12
Leeds
“The lure
of the
county is
strong. I
returned
to Leeds to
establish
Dine in
1998”
Day in
the Life
Daniel Gill, founder
of Leeds-based
hospitality and events
specialist, Dine.
o two days are the same
in the hospitality
industry and every
morning I look forward to
what the day will bring.
The industry has always been a
major influence on my life. My
parents ran one of the first
Michelin starred restaurants in
Yorkshire and that gave me my
passion for great food and service.
As a proud Yorkshireman, even
when I headed to London to train
under restaurateur Prue Leith, the
lure of the county was strong. I
returned to Leeds to establish
Dine in 1998 aiming to offer
exceptional standards.
Over the past 17 years Dine’s
annual turnover has grown to
around £3m and we now cater for
100 corporate events and 200
weddings a year. The company
provides event services for
organisations ranging from English
Heritage and the National Trust to
some of the UK’s most notable
private houses.
We are based at our flagship
venue The Mansion, a Grade II
listed Greek Palladian style
building in Roundhay Park, one of
the largest urban parks in Europe.
Cycling through its 700 acres
every morning to get to work sets
me up for the day and encourages
my creative juices.
As founder of Dine, it is my
responsibility to ensure we never
rest on our corporate laurels. Most
days you will find me focusing the
excellent management team on
our goals, as well as providing
support, leadership and ideas. It’s
my job to be clear about what we
believe in.
I still regularly work on events, as
well as visiting clients onsite and
enjoy working with our brigade of
chefs to develop our menus. I
ensure that we deliver on our
promise to achieve the ‘Dine
Difference’, for example the launch
of our new service Dine Delivered
which enables clients UK wide to
order high quality event food
based on a bespoke menu.
Living and working in Leeds is a
joy – with all the cultural benefits
of city life but swift access to the
surrounding countryside. Here in
Yorkshire we have some of the
best food and drink in the world
and passionate local producers to
match. So, evenings and
weekends are often spent
frequenting local eateries followed
by the performing arts for which
Yorkshire has such a strong
reputation or exploring the area,
often by bicycle with my wife and
our two children.
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