Member Event with Jamie Barber, Cabana Brasilian BBQ Group

Restaurants are expensive and risky to run so you need a good reason to start one, unless of course you’re Jamie Barber.

An acclaimed jazz pianist, writer and music producer, Jamie originally trained as an entertainment and media lawyer, working for Harbottle & Lewis and acting on behalf of a portfolio of celebrity clients including David Frost, Michael Caine and Roger Moore.

It wasn't until the former James Bond star introduced Jamie to his son Geoffrey that his interest in the world of restaurants began and, in 2000, he turned his back on law and music to take a leap of faith and open Hush restaurant in the historic heart of Mayfair, London.

Citing himself as naive but with his best strength being that he was his own target audience, alongside founding shareholders Evgeny Lebedev, Sir Roger Moore and his son Geoffrey, Jamie quickly built Hush’s reputation as a hip, celebrity haunt.

With the transition from lawyer to restaurateur complete, he soon opened two smaller Hush Brasseries in Holborn and St Paul`s, followed shortly after by the acquisition of then ailing bistro and food store Villandry.

Realising in order to scale he needed to build multi-site, branded concepts that stood out from the crowd, in 2008 Jamie launched the Italian restaurant chain Kitchen Italia, followed in 2011 by Brasilian restaurant chain Cabana Restaurants.

With a food empire across the UK that employs over 600 people and turns over more than £35m, this is a rare chance for Forum members to ‘skewer’ their place at his brand new Newcastle restaurant to hear the highs and lows of Jamie’s amazing journey. Saude!

Please note:

- To avoid disappointment, please reserve your place as soon as possible by clicking on the button above.

- Cancellation of guest places received within 72 hours of the event will be charged in full.