25th July 2024
Lifestyle magazine, Taste of London, has appointed George Shaw as its Editor-in-Chef.
Taste of London is owned by UK-based NewYox Media, which operates globally.
“My mission is to get Londoners, many of whom seem to have become home-bound and sedentary since lockdown, with large numbers working almost exclusively from home and seemingly to reluctant to venture into the office,” said Shaw, adding, “It’s not good for our mental well being, it’s not good for the hospitality sector and it’s very bad for the wider economy.”
Shaw concedes that many activities can be more efficient away from the interruptions of the office and that daily commuting can be exhausting.
But he says, “There isn’t the same collaborative spirit and creativity that come from chance encounters over the coffee machine, the opportunity for the fabled ‘elevator pitch’ to a main board director or the spontaneous ‘quick one over the road’, where many of our best ideas are spawned.
“Pointless meetings where nothing was decided other than the date of the next meeting, were bad, but endless Zoom meetings and gazillion WhatsApp messages can drain the lifeblood from an organisation.
“With so much of retail sales having migrated to the internet, it is the hospitality sector which now is the dominant driver of footfall, upon which we’re reliant to boost local economies.”
NewYox’s CEO Fatih Oncu said: “It’s great for the magazine to have attracted someone with George’s experience, contacts, knowledge and talent – he has so many ideas which will help drive the group’s wide publishing interests – expects some exciting new launches.”
George is the founder of the award-winning Avocado Media (formerly Joslin Shaw advertising and PR agency) and Media Contacts recruitment consultancy. A former BBC journalist and restaurant inspector for the Good Food Guide, he has also edited Nine to Five, Thai Life, Capital Life andHighend magazine and published the Islington Restaurant Guide. He was chairman of judges in the inaugural Kent Restaurant Awards and remains a chairman of judges for the Asian Catering Federation’s awards programmes
Taste of London magazine is the ultimate guide to discovering the hidden gems of London’s vibrant culinary scene. Delving into the heart of the city, with the latest news and insightful reviews of the finest restaurants and cosiest cafes and tucked-away bistros, we uncover the flavours that define London’s diverse culinary landscape.
George Shaw
Editor-in-Chief
Taste of London
NewYox Publishing
134-146 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3AR
E: george@Tasteof.London
X: @TasteLondon Mag
W: www.tasteof.london