Are We Doing Everything We Can? Or Just Hoping for the Best?

Published 10.07.2025

Warm weather. Packed pavements. People actually leaving their houses. Every trade brief I read this week says the same thing: “Sales are up due to the fantastic weather!”

Yes, well done, Sherlock. Sunshine = footfall. Shocking revelation.

But here's the real question: Are we ready for it? Because there's another hot week coming, and you don’t need a magic 8-ball or a subscription to The Weather Channel to see it. And yet, I still see places scrambling last minute—unprepared, understaffed, out of stock, or worse... out of glasses.

I’ll never forget one NYE years ago—couldn’t buy a bottle of Champagne or a glass to pour it in. The supplier said, “We ran out.”

You ran out of Champagne... on New Year’s Eve?

What’s next? Out of turkeys at Christmas? No hearts on Valentine’s?

We know these moments are coming. The calendar isn’t exactly subtle.

But we don’t prep. We procrastinate. Then we whinge about what could’ve been better if…

Here’s the truth: I’ve opened over a dozen restaurants, and the successful ones had one thing in common—we planned. We had deadlines set in stone, tasks assigned early, and zero tolerance for “we’ll deal with it next week.” Because in this business, if you’re not ahead—you’re already behind.

So if you've got a garden, a terrace, or a few chairs out front and you're not fully stocked, fully staffed, and already promoting next week’s weather—you’re late.

And if you're in a basement?

Well, keep your eyes peeled for a drizzle and a drop in degrees. Your time’s coming.