There is a particular kind of magic that happens when exceptional food, fine company and a beautifully considered setting come together. PoB Hotels, the collection of Britain’s finest independent hotels, has unravelled this balance. The launch of ‘Meet the Makers’ series in 2026, invites guests to celebrate the very best of British craftsmanship.
‘Meet the Makers’ is at the heart of PoB Hotel’s interplay between eras, a new theme titled Now & Then. The concept is elegant and surprising: history should not be preserved behind glass, it needs to be lived, tasted and touched. There is no better way of honouring this philosophy than by gathering guests to meet the makers, the artisans and the innovators who shape the path of British crafts.
Tom Brown at The Capital: The Inaugural Event
The series opening will take place on 21 May with a promise of the most sought-after lunches with Chef Tom Brown, for food, conversation and immersion. His eponymous restaurant at The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge was awarded a Michelin star in February, not even a year after opening.
With the restaurant reserved exclusively for the occasion, it is a rare chance to sit, eat well and genuinely connect with the people behind the plates, the makers themselves. Guests will leave with a curated goody bag including an exclusive overnight stay offer at the hotel for those wishing to linger a little longer.
The timing was carefully chosen, with the event falling in the week of the Chelsea Flower Show, making it an ideal addition for those in the city for the season’s most celebrated horticultural event.
Tickets are priced at £65 per person.
Wild Idol: Rethinking What’s in the Glass
Joining Chef Brown is Paul Beavis, CEO of Wild Idol, whose artisan, naturally alcohol-free sparkling wines have revolutionised the way celebratory drinking is perceived. Produced using traditional winemaking methods from carefully selected grape varieties including Müller-Thurgau and Merlot, Wild Idol’s elegant White and delicate Rosé offer a sophisticated alternative to conventional sparkling wine. They will be paired thoughtfully alongside Tom’s three-course seafood-led menu.
Autumn at Gravetye Manor: Ettinger and the Art of Leather
On 8 September, Meet the Makers travels to Gravetye Manor, where British leather goods maker Ettinger takes centre stage. Founded in 1934, the brand has spent nearly a century perfecting its craft. A live embossing machine will be on hand, and an Ettinger expert will walk guests through the heritage and processes behind every piece, a masterclass in making things built to last.
Northcote Meets Lock & Co.: Hat-Making Since 1676
Continuing with exciting events, on 24 September, Northcote in Lancashire welcomes Lock & Co. Hatters, one of the oldest hat shops in the world. A Master Milliner will guide guests through the craft, with an original Victorian head-measuring device available for those wishing to purchase on the day. Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Executive Chef of Northcote’s Michelin-starred restaurant, will prepare a sit-down lunch to complete the occasion.
A Collection Built on Character and Responsibility
Meet the Makers is more than just a programme, it is a reflection of the heart and soul of PoB Hotels. Since its founding in 1982, with unique properties dotted across the UK and Channel Islands, PoB Hotels has celebrated individuality and the independent spirit. These core values remain just as important today as when Gerald Milsom first gathered a group of passionate hoteliers over forty years ago.
That commitment goes beyond hospitality. By partnering with EarthCheck, the world’s leading benchmarking and advisory body for sustainable travel, PoB Hotels is helping its members put environmental good practice into action. Each property finds its own way to make a positive impact, connecting with local communities on social, economic, and environmental issues, while together raising the bar for responsible luxury travel.
It is a philosophy that sits naturally alongside the spirit of Meet the Makers. Kalindi Juneja, Chief Executive of PoB Hotels, has spoken of the programme as an opportunity to connect guests more deeply with the people, stories and talent behind great British brands and to do so within hotel settings that have their own rich histories to share. For a collection that has always believed the past is something to be lived rather than merely preserved, it feels like a natural next chapter.
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All imagery courtesy of PoB Hotels.