Thinking about opening a café, restaurant or food business?
Already in it but feeling like a few things need tightening up? Stew offers practical hospitality consulting backed by real experience, honest advice and a genuine passion for helping good ideas get off the ground properly.
Hospitality can be exciting, rewarding and seriously fun, but it can also chew people up pretty quickly if the foundations aren't right.
That's where Stew comes in.
With a career built across Melbourne's hospitality scene, start-ups and his own successful ventures, Stew brings hands-on knowledge that goes way beyond theory. This isn't polished business jargon or vague advice that sounds nice but doesn't actually help. It's practical support from someone who knows how the industry works from the inside.
Whether you're in the early idea stage, getting ready to launch, or already running a venue and looking for a fresh set of eyes, Stew can help you make smart decisions, avoid common mistakes and build something that works in the real world.
Build a menu that suits your concept, speaks to your audience and works in a real service environment.
Get clarity around pricing, margins and where things may be blowing out more than they should.
Create dishes that feel exciting, practical and worth coming back for.
Spot the common traps early and avoid the kind of mistakes that can cost time, money and energy.
Shape your idea into something with direction, identity and a stronger chance of success.
Understand what else is out there, where your venue fits, and how to carve out your own place in the market.
Get support around team structure, service flow, hiring the right people and building confidence in how the venue runs day to day.
Running a hospitality business can make it difficult to step back and see what's actually holding you back.
Are you struggling with:
Food and menu costings?
Recruiting and retaining the right staff?
Staff training and accountability?
Inconsistent food, flavours, portions or presentation?
Kitchen systems and efficiency?
Finding a clear direction for your business?
Starting a new venue and needing help turning the idea into reality?
Marketing your business and getting people through the door?
With 17+ years of hands-on hospitality experience, I've worked with and consulted for cafés, restaurants and hospitality businesses across Melbourne, Geelong and regional Victoria.
My approach is simple: I'm hands-on.
I don't believe in standing on the sidelines, writing a report and leaving. I work alongside owners, managers and the people actually on the front line to understand what's happening and put practical changes into place.
Whether it's costings, staff, training, food consistency, systems, marketing or the overall direction of your business, I'll help identify what needs improving and work with you to actually execute it.
I genuinely get a kick out of seeing other people succeed — and sometimes all a business needs is an experienced set of fresh eyes and a clear plan forward.
Because he gets both sides of it.
He understands the creative side of food and concept, but he also knows the realities of running a hospitality business day in and day out. That mix matters.
Stew's approach is honest, practical and tailored. He's not here to overcomplicate things or drown you in fancy language. He's here to help you get clear on what works, what needs attention and where the real opportunities are.
No stone left unturned. No sugar-coating. Just solid advice to help set your business up on the right track.
There's something pretty exciting about a new idea with real potential.
Stew is genuinely passionate about helping new hospitality business owners turn their plans into something real, and more importantly, something sustainable. From the early concept stage through to menu planning, staffing, structure and all the moving parts in between, this service is designed to help you start strong.
Because in hospitality, getting the setup right from the beginning can make a massive difference later on.
Not at all. Stew can work with both new and existing hospitality businesses.
Absolutely. Consulting can be tailored to suit exactly what you need.
They'll likely be the main fit, but any hospitality-style business is worth chatting about.
Yes, and that's often the best time to bring someone in.