Frequently asked questions.

About Atelier Sawyer

  • Atelier Sawyer is a hospitality consulting business specialising in helping independent restaurants, bars, and cafés build operations that work, create experiences that matter, and achieve sustainable success. We partner with hospitality businesses at every stage—from pre-opening planning through daily operations to strategic expansion.

    With over 30 years of hands-on experience running bars, restaurants, and cafeterias across the UK and Spain, we bring practical, real-world expertise to operational excellence, guest experience design, menu engineering, market positioning, and profitability management.

  • We work exclusively with independent hospitality businesses: restaurants, bars, cafés, and boutique hotels. Our clients range from entrepreneurs planning their first venue to established operators looking to refine their business or expand strategically.

    We're especially passionate about working with owners who care deeply about quality, guest experience, and building something authentic. If you're committed to creating a hospitality business that thrives—not just survives—we'd love to work with you.

  • We've lived the challenges you're facing. Our founder has over 30 years of hands-on hospitality experience as an owner-operator, including transforming The Sun Inn in Bethnal Green from £10K to £800K annual turnover and successfully repositioning a 700-year-old forest pub.

    We don't offer theoretical advice from the sidelines. Every recommendation we make is grounded in real operational experience, and we work alongside you to implement solutions that actually work in the real world of hospitality. We also provide flexible subscription-based consulting packages alongside bespoke project work, so you get the level of support that fits your needs and budget.

  • Atelier Sawyer operates between London, England, and Spain. While we're physically based in these locations, most of our consulting work happens remotely or through on-site visits, meaning we can work with clients throughout the UK, Spain, and internationally.

    We currently have clients including Bombay Bistro in Spain and a charity coffee shop in London.

Services & Packages

  • Our core consulting services focus on:

    • Operational Excellence – Building systems that work, from kitchen workflows to front-of-house service standards, inventory management, and staff scheduling

    • Guest Experience Design – Crafting intentional, memorable experiences from the moment guests arrive to when they leave

    • Menu Engineering – Designing menus that reflect your concept, make economic sense, and excite guests

    • Market Positioning – Helping you articulate your unique value and stand out authentically from competition

    • Profitability Management – Pricing strategy, cost control, revenue optimization, and P&L management

    • Turnaround Consulting – Diagnosing problems and creating actionable recovery plans for struggling venues

    We also offer additional services, including:

    • Pre-opening consulting (concept validation, site selection, supplier negotiation, staff recruitment)

    • Brand and creative services (brand development, interior concept support)

    • Digital marketing and online presence strategy

    • Technology integration consulting

  • We offer three subscription-based consulting packages designed for different business stages:

    Plan Package - For early-stage founders and businesses still planning or preparing to launch. Includes business and marketing strategy guidance, branding and menu concept support, monthly 60-minute strategy calls, quarterly business health check-ins, and pre-opening assistance. 12-month commitment with the first month free.

    Run Package - For businesses that have launched and are ready to level up their operations. Includes two 90-minute strategy calls per month, quarterly operational audits, custom playbooks and process templates, guest experience reviews, workflow optimisation, and quarterly business and marketing strategy reviews.

    Grow Package - For established venues entering growth or multi-site expansion. Includes unlimited strategic consultation, quarterly on-site operational assessments, custom growth strategy and implementation roadmap, menu engineering support, staff training, monthly KPI performance analysis, and leadership coaching.

    All subscription packages include access to our Resource Library and Knowledge Centre (launching January 2026).

  • Yes. We offer bespoke project-based consulting for specific needs such as:

    • Pre-opening setup and launch planning

    • Turnaround consulting for struggling venues

    • Menu redesign and engineering projects

    • Technology integration consulting

    • Brand development projects

    • Digital marketing strategy and implementation

    Project pricing varies based on scope, and we provide detailed proposals with transparent pricing after an initial consultation.

  • The Promote package is our digital marketing management service for restaurants, bars, and cafés ready to build a compelling online presence. This subscription package includes professional website optimisation, Google Business Profile management, social media management (3-5 posts per week), content creation strategy, email marketing, local SEO optimisation, review generation and reputation management, monthly analytics reporting, and two 60-minute strategy calls per month.

  • Our Tech Integration service is a bespoke consulting offering that helps hospitality businesses implement technology that improves efficiency, customer experience, and growth. We help you choose the right systems (POS, reservations, inventory, staff scheduling, customer engagement tools) and ensure smooth, lasting integration. This is project-based work, not a subscription, with typical investment ranging from £2,500 to £8,500 depending on scope.

