“If you don’t adapt, you’re dead.” – What does it actually take to build and keep a hospitality business alive?In this episode of CEO Corner, Noel Anderson—publican, industry advocate, and co-founder of Grand Slam Bars (The Bridge 1859, Lemon & Duke, and more)–joins Sarah McGrath with a masterclass in operator mindset:→ bouncing back from liquidation→ settling a TV3 defamation case→ bootstrapping Grafton Lounge, Lemon & Duke, The Bridge 1859→ and navigating policy shocks, energy costs, and shifting customer behaviourAll without losing sight of people, product, and profit.Noel shares his raw, unfiltered story of resilience: losing everything at 23, starting again with €60k, scaling iconic venues with rugby partners, battling insurers during COVID—and why cash flow and culture beat almost everything else.Key takeaways include: • Why cash flow is the lifeblood of any business • The power of resilience after failure and liquidation at 23 • Property strategy: owning vs leasing and how ownership compounds growth • Spotting & adapting to consumer trends • Building strong team culture: hiring fast, removing bad fits, and sharing equity • How Noel and his partners won a landmark COVID insurance case that benefited 1 in 7 Irish pubs • The pressures of rising government costs, energy prices, and city safety on the hospitality sector • The future of Irish pubs: fewer, smaller, more innovative, and more occasion-drivenMemorable moments: • “Cash flow is existential. Great ideas die without liquidity.” • “Rip the plaster off on bad hires—culture is too expensive to waste.” • “When things are good, don’t stir the hornet’s nest—pay down debt.” • “Adapt or decline: evolve menus, experiences, and service—constantly.”An unmissable conversation for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone building a business in a fast-changing world.If this episode helped you, please share it with a founder or operator who needs it, and leave a comment—it really helps the show grow!Subscribe for more leadership & operator playbooks.
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Connect With Us
Noel Anderson: /noel-anderson-a7a2bb42/ Sarah McGrath: /sarah-mcgrath/ _Sponsored by 360 Search — Your career, our expertise. www.360search.ie
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