“Our mission is to improve the financial performance of hospitality businesses by embedding within them best in class operational and commercial systems and processes.”
Our Story
Mike Lucy, founder of Company of Cooks, transformed the hospitality industry in London by creating exceptional dining experiences at iconic venues. His innovative engine room methodology, which finds the right balance between profitability and quality, was key to his success.
Now, through The Engine Room, we apply Mike’s proven approach to help other hospitality businesses thrive. Our way of working provides accurate performance data, enabling better decision-making, fostering innovation and improving profitability.
Learn more about how, by applying this proven method, The Engine Room aims to drive your business forward by maintaining excellence and profitability.
Andrew Lovell - Managing Partner
Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, Andrew has gained knowledge and experience that he has been used to consistently deliver improvements of both sales and profitability. This has been achieved across a range of hospitality business ranging from turnover of £200k to £75m.
Having worked not just in commercial and finance roles, but spending years in Operational roles, has enabled Andrew to develop a keen appreciation of the balance needed in the relationship of all areas of a business to come together to ensure success.
“I enjoy working with passionate business owners to help realise their dream.”
Jenny Hunt - Partner Business Development
With over two decades of experience in operational roles, Jenny has been responsible for some impressive operations such as the hospitality department at Sadlers Wells Theatre – two site with busy bars, restaurants and events with Digby Trout Restaurants. She then began specialising in events, moving to Company of Cooks, she was part of the centralisation of events carrying a senior role in selling and delivering exclusive dinners and weddings across heritage, performance, and parks such as Southbank Centre, Royal Opera House, Chiswick House, Kenwood House, Regents Park and National Portrait Gallery streamlining the event process to ensure quality and efficacy. As part of several tenders and start-ups such as at The Royal Academy has given her invaluable insight into implementation of concepts, models and systems. She was also trusted to drive food initiatives for partners festivals inventing pop-up concepts to suit the magnitude and creativity of the venues whilst still driving profit. Over this last decade she has been Director of her own events and performance company.
Maria Manzo - Partner Commercial Operations
Developing numerous skills over her 20 year career, Maria has utilised these to understand and improve the commercial performance of bars, restaurants, cafes and mobilisation of new business development opportunities.
Maria has an excellent understanding on sales drivers, customer behaviour and cost controls which have enabled her to improve business profitability with informed decision making.
Maria’s well-rounded knowledge of the industry has enabled her and her husband to set up their own wine bar…Jerome’s Wine Bar. The bar has successfully been trading since October 2019 and despite the pandemic, the business has continued to thrive through the various levels of restrictions. This has been accomplished by adjusting the trading model to meet the needs of the market and adopting new technology to streamline costs and application of time.
“I really enjoy the relationships we build with our Partners and developing their business to be more successful”
Experts to help
A vital component to any business development is the People involved.
The Engine Room is able to utilise the skills and knowledge of some exceptional individuals that are able to offer specialist or generalist support to any of our Partners. Having spent their working lives in the Hospitality industry, they are best placed to support your needs.
Is there a piece of project work to be completed, ongoing support or some advice needed? Utilising the framework of THE ENGINE ROOM, we are confident that if there is a business development opportunity, we will be able to support with the help you need.
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If you would like to talk about how The Engine Room can help your hospitality business, please get in touch for a no-obligation chat.
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