  • The best starting point is a free, no-obligation consultation call. We'll discuss where your business is now, what challenges you're facing, and what you want to achieve. Based on that conversation, we'll recommend the most appropriate package or bespoke service for your specific situation.

    Generally:

    • Plan Package – You're in the planning stages or within your first year of operation

    • Run Package - You've launched and want to optimize operations and profitability

    • Grow Package – You're ready to expand to multiple sites or scale strategically

    • Promote Package - You need dedicated digital marketing support

    • Bespoke Projects – You have a specific challenge or project that doesn't fit ongoing subscription support

Working Together

  • For Subscription Packages:

    1. Initial consultation call (free, no obligation) to discuss your business and goals

    2. Package recommendation and proposal

    3. Onboarding and strategy session

    4. Regular scheduled calls based on your package (monthly or bi-monthly)

    5. Ongoing support via email and WhatsApp between calls

    6. Quarterly reviews and strategic planning

    For Bespoke Projects:

    1. Discovery consultation to understand your specific challenge

    2. Detailed project proposal with scope, timeline, and pricing

    3. Agreement and project kickoff

    4. Regular progress updates and collaboration

    5. Implementation support

    6. Final delivery and 30-day post-launch support (for technology projects)

  • For our initial conversation, it's helpful to have:

    • Your business concept or current operation details

    • Your goals and key challenges you're facing

    • Your timeline (if planning to launch or expand)

    • Your approximate budget for consulting support

    We'll guide you through everything else as we develop your strategy together. You don't need to have everything figured out—that's what we're here to help with.

  • Subscription packages are ongoing partnerships with recommended minimum commitments:

    • Plan Package: 12 months (first month free)

    • Run Package: 6 months minimum recommended

    • Grow Package: 12 months minimum recommended

    Bespoke projects vary by scope:

    • Brand development: 4-6 weeks

    • Pre-opening consulting: 8-12 weeks

    • Menu engineering: 2-4 weeks

    • Technology integration: 4-8 weeks

    • Turnaround consulting: 6-12 weeks

    We'll always provide a realistic timeline during the proposal stage based on your specific needs.

  • Subscription packages have set monthly pricing which we'll discuss during your consultation call. Pricing reflects the level of support, frequency of calls, and depth of strategic guidance provided.

    Bespoke projects are priced based on scope and complexity. We provide detailed proposals with transparent pricing, typically including a deposit and milestone payments. There are no hidden costs or surprise fees.

    Technology integration projects typically range from £2,500 to £8,500 depending on venue size, number of systems being integrated, and complexity.

    Investment in quality hospitality consulting delivers measurable returns through improved efficiency, increased revenue, reduced waste, and stronger guest loyalty.

  • Yes. Most clients continue working with us beyond their initial project or first subscription term.

    For subscription package clients, ongoing support is built into your monthly service. For bespoke project clients, we offer:

    • Light-touch monthly retainers for continued strategic guidance

    • On-call consulting for specific questions or challenges

    • Quarterly check-in sessions

    • Additional project work as needed

    Think of us as your long-term hospitality partner, available when you need strategic support, operational guidance, or simply a second opinion from someone who understands your business.

  • Absolutely. Turnaround consulting is one of our core specialisations. We've successfully helped struggling venues identify what's going wrong and implement actionable plans to get back on track.

    Common issues we address include:

    • Operational inefficiencies and high costs

    • Poor guest experiences and declining reviews

    • Menu problems (pricing, profitability, or concept mismatch)

    • Staff challenges and service culture issues

    • Market positioning and competitive differentiation

    • Financial management and cash flow problems

    We approach turnarounds with empathy and pragmatism—no judgement, just honest assessment and practical solutions that work within your constraints.

Practical Details

  • That's completely normal—most clients aren't sure at first. We start with a free, no-obligation consultation to explore your situation, discuss your goals, and understand where you are in your journey.

    From there, we'll suggest practical next steps tailored to your specific needs. No hard sell, no pressure—just honest advice about what would actually help your business most right now.

  • Yes, we can work with hospitality businesses internationally. While our primary markets are the UK and Spain, remote consulting allows us to support clients globally. We've worked with diverse hospitality concepts across multiple countries and understand the nuances of different markets.

    For international projects, we typically work remotely with occasional on-site visits when feasible and necessary.

