The Hard Truth About Growing a Hospitality Business, with Josh Simons

Show Notes

On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren welcomes back Josh Simons, Co-Founder of Aviary Hospitality Group, the business behind Chicken & Blues, Flamingo Café Bars and Christchurch Music Festival.

Five years since Josh's first appearance, this conversation explores how both he and his approach to business have evolved. Josh shares the lessons learned from previous failures, the pressure of employing 180 people, and why experience has taught him to be more patient, more selective and less distracted by the next shiny opportunity.

They explore how Chicken & Blues has grown into a strong, profitable brand, why discounting can destroy long-term value, and how treating a team like a high-performance sports squad has transformed the business. Josh also discusses stepping back from day-to-day operations, building a complementary relationship with his co-founder, the economics currently facing hospitality businesses.

This is an honest conversation about maturity, patience, leadership and building businesses designed to stand the test of time.

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What The Episode Covers

How Josh has changed as a founder since his first podcast appearance in 2021

Why failure and personal challenges have changed his perspective on business

The growth of Aviary Hospitality Group and its 180-person team

Deciding whether scaling a business is worth the lifestyle trade-offs

How Chicken & Blues developed into a stronger, more profitable brand

Why Josh stopped relying heavily on discounts and promotions

Protecting what already works instead of constantly chasing new ideas

Treating employees like a high-performance sports team

Moving from founder-operator to strategic business owner

Why good managers need autonomy rather than founders interfering

Developing and retaining talent within hospitality

What Josh learned from previously trying to do everything himself

The structural challenges facing the UK restaurant industry

Acquiring and rejuvenating Christchurch Music Festival

Why patience has become one of Josh's biggest business lessons

Making three-to-five-year decisions instead of reacting to the next five days

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:07 How has Josh changed in five years?

05:00 What does losing it all teach you?

07:10 What's next for Aviary Hospitality Group?

09:11 How do you build a profitable brand?

14:25 Why stop chasing shiny new ideas?

15:18 How do you build a high-performance team?

17:54 How do founders step back from operations?

22:30 Why are complementary co-founders so important?

28:09 Why is the restaurant business so difficult?

33:01 Why buy Christchurch Music Festival?

38:18 What makes a risk worth taking?

41:39 What would Josh tell his younger self?

43:41 Does your business pass the five-year test?

45:16 What does success look like five years from now?