Oliver Peyton is an energetic, knowledgeable, and engaging entrepreneur, non-executive director, broadcaster, and writer. He has extensive experience in the worlds of catering, fine dining, real, and television, and has a track record of innovation, creating concepts that have shaped the way we eat and drink in the UK.

ENTREPRENEUR

Over the years, Oliver has created a number of businesses, within the catering and hospitality industries. In the 80’s, he opened two nightclubs, The Can in Brighton, and Raw in London. By the 90’s, he had moved into restaurants, opening the Atlantic Bar & Grill in 1994 and Coast in 1995. These were followed by Mash & Air in Manchester, and a second branch in London, as well as Isola in Knightsbridge in 1999.

The arrival of the noughties didn’t stop Oliver, and he opened Admiralty in 2002, and Inn the Park in 2004. In 2005, The Peyton & Byrne opened a number of restaurants in establishments such as the National Dining Room and National Café at the National Gallery, a café at the Wellcome Collection, and the Wallace restaurant at the Wallace Collection.

Through Peyton & Byrne, his wholesale bakery business – Peyton And Byrne Bakeries – was supplying to top hotels and the Eurostar train, and he even founded the Peyton Events party business. Peyton & Byrne was bought by Sodexo in 2016, with Peyton staying on as Creative Director.

In 2019, Oliver founded a modern funeral business called Exit Here, which looks at changing the perceptions of traditional funerals and learning to celebrate life in every service. In 2021, he launched the premium canned cocktail business Unknown Pleasures.

TV

As well as his busy resteraunt and business work, Oliver has appeared in a number of television shows. He is best known for being one of the judges on Great British Menu (2006-2021), alongside Matthew Fort, and Dame Prue Leith. He also presented Eating Art, where he travelled across Europe and North America to discover the history’s most prolific food artists.

He has also appeared on Saturday Kitchen (2018), Top Gear (2016), Food & Drink (2013-15), Loose Women (2013), Recipe For Success (2012), The Apprentice: You’re Fired (2010), and Breakfast (2006-08). In 2018, he teamed up with his sister-in-law Alex Polizzi on a new show for Channel 5 called Peyton and Polizzi’s Restaurant Rescue.

WRITING

To date, Oliver has published two cookbooks:

– The National Cookbook: Recipes From the National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery (2009)

– British Baking (2011)

He also contributes columns to national publications, including GQ Magazine.

CORPORATE

Oliver is an engaging well-read speaker who can air his opinion with a proven track record in the culinary industry behind him.

Clients: British Airways, Pernod Ricard, Sodexo, Virgin.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book culinary & hospitality expert speaker Oliver Peyton for your next live event or corporate video.

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