  • Yes, we work with businesses at every stage. Our Plan package is designed specifically for pre-opening and early-stage businesses, while our Run and Grow packages serve established operators looking to optimise or expand.

    Whether you're validating your concept, preparing to launch, running a successful neighbourhood spot, or planning your second location, we have the experience and services to support your specific stage of growth.

  • While restaurants are a significant part of our client base, we work with all types of independent hospitality businesses, including:

    • Bars and cocktail lounges

    • Cafés and coffee shops

    • Boutique hotels

    • Pop-up concepts and food trucks

    • Hybrid hospitality-retail spaces

    • Private dining and event venues

    Our operational expertise translates across all hospitality formats.

  • We believe in:

    • Practical over theoretical – solutions that work in the real world, not just on paper

    • Collaboration over prescription – working alongside you, not dictating from above

    • Authenticity over copying – helping you be distinctively yourself, not a diluted version of someone else

    • Sustainability over quick fixes – Building systems and strategies for long-term success

    • Empathy and honesty – understanding your challenges while giving you straight answers

    We don't use corporate jargon or offer cookie-cutter advice. Every recommendation is tailored to your unique concept, market, and goals.

  • The easiest way to begin is to book a free consultation call through our website or email us directly at benjamin@ateliersawyer.com.

    During this 30-minute conversation, we'll discuss:

    • Your business concept or current operation

    • Your goals and challenges

    • Potential solutions and approaches

    • Whether working together makes sense

    There's no obligation and no pressure—just an honest conversation about how we might be able to help your hospitality business thrive.

About Our Founder

  • Benjamin Sawyer is the founder of Atelier Sawyer and brings over 30 years of hands-on hospitality experience as an owner-operator. His background includes:

    • Transforming The Sun Inn in Bethnal Green, East London from £10K to £800K annual turnover

    • Successfully repositioning a 700-year-old forest pub

    • Owning and operating multiple restaurants, bars, and cafeterias across the UK and Spain

    • Extensive experience in concept development, operational management, and business turnarounds

    Benjamin's approach combines deep operational expertise with strategic thinking, empathy for the challenges hospitality operators face, and a commitment to helping independent businesses thrive authentically.

  • Our mission is to empower the independent hospitality sector through operational excellence, strategic guidance, and authentic storytelling. We believe independent restaurants, bars, and cafés are the soul of our communities, and they deserve expert support to compete and thrive.

    We're committed to helping hospitality businesses build sustainable operations, create memorable guest experiences, and achieve the success they deserve—without compromising their unique character or values.

Technical Questions

  • Yes. Through our Tech Integration service, we help hospitality businesses select, implement, and optimise technology systems, including:

    • Point-of-sale (POS) systems

    • Reservation and table management platforms

    • Kitchen display systems

    • Inventory and supplier management tools

    • Staff scheduling and HR platforms

    • Customer loyalty and CRM systems

    • Online ordering and delivery integrations

    • Analytics and business intelligence dashboards

    We take a vendor-neutral approach, focusing on finding the right technology for your specific needs rather than pushing specific solutions.

  • Yes, through our Promote package and bespoke digital marketing projects. Services include:

    • Professional website creation and optimization

    • Google Business Profile management

    • Social media strategy and management

    • Content creation and scheduling

    • Email marketing campaigns

    • Local SEO optimization

    • Review generation and reputation management

    • Performance analytics and reporting

    We can also provide strategic guidance on digital presence as part of our broader consulting packages.

  • Staff training support is included in our Grow package and available as part of bespoke operational consulting projects. We can help with:

    • Service culture development

    • Front-of-house training

    • Kitchen operations training

    • Manager and leadership coaching

    • New opening staff onboarding

    Our training approach focuses on creating sustainable service cultures rather than one-off workshops, ensuring your standards are maintained long-term.

  • Menu engineering is one of our core services. We help you design menus that reflect your concept, make economic sense, and genuinely excite guests. This includes:

    • Menu structure and layout optimization

    • Pricing strategy based on cost analysis

    • Profitability analysis and margin improvement

    • Concept alignment and storytelling

    • Seasonal menu planning

    • Dietary accommodation strategy

    While we can guide recipe development strategically, we're not chef consultants creating specific recipes. We focus on the menu as a business tool while respecting your culinary vision and expertise.

Still Have Questions?

If your question isn't answered here, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at benjamin@ateliersawyer.com or book a free consultation call through our contact page.

We're here to help your hospitality business thrive.