding a director-level position at one of the country’s most successful private restaurant groups, to launching the trade magazine Restaurant and its highly successful sister operation The World’s Top 50 Restaurants Awards.