There was great anticipation surrounding the 2015 edition of the Hospitality Show, which was pitched as a celebration of the ‘best of British’. Visitors came in their droves from across the UK to experience the host of new products and attractions on offer, contributing to a significant 20% rise in attendance compared with previous years.

From the Business Briefing Stage – which played host to a number of big industry names – to the unveiling of the first-ever Star Product Awards winner and the live Staff Canteen with its line-up of leading chefs, there was certainly not a lack of activity over the three-day duration of the show.

Show highlights included Orderella’s revolutionary smartphone app being crowned as the best new product in hospitality, and Gram UK scooping the online People’s Choice gong for its SUPERIORPLUS 72 refrigeration cabinet, both part of the show’s Star Product Awards Top Ten.

When they weren’t addressing a packed Business Briefing Stage or HOSPACE Hub, the Hospitality Show’s band of over 35 business mentors – including celebrated chef and restaurateur, Andreas Antona; head of innovation for Coup de Pates, Neville Moon; entrepreneur Martin Williams; and social media guru, Karen Fewell, were helping show visitors address business challenges in free one-to-one mentoring sessions.

“To our incredible exhibitors, inspirational speakers, mentors, competing chefs and, of course, our visitors who came out en masse in a huge show of support, a massive thank you from myself and the team for making the 2015 show such a runaway success,” says MD of show organiser, Fresh Montgomery, Toby Wand.

“We began with the remit of showcasing the best of British hospitality and feel we have, with the industry’s support, been able to deliver just that – a show to help kick-start the new business year into life.”