Victoria Stewart

Victoria Stewart – Freelance journalist, Founder of Hospitality Speaks & Insights Manager at Belazu

Victoria Stewart is a former Evening Standard food editor & columnist with 10+ years’ experience writing and speaking about the consumer side of the food, drink & hospitality industry. Prior to that, she spent 6 years working as a part-time waitress at events and in pubs.

With the help of a small group of supporters and volunteers, she recently launched a new not-for-profit project called Hospitality Speaks.

Through her experience interviewing and researching the industry, Victoria has seen a great deal of operators who respect and protect their staff; she has also heard a huge number of stories of sexual harassment, racial and homophobic discrimination, predatory behaviour, and talented people leaving the industry through exasperation and burnout. She hopes Hospitality Speaks will create a positive turning point for cultural change in the hospitality industry.

Alongside writing and research, she is a regular panel moderator and speaker and works on a number of food projects, including her role as Insights Manager at Belazu.

In 2018 she began coordinating AMP (A Meeting Place) along with Anna Sulan Masing and Romy Gill, a digital zine which aims to amplify female expertise in and around the broader discussion of food sustainability.

Victoria spoke at our The Politics of Food Panel & Debate at City Hall & you would have discovered how her research and food journalism has led to her work on highlighting what isn’t working in the hospitality and food world but also putting a spotlight on better practice and thriving areas. Get a recap of what happened here!