Each week, Caterer catches up with the movers and shakers of the hospitality industry in our Minute on the Clock interview.
Each provides a snapshot into the life of the people who are making the news at home and abroad– whether it is the UK’s youngest concierge, the latest Michelin-star winner, or the people feeding the homeless or the famous.
From chefs, restaurateurs and contract caterers to publicans and hoteliers, we chat to the people of our industry about what they are up to.
The string of interviews also embraces other key players including restaurant critics, members of trade organisations, food festival founders – even London’s food tsar.
Below is a round-up of our Minute on the Clock interviews this year, as well as a selection from our archives.
A MINUTE ON THE CLOCK - 2009
Howard Ebison, winner of The Apprentice and manager of No. 1 Lounges
Beverley Baker, head of commercial services at Surrey County Council and chairman of LACA.
Steve Groves, junior sous chef at D&D London’s Launcestone Place restaurant and this year’s winner of MasterChef: The Professionals
Terry Wright, head of Compass Group’s Eurest Services London RBoS contract
Thomasina Miers, co-owner of Mexican restaurant group Wahaca
Ruth Watson, co-proprietor of the Crown and Castle in Orford, Suffolk, and presenter of two BBC hotel-focused series
Darcy Willson-Rymer, managing director of Starbucks UK and Ireland
Adam Smith, sous chef at the Ritz in London
Paul Tchen, general manager of the Peninsula Shangai hotel
Patrick Browne, chief executive of the Scottish Beer and Pub Association
Heston Blumenthal, three-Michelin-starred chef-proprietor of the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire
Simon Blagden, managing director of Jamie Oliver’s high-street restaurant chain, Jamie’s Italian
Carol Savage, founder of MyDish.co.uk, a social networking site for food lovers
David McHattie, chief executive of the National Skills Academy for Hospitality
Paul Merrett, co-owner and head chef of the Victoria in Sheen, south-west London
Adam Freeth, founder of bar consultancy and cocktail school Shaker
Billy Hastings, founder and owner of Northern Ireland hotel chain, Hastings Hotels
Charles Boyd, chief executive of Chester Boyd and newly-formed Hamilton Boyd
Silla Bjerrum, co-founder of London-based sushi group Feng Sushi
Carlo Cracco, chef-restaurateur of Milan’s two-Michelin-starred Ristorante Cracco
Bruce Poole, chef-patron of Chez Bruce in London and chair of the judges of the Young Chef Young Waiter competition
Nick Gratwick, senior operations manager at Compass Group-owned Keith Prowse, the corporate hospitality provider to Wimbledon >>
Dave Meneer, chief executive of the Jamie-Oliver backed Fifteen Cornwall >>
Duncan Sambrook, director of Sambrook's Brewery in Battersea >>
Michele English, pub owner and winner of Raymond Blanc’s The Restaurant last year >>
Nate Appleman, executive chef and co-owner of San Francisco's A16 and SPQR restaurants >>
James Hoffmann, champion barista and owner of wholesaler Square Mile Coffee Roasters >>
James Stewart, general manager, Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in Wiltshire >>
Ashley de Safrin, business adviser, hospitality sector, for London's Business Link >>
Jason Atherton, chef-director at Maze in London and South Africa >>
Jonathan Howell, Michelin-starred head chef at Le Canard in Oslo >>
Maria Elia, Vacherin’s head chef at the Gallery Dining Room at the Whitechapel Gallery in London >>
Gerard Sintes, general manager, One&Only resort, Cape Town >>
Rupert Sturgeon, general manager of Exclusive Hotels' South Lodge hotel near Horsham, West Sussex >>
Colin Prentice, support services manager at Eurest Services’ unit feeding the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont >>
Sue Williams, general manager, Bath Priory hotel >>
Mike Sunley, managing director, Lexington Catering >>
Rupert Ellwood, managing director, Vinopolis >>
Peter Kay, consultant to the drug- and alcohol-abuse charity, the Ark Foundation >>
Simon Elliot, co-founder of caterer Gold and Brown >>
Brian Turner, celebrity chef and judge at the 2009 Bocuse d'Or competition >>
Fernando Trocca, executive chef of steak restaurant chain Gaucho >>
Charita Jones, owner of Brighton restaurant Momma Cherri's Soul Food Shack >>
Simon Wright, author and co owner of Y Polyn gastropub in Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire >>
Chris Staines, head chef at the Michelin-starred Foliage restaurant in London's Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park >>
A MINUTE ON THE CLOCK - 2008
Eric Chavot, head chef at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant in London's Capital hotel >>
David Moore, owner of London's two-Michelin-starred Pied à Terre and its sister restaurant L'Autre Pied >>
Thierry Laborde, owner of London’s The Kitchen restaurant >>
Paul Gayler executive chef at London's Lanesborough hotel >>
A MINUTE ON THE CLOCK - 2007
Duncan Ackery, food and beverage director at hotel group De Vere >>
Joe Levin managing director of the Capital Group of hotels and restaurants >>
A MINUTE ON THE CLOCK- 2006
Wayne Munnelly, Travelodge's new sleep director >>
Chad Fox, guest services manager at the Fairmont Chateau skiing resort in Whistler, Canada >>
Chris Meredith, Michelin-starred chef at Gilpin Lodge hotel >>
Imogen Edwards-Jones, author of Hotel Babylon >>
Pierre-Louis Renou, executive assistant manager of food and beverage at London's Sofitel hotel in St James's >>
Harry Murray Harry Murray, managing director of Lucknam Park hotel in Wiltshire >>
A MINUTE ON THE CLOCK - 2005
James Martin, celebrity chef and Strictly Come Dancing star >>
Alberto Crisci, catering manager at High Down Prison >>
Mark Woollard, ex-chef and funeral director and Christmas volunteer at homeless charity Crisis >>
Katie O'Brien, joint partner with chef Paul Kitching in the Michelin-starred Juniper in Altrincham >>
Johnny Sandelson, founder of GuestInvest >>
Adam Simmonds, head chef at Ynyshir Hall in Wales >>
Giles Coren, The Times restaurant critic >>
Una Smyth, C assistant front office manager at the Hastings Slieve Donard hotel in Newcastle and 2005 RAC Hotels' People's Award for Receptionist of the Year >>
Juliet Harbutt , founder of the British Cheese Festival >>
Jason Atherton, head chef of London's new Maze restaurant >>
Julien Foussadier, cigar aficionado and head barman at the Tunbridge Wells Hotel du Vin, >>
Andy Cook, head chef of Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in Tokyo's Conrad hotel >>
Alexia Robinson, organiser of the British Food Fortnight >>
Claudia Manser, 16-year-old concierge at London's Four Seasons hotel >>
Simon Hopkinson, former Bibendum chef and cookery book author >>
Pontus Frithiof, restaurant owner in Stockholm that is branching out into hotel banqueting >>
Steven Doherty, restaurateur and chairman of the Ramsay Scholar judges' panel >>
Elizabeth Gradidge, Scottish landlady who has been named the best in the country by the AA >>
Martin Rawlings, director of pub and leisure, British Beer and Pub Association >>
Kevin McKay, new chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association (LACA) >>
Daniel Clifford, head chef at two-Michelin-starred Midsummer House in Cambridge >>
Rainer Becker, executive chef at London's Zuma and Roka restaurants >>