Describe 2020 in one sentence…

What has been a hard year for so many in the hospitality industry both on a personal and professional level, not many will complain about 2020 drawing to an end. As we hope for a better year ahead, we asked the CODE team and some of our members and friends how they would describe 2020 in one sentence. Here’s what they said… 

CODE Team

Adam Hyman, founder: In what was one of the most challenging years ever for hospitality, we’ve also learnt a lot as an industry and need to evolve and find new opportunities for 2021 and beyond. If it has taught us anything, it’s that we must never stand still and constantly look to evolve. 

Tom Pilgrim, partners & memberships: The year that we were resilient, embraced change and refocused on what’s most important to us 

Chloë Hamilton, head of partners & memberships: A merry-go-round of fear and folly. But also incredible fortitude. 

Harriet Prior, editorial assistant: The year we learnt the need for Netflix, the importance of a good takeaway and above all that the hospitality is the most creative, generous and wonderful industry out there.  

Molly Wade, memberships manager: Wore out my sense of humour, wore in my slippers!  

Minna Gabbertas, partners & memberships: The year when ‘if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry’ has never been truer. But 2020 has also represented a year of feeling encouraged by the kindness and strength of others, feeling proud of our heroic national health service and, more than ever, inspired by the resilience and fortitude of our industry. 

Lisa Markwell, editor: When we saw the worst of times… and the best of people 

Will Lake, COO: In amongst all the uncertainty of furlough and lockdowns, 2020 was a year that accelerated change – from mealkits to coffee subscriptions hospitality led the way. 

CODE members and friends

Sat Bains: FUBAR… 

FranklinsSE22: Can we have our hospitality back please 

Chloe Blows: Groundhog Day 

Drapers Arms: In a slightly annoying time, inspired by my team and our industry colleagues, deeply grateful for our customers. 

Guy Holmes: Lions led by donkeys 

Kat Korwaser: A challenge and personal journey 

Daniel Mahon: A year that gave us just as much as it took away. Time, space and a different kind of freedom  

Richard Sharples: An education  

Mat Read: I can do it in one word. “Scapegoated” 

Lussmanns Restaurant: Never give up, never surrender! 

Oisin Rogers: One step forward, three steps back 

Nic Crilly-Hargrave: Yet another year waiting for Pickle & Toast on Wardour Street to reopen 

Northernsnippet: A game of musical bumps without the music. 

Vince Aiddo: CODE App, Lockdown, CODE App Mukbang, Joe Exotic, Strava 5k’s, Lockdown finished, Eat Out to Help Out, CODE App, Lockdown 2.0, CODE App Mukbang again, Lockdown 2.0 finished, CODE app. Yes, I love food 

Jules Kane: Pivot, open, close, pivot again, close …. 

Toheed Arshad: A sharpening of the unerring resolve shown by our teams when backs are against the wall. 

James Lewis: Boxes 

James Edward Tabor: Foil container corner finger cuts. #pivot 

Alexandra Hardman: Tequila.  

Nikoletta Theofylaktidou: Zoom pub quizzes 

Jonty Steinfeld: Banana bread. 

Max Spiro: Impoverished due to a culture of allowing companies to use service charge/tronc to subsidise wages 

Jack Jolly: A toss up between “we go again” and “it is what it is” 

Darryl Chan: Having business meetings with my support bubble over pints and a substantial scotch egg. 

Bums on seats: rollercoaster 

Polly Baker: The end of events as we know them 

Steve Marsh: Total madness, an utter shambles! 

Johnny Brissenden: A record low in terms of hours spent in the pub. 

Rob Flinter: The Hokey Cokey 

Britishgirlabroad: Resilience. Reimagining our restaurants and offerings for the pandemic era.  

Emily Ruthbain: carnage 

Marie-Claire Digby: The ‘pivots’ that happened so often they became pirouettes 

Marika Parizzi: Sorry, we are closed! 

Hannah Jeeves: 2020 has been a year of unexpected change. It’s hard it all: the good, the bad and the ugly. 

Katy Mills: Tier today, gone tomorrow 

Yasmin Jaunbocus: A lot of washing up… 

Chris Prow: Chaotic 

Florent Buci: Demoralising 

Oliver Snap: F.A flights, plane or wine. Facemasks, fridges and fat.  

Thank you to everyone who is part of our CODE family – whether you’re a partner, member, reader … or all three – your support means so much to us. From everyone at CODE, we hope you have a peaceful Christmas and a fun New Year (even if it’s just you and a bottle of something). Here’s to 2021, when we look forward to hospitality coming roaring back to life! 

To read more articles from the winter edition of the CODE Quarterly magazine, click here