Hi, I’m Granger Forson, business coach and host of ScaleUp Radio. You can find me at [BizSmart Gloucestershire](www.bizsmart-gloucestershire.co.uk) or connect with me on LinkedIn. In this episode, I’m joined by Dorian Kirk, founder of Art Hospitality, whose restaurant group journey has transformed from humble pop-up beginnings to a powerhouse of chef-led concepts across multiple cities. Dorian’s experience in the industry—starting at the age of 14 as a dishwasher—has nurtured a deep-rooted passion for culinary innovation and authentic leadership.

Dorian shares how he and his brother began Art Hospitality with just £500 and a single concept, expanding into a multi-brand group with six thriving restaurants. He emphasizes the importance of empowering talented chefs by offering ownership stakes, creating what he calls “Chef-preneurs.” This innovative approach has become the heartbeat of Art Hospitality, blending creativity with entrepreneurship to drive each new concept's unique flair.

One of the highlights of Dorian's journey is his ability to adapt under pressure. Faced with the pandemic’s challenges, Dorian quickly pivoted, investing in outdoor spaces and launching fresh concepts to not only survive but thrive. His dedication to his team and his relentless pursuit of excellence have helped Art Hospitality come out stronger, with plans for significant growth in the coming years, including expanding their Maneki Ramen brand and new ventures into pub and fine dining sectors.

Leadership has been a transformative aspect of Dorian’s journey. Transitioning from a hands-on chef to a strategic leader, he has implemented a culture where “the best ideas win” and empowered his team to take charge. With a keen focus on operational excellence and team growth, Dorian continues to drive Art Hospitality forward while remaining true to his values of quality, resilience, and creativity.

Join us for an inspiring episode filled with lessons on navigating growth, adapting to adversity, and fostering an innovative workplace culture. Dorian’s story of growth and empowerment is a powerful example of what it means to build not just a successful business, but a legacy.

To ensure you don’t miss any inspirational future episodes, do subscribe to ScaleUp Radio wherever you like to listen to your podcasts.

So, let’s now dive into the inspiring journey of resilience, creativity, and empowerment with Dorian Kirk.

Scaling up your business isn't easy, and can be a little daunting. Let ScaleUp Radio make it a little easier for you. With guests who have been where you are now, and can offer their thoughts and advice on several aspects of business. ScaleUp Radio is the business podcast you've been waiting for.

If you would like to be a guest on ScaleUp Radio, please click here:

https://bizsmarts.co.uk/scaleupradio/kevin

You can get in touch with Granger here:

grangerf@biz-smart.co.uk

Kevin's Latest Book Is Available!

Drawing on BizSmart’s own research and experiences of working with hundreds of owner-managers, Kevin Brent explores the key reasons why most organisations do not scale and how the challenges change as they reach different milestones on the ScaleUp Journey. He then details a practical step by step guide to successfully navigate between the milestones in the form of ESUS - a proven system for entrepreneurs to scale up.

More on the Book HERE - https://www.esusgroup.co.uk/

Dorian can be found here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorian-kirk-9516b53b/

dorian@arthospitality.co.uk

Resources:

The E-Myth by Michael E Gerber - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-e-myth-revisited-why-most-small-businesses-don-t-work-and-what-to-do-about-it-michael-e-gerber/82114?ean=9780887307287

The Surrender Experiment by Michael A Singer - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-surrender-experiment-my-journey-into-life-s-perfection-michael-a-singer/3695367?ean=9781473621503

The Diary of a CEO podcast - https://stevenbartlett.com/doac/

Monday - https://monday.com/