Wrexham Business School caught up with Paul Askew on Hospitality, Craft and the Fight for the Future of Food
Chef Patron of The Art School | North Wales & Chester Food Festival
In conversation with Wrexham Business School Hospitality has always demanded long hours, resilience and passion but rarely has the sector faced such sustained pressure. At the North Wales and Chester Food Festival, renowned chef and restaurateur Paul Askew, Chef Patron of The Art School, shared a candid and deeply personal reflection on leadership, training, sustainability and what it will take to secure the future of food and hospitality.
Paul’s approach to leadership is rooted in example, discipline and responsibility. 'If I want someone to work 50, 60 or 70 hours with me, I’ll be doing it alongside them.' Influenced by a Merchant Navy upbringing and the teamwork forged on the rugby field, Paul sees hospitality leadership as a test of stamina and character. In kitchens, decisions are immediate and consequences real. For Paul, excellence is non negotiable. Every dish is personal, a piece of me on every plate, reflecting not only technical skill, but pride in culture, produce and place. This commitment to quality mirrors Wales’ rich food heritage and Wrexham Business School’s emphasis on values driven leadership under pressure.
Entrepreneurship in an Unforgiving Climate
Opening or growing a hospitality business in 2026, Paul admits, demands conviction and courage. 'If someone asked me now whether they should open a restaurant, they’d think you were insane, and that tells you how committed we are to this industry.' Rising labour costs, increased taxation, squeezed margins and declining disposable income have reshaped the operating environment. Yet Paul’s biggest concern is cultural rather than financial. Despite this, retreat has never been an option. Paul has diversified income streams, created partnerships, hosted events and embraced community engagement fighting not for excessive profit, but simply to survive. This reality underscores the need for business literate hospitality leaders, exactly the type Wrexham Business School seeks to develop.
Hospitality Is a Profession
Paul speaks openly about the long standing perception of hospitality. In many ways, hospitality reflects Welsh cultural values: mastery of craft, stewardship of local resources, and pride in doing things properly. While celebrity culture has elevated visibility, it has also reinforced damaging stereotypes, making professionalism, education and early exposure more important than ever.
Hospitality as a Human Industry in a Digital Age
As automation advances across industries, Paul remains fiercely protective of hospitality’s human core. 'We are analogue businesses in a digital world and that’s why people love us.'
Having experienced fully automated dining environments abroad, Paul describes the absence of human interaction as deeply unsettling. 'People don’t want to talk to machines when they’re being looked after.' Technology has a role, but hospitality’s future depends on safeguarding what cannot be replicated such as warmth, care, storytelling and connection which are values central to Welsh culture and to the social mission of hospitality.
Looking Ahead: Resilience, Advocacy and Hope
Approaching 60, with 45 years in the industry, Paul reflects with both pride and frustration. He is proud of the teams he employs, the people he mentors and the communities he serves yet still frustrated by a system that makes sustainability feel like survival.
However, his strength and commitments comes through his message to future hospitality leaders remains hopeful 'If you’re creative, selfless, resilient and you love what you do you can still have a wonderful career.” Hospitality, Paul says, is about giving , much like the NHS, but through food and drink. It is fundamental to wellbeing, culture and community.
And that is why it is worth fighting for.
Looking Ahead in Hospitality
Paul Askew’s perspective speaks powerfully to the mission of Wrexham Business School, where we believe that high quality education should be rooted in real world practice, cultural understanding and community connection. Our commitment is not only to deliver rigorous, applied learning experiences that prepare students for the realities of leadership and entrepreneurship, but also to champion sectors, like hospitality, that sit at the heart of Welsh identity, wellbeing and economy. Hospitality reflects the spirit of Wales: generosity, creativity, resilience and place based pride. At a time when the industry faces unprecedented challenges, Wrexham Business School is proud to stand alongside practitioners, employers and educators to support skills development, talent retention and sustainable growth. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the hospitality industry in Wales and beyond fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and helping ensure that this vital sector continues to thrive, serve its communities and pass its craft and culture on to future generations.