Episode 71

A Dark Week in Hospitality

Listen: On spotify

Watch: On youtube

It’s been a tough week in hospitality. In this episode, we talk openly about the pressure many restaurant operators are facing right now — rising labour costs, tighter margins, supplier changes, and the growing pressure from the ATO on outstanding debts.

Running a venue has never been easy, but right now the room for mistakes is getting smaller.

Tony shares practical advice drawn from years of experience in the industry — from recognising early warning signs in your numbers to sitting down with your accountant, speaking to landlords and suppliers, and addressing problems before they spiral out of control.

The conversation also touches on why restaurants often close shortly after Christmas, the importance of cashflow management, and why ego can sometimes be the most expensive mistake in hospitality.

Along the way, Pete and Tony also talk about cocktail trends, why margaritas are everywhere right now, and the importance of listening to what your customers are actually buying.

This is a real conversation about the ups and downs of running restaurants — the wins, the mistakes, and the lessons learned along the way.

If you work in hospitality, run a venue, or are thinking about opening one, this episode is worth a listen.

And if you’re going through a tough patch in your business — talk to someone sooner rather than later.