S3 Ep2 Imperial Hotel, Great Yarmouth - Managing Director Nick Mobbs
Release Date: 07/14/2021
Navigating the Future of Tourism – with Steve Magnall, Adam Goymour and Philip Turner. Tourism Business Survey special
Tourism Business Chat
Recorded live on 12 June 2025 as part of the Tourism Business Survey results seminar, Chris Scargill hosted a panel conversation with Steve Magnall, MD of Two Magpies Bakery, Adam Goymour MD of Goymour Group, and Philip Turner, MD of Chestnut Group. The conversation explored the challenges and strategies faced by businesses in the tourism sector, particularly in relation to employment costs, consumer behavior, and economic pressures. The panel give personal insight into the importance of training and maintaining customer confidence while navigating pricing strategies. They also highlighting...
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Be the Destination: Insights from Philip Turner on Growth, Community, and Tourism
Tourism Business Chat
“If you can’t BE the destination, be the destination WITHIN the destination” so says Philip Turner, founder and owner of Chestnut Group, and keynote speaker the 2025 Larking Gowen Tourism Business Survey results seminar, held on 12 June in Norwich. If you missed being there on the day, let this special episode of Tourism Business Chat take you into the room where it happened, and hear Philip cover everything from his backstory, to his approach to growth and investment, staying as an East Anglian business, the importance of the relationship with your bank, the power hospitality holds in...
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Jimmy Doherty on tourism investment, customers & polar bears!
Tourism Business Chat
During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. One of them is a familiar face on TV and in bookshops, and owner of Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, Jimmy Doherty. Jimmy chatted to Chris Scargill about the changes he has seen over the years in customer behavior and trends, the importance of investment and funding for tourism based businesses, what tourism really means to him, and of course, how you go about embarking on a rescue mission that means building...
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TOURISM SURVEY SPECIAL: Pt 3 - Jimmy’s Farm, Byfords and Visit North Norfolk
Tourism Business Chat
During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. Chris Scargill chaired a panel discussion on the day, and the audience heard commentary on the results of the survey and insight on other key issues impacting the sector. The panel included Park Director at , Stevie Shepperd, Director of Visit North Norfolk and Manager at , Andrew Hird, and the owner of Hidden Talents Iain Wilson, which operates an array of local businesses including in Norwich, Hotel in Holt, and...
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TOURISM SURVEY SPECIAL: Pt 2 - Insight on results data from the Larking Gowen team
Tourism Business Chat
During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders on the tourism and hospitality sector. In this episode, Tourism & Leisure Partner Chris Scargill discusses the results of the survey in detail, with further insight from specialists Emma Hayward and Sarah Pickett. View the full survey results brochure
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TOURISM SURVEY SPECIAL: Pt 1 AI, sustainability & what we can learn from New Zealand
Tourism Business Chat
The power of generative AI, and what we can learn from sustainable New Zealand tourism During the Tourism Business Survey Seminar, held at ROARR! on 22 May 2024, the audience heard from some inspirational local business leaders working in tourism and hospitality. Richard Turvel from SwissCamplings, a leading laundry supplier to the sector, reflects on what he calls ‘steady boring growth’ and how he believes in the power of his people, even though a huge part of his business is based in machines, and where he sees technology and AI taking us. Tori Burns is a business advisor who also...
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With Mary Sparrow, co-owner of Hippersons Boatyard
Tourism Business Chat
How does a headteacher at the top of her career come to live and work on the Broads? We find out, as Mary takes us on a journey that ‘cruises’ through a career working with troubled teens, into a battle with cancer, and out into the warmth and wonder of Beccles, a hugely popular part of the Norfolk Broads. After being told that the stress of her job was the likely cause of her cancer returning, Mary and her husband took this as a sign to pack up their London life and pursue their dream, starting a business in boat repairing. Mary was adamant, though, that she didn’t want to work in...
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BONUS – Tourism Business Survey insights with Adnams, Banham Zoo and Hippersons Boatyard
Tourism Business Chat
The Tourism Business Survey was relaunched for 2023, after a ‘COVID-19 break’ and the results were announced at a seminar on 25 April to an audience of sector leaders. We recorded the panel discussions hihglights for listeners to enjoy who were unable to attend on the day. You can hear reflections on the results of the survey from the team of experts at Larking Gowen, and commentary from Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams, Claudia Roberts, CEO of Zoological Society of East Anglia which operates Banham Zoo and Africa Alive, and Mary Sparrow, owner of Hippersons Boatyard in Norfolk. Valerie...
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Tourism Survey bitesize chat. In tourism, we are storytellers!
Tourism Business Chat
Chris whisked away some leaders in the tourism sector after the Tourism Business Survey seminar on 25 April 2023, and hosted a very special chat. His guests were Oliver Paul, co-owner of Suffolk Food Hall, Tarnia Robertson, a Hospitality Consultant and Business Coach (and former MD of Ufford Park) and Elliott Attew, Manager of Deer’s Glade Caravan and Camping Park. In this bitesize episode, they reflect on the results of the Tourism Business Survey and how the data has reflected concerns and stories around trends and sustainability. They discuss how to make sustainability part of your...
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With Asa Morrison, Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth
Tourism Business Chat
What does your mind conjure up when we say Great Yarmouth? Whether we’ve been there or not, we likely all have something come to mind. That’s the power of marketing and positive experiences. Asa Morrison is Chief Executive of Visit Great Yarmouth, a Destination Marketing Organisation (DMO) and tourism business improvement district, of which there are only three in the UK. Asa is passionate about where he lives and works, and his role is to increase support and visitors to Great Yarmouth, in a sustainable and responsible way. He chats to Chris about the issues with the public...
info_outlineNick oversees the well-known, and well-respected, Imperial Hotel, in Great Yarmouth. In February 2020, the business won the title of ‘Customer at the heart of everything’ at the Norfolk & Suffolk Tourist Attractions awards. No sooner had they got the award on the mantle-piece, COVID-19 hit and Nick reflects on the headless chicken feeling they experienced. As a hotel that could remain open, they found themselves constantly moving goalposts and pivoting at every turn. They were offering rooms to the East Anglia 1 wind farm offshore teams but, whilst servicing key workers, they still needed to follow guidelines, and protect their staff. Nick talks in detail about their experiences in the early stages of lockdown, and what they have learned and implemented.
Chris also chats to Nick about the pitfalls, and necessity of TripAdvisor; how investment is key for seaside towns and businesses; and the importance of a USP – in their case, Nick’s knowledge as a wine sommelier and the experience they offer connoisseurs in the region. They also talk all things ‘supply and demand’ in the world of COVID-19 delays and Brexit inflation; not being afraid to price things at what they are worth; the importance of first impressions; whether Eat Out to Help Out really worked; and what councils need to do to help support seafront businesses in particular.
Nick also treats us to a history lesson, as he looks back on the early days of hospitality in Great Yarmouth, as well as the foresight his father had and investments they have made. Also, Nick advocates for businesses to become members of UK Hospitality Association, who were a support to their team during lockdown.
You can find out more about the Imperial Hotel here, and can contact Nick on LinkedIn
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