PODCAST: Bold Ideas, Brutal Setbacks, and Bouncing Back – lessons from 15 years in hospitality with Liverpool restauranteur Peter Kinsella

Peter Kinsella, owner of Liverpool’s much-loved restaurant and deli brand Lunya, has seen it all during 15 years in the hospitality industry.

Listen to the latest episode Nailing It with Peter Kinsella from Lunya HERE.

In this edition of the Nailing It podcast, Peter joins host Jay Hynd for a candid conversation about the highs and lows of building a successful food business, from bold ideas to brutal setbacks.

Inspired by Barcelona’s bustling tapas culture, the Wirral-born entrepreneur took a leap of faith to open Lunya in the then-new Liverpool ONE. 

Little did he know that the 2008 financial crash lurked in the background.

And that was just the start. In his decade and a half at the helm, Peter has steered Lunya through its fair share of storms — including the seismic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet today, Lunya and its Albert Dock sister restaurant, Lunyalita, remain a fixture of the city’s dining scene.

In this frank and fascinating chat, Peter reflects on how a mix of quality, authenticity and savvy decision-making has kept the brand thriving. 

Packed with practical insight for anyone starting out in business, especially in food, hospitality, or retail, this must listen episode shows how staying true to your values may be the ultimate strategy for success. 

“Brand is everything,” Peter says. “Imagine having a bar of Blackpool rock. No matter where you snap it, it says Blackpool halfway up. A business should be like that.”

Snap Peter in half and the chances are it’d read: Catalan inspired. Merseyside made.

Visit the Lunya website here.

Listen to the latest episode Nailing It with Peter Kinsella from Lunya HERE.

Listen to the last episode of Nailing It with Culture Liverpool boss Claire McColgan HERE.