The Oracle: Issue #2

THE ORACLE - OCTOBER ISSUE - #02
Editor-in-Chief
Matt Eley
matt@gamechangers.org.uk
Commercial Director & Content Editor
Sharon Dickinson
sharon@gamechangers.org.uk
Graphics & Design
Cieran de Valmency
cieran@gamechangers.org.uk
This Month’s Contributors
Scott Hulme, Managing Director, Venners
Ed Christmas, Managing Director, Bums on Seats
Hugh Knowles, Owner, Leisure Social
Katie Jenkins, Managing Director, KAM
Luke Elford, Partner, John Gaunt & Partners
Oliver Calvert, Head of Brand & Marketing, Romero Group
Molly Davis, Head of Communications, BII
Advertising Opportunities
oracle@gamechangers.org.uk
Managing Director, Gamechangers
Jade Craig
jade@gamechangers.org.uk
Hospitality Consultant, Gamechangers
Kelly Mortimer
kelly@gamechangers.org.uk
The Oracle
Gamechangers Organisation Ltd
Coach House, Ryeford
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
GL10 3HG
CHAIRMAN’S
FOREWORD
It is with the greatest pleasure I welcome you
to Issue 2 of The Oracle - and haven’t we been
busy! There’s lots to tell since our last issue…
Since our last edition, we are
delighted to welcome Hugh
Knowles to our advisory board at
Gamechangers. As the former MD
of Puttshack Ltd, and having 25+
years in the leisure and hospitality
business, Hugh is consulting with
a number of businesses within the
sector. We are honoured to have
such talent on our own board,
further enriching the proposition for
all Gamechangers members.
We, at All Star Lanes, were lucky
to have The Oracle come to visit
as we hosted the relaunch of our
Stratford venue. Having traded
successfully for 11 years in the East
of London, the venue underwent
significant refurbishment and now
features a beautiful new cocktail
bar, a vibrant party space and two
karaoke suites - with more to come
early in the new year.
Now, as the Indian Summer
wanes, it can be hard to believe
how very close to Christmas we
are. We are enthused to report
that, despite a generally slower
return from summer to corporate
events across the industry,
Christmas bookings are coming in
nicely. Many operators are seeing
contracts and those all-important
deposits starting to fall in line with
pre-covid timelines.
This issue sees a feature article
from founder members, Bums
on Seats. . Indeed we are gifted at
Gamechangers all year round to
have their MD, Ed Christmas, on
the board of Gamechangers and
in this months issue, (page 14) he
is giving his ‘Christmas top tips’.
He’ll be venturing into process
design, ensuring there are no ‘leaky
buckets’ in the sales pipeline; the
importance of tracking; good
bookings housekeeping; as well as
maximising potential upsells from
those clients who have confirmed
bookings already.
Luke Elford of John Gaunt &
Partners Licensing Solicitors has
put aside his Grinch-like nature
and written an in-depth series
of top tips on how to avoid the
sting of licensing for operators at
Christmas time.
Lucky Voice are in perfect pitch on
page 9, with Charlie Elek discussing
their evolved world with The Oracle.
Delve into the decline of booze-
centered socialising with KAM’s
latest research report. Board
member, Katie Jenkins, explores
the opportunities to be won
over the Christmas period with
a revamped focus on Low & No
alcohol offerings - on page 22.
May I be one of the first to wish all
our members and partners a happy
and successful final quarter to
2023, and all the very best for this
season’s trade,
THE ORACLE
Graham Cook,
Chairman of Gamechangers
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