Northern Restaurant and Bar (NRB), the leading trade show for the North’s hospitality industry, is set to deliver a culinary spectacle with an exclusive interview with acclaimed chefs Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes at NRB 2024.
As a pioneer of the farm-to-fork movement in the UK, and founder of Umbel Restaurants, Simon Rogan will be joined by Tom Barnes, the former executive chef at three Michelin-starred L’Enclume and one Michelin-starred Rogan & Co, Henrock, and Home by Simon Rogan, for the opening event at NRB’s Keynote Theatre.
The interview on March 13th at Manchester Central promises to be a landmark event as Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes take the stage for an in-depth and exclusive interview, delving into their extraordinary lives and careers. Hospitality, Marketing and Experience Consultant, Lucy Noone-Blake, founder of Pear, will be hosting the interview.
Under the UMBEL Restaurants umbrella, Simon and his team have introduced a groundbreaking division aimed at empowering their chefs to open their own restaurants, breaking barriers and reshaping the culinary landscape. The first restaurant will see Tom Barnes open Skof in spring 2024, a 36-cover haven in the NOMA neighbourhood of Manchester city centre, seeking to redefine dining experiences with deceptively simple yet technique-laden menus that champion locally sourced ingredients.
Manchester has been chosen as the inaugural location for this initiative, highlighting a significant milestone for Northern hospitality. Simon Rogan’s trust in Tom Barnes as the torchbearer for this initiative underscores the city’s role in shaping the future of culinary excellence.
Barnes’ vision for an unpretentious yet ambitious dining restaurant in the North is poised to captivate gastronomes and elevate Manchester’s status on the global culinary map. Skof will be owned and operated by Tom but will form part of the next iteration of UMBEL Restaurants, where the group will support talented individuals in opening their own restaurants and businesses.
Simon Rogan, chef/owner of UMBEL Restaurants, commented on the new initiative and launch of Skof with Tom Barnes: “It’s moments like these that make me so happy, and it’s so special to be able to help a chef who has worked with me for so long go on to realise his dreams. I’m so proud of Tom and everything he has accomplished. We’ve been working towards this moment for a while now, and I can’t wait for him to be able to show the world what he can do. He is a seriously talented chef, so I know Skof is going to be amazing!”
On being involved with NRB, Tom Barnes said: “I’m delighted to be taking part in NRB ahead of our first restaurant opening in Manchester. The support of the industry here in the north is crucial to our success and we’re here to listen and learn from the other operators in the region as much as we are to speak about our journey.”
Siobhan Thompson, Event Manager for NRB24 said: “We are thrilled to announce an exclusive interview with Simon Rogan and Tom Barnes at NRB24. Their impactful strides in northern hospitality, particularly with Tom’s upcoming restaurant, make their presence at NRB24 not just fitting but essential. We feel honoured to serve as the stage for this extraordinary event, marking a significant moment in the culinary landscape.”
