EMC and Close Brothers 5th Entrepreneurs’ Question Time

We are delighted to once again join with Close Brothers to invite you to another in our series of stimulating early evening talks and discussion with leading national business figures.

Our 4 previous Entrepreneurs’ Evenings have all been tremendously popular…and not just because they’re free! In each case our speakers have been people with enviable records of entrepreneurial achievement and business success who have provided guests with a great deal of food for thought.  This one will be no different, so we suggest you reserve your place(s) early.

Christian Arden is a seasoned operator of restaurants and bars. He began his career opening and subsequently selling two up-market restaurants in the 90’s. Following this success Christian founded the Po Na Na Group Plc, an AIM listed group of late night bars and clubs, which he led to forty sites, turnover of £35 million and underlying EBITDA of £5m. The business was severely affected by the 2003 reform of licensing laws in the UK, its core business and brand were subsequently sold to Eclectic Bars. The brand became synonymous with student life.
 
In 2008 Christian was recruited by the owners of the Chicago Rib Shack, Knightsbridge. Although popular, this restaurant was heavily loss making. Under Christian’s leadership the restaurant increased sales by 50% and moved to profit within 12 months. The heavy property costs (rent) meant that the site was not well- suited to the Rib Shack offering, and the site was eventually sold for a significant premium in 2012.  

In 2011/12 Christian and a few friendly investors raised £300,000 in seed funding to re-launch the brand in the growing world of Fast Casual Dining with its first site at Westfield Stratford. After this initial

success Chicago Rib Shack Ltd with the support of Rockpool raised £1.5 million of EIS funding. They now operates four sites, two in London, one in Southampton and one in Leeds with 3 more in the pipeline for the next 12 months.
 
Christian has also spent time on company and site restructuring, he owns Cavendish Bars which trades in Oxford, Brighton and London.

On

Thursday 20th November 2014

5.30pm – Registration
6.00pm – Introduction by Nik Askaroff
6:10pm – Talk begins
7.15pm – 8.00pm – Drinks and Canapés

Venue
Pub Du Vin, Brighton

RSVP by Friday 14th November to
Natasha Askaroff on natasha.askaroff@emcltd.co.uk
or on 01273 945984

This is a FREE event