Season 5. Episode 5. | Hospitality | Hyatt Regency & INNSiDE By Meliá
12/12/2025
In this episode DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Sarah Matts from Hyatt Regency in Manchester and Annabel Lax from INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.
EP.124 | Donations, Defections, Drama
08/12/2025
It’s been a mixed week for Nigel Farage and Reform: a record-busting £9 million donation, plus defections from the Conservative Party. But that, combined with some controversial comments Nigel Farage was allegedly making back in his days at Dulwich College, has perhaps made it a more tetchy week for the Reform leader than he has had in the past.
Season 5. Episode 4. | Hospitality | Sefton Collection
05/12/2025
In this captivating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Conor O’Donovan, CEO at the Sefton Collection, explains how he got involved in the industry, his highs and lows and what he learned from the experiences.
EP.123 | Budget for Benefit Street?
01/12/2025
Today on the Downtown Den, it’s just Frank and Jim as they discuss Rachel Reeves’ budget, Kemi Badenoch’s response, and Your Party’s Conference in Liverpool.
Season 5. Episode 3. | Hospitality | The Hospitality Hero
28/11/2025
In this fascinating discussion with DIB boss Frank McKenna, Steven shares his career journey from the beach hotels of Australia to the countryside hotels of North Wales and his involvement with one of the UK’s fastest growing festivals DevaFest.
EP.122 | Chaos Within: Budget Week Begins
24/11/2025
After an interminable wait, we finally get the Chancellor’s budget this week. We will also be talking about Shabana Mahmood’s new immigration proposals, a possible Ukraine peace deal, and the results of the COVID-19 Inquiry.
EP.121 | Pre-Budget Shambles
17/11/2025
Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the shambolic run-up to the Budget, with persistent challenges to the Prime Minister’s leadership still far from over – forming the main agenda items for this week’s Downtown Den podcast.
EP.120 | BBC: A Mismanagement of a Mini Crisis
10/11/2025
Up for discussion this week is the BBC’s latest crisis, Deputy Prime Minsister David Lammy’s PMQ’s appearance, Rachel Reeves’ pre budget scene setter speech and are there any point in COPs?
EP.119 | Reeves, Royalty & Racism
03/11/2025
Frank, Jim, Jo and Kevin discuss the country’s racism problem, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the Chancellor’s housing issue, and reflect on Kemi Badenoch’s one year as leader of the Tories.
Season 5. Episode 2. | Hospitality | Hope Street Hotel
31/10/2025
In this captivating conversation DIB boss Frank McKenna, Jan shares her career and journey in hospitality, some of the advice she would give to anyone looking to join the hospitality industry and explains her role in the hotel.
EP.118 | Powell’s Win and Pochin’s Woes
27/10/2025
This week, Lucy Powell was elected as the new deputy leader of the Labour Party, there was a big investment summit that took place in Birmingham, and Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP in Runcorn, got herself into some difficulties over some unfortunate comments.
EP.117 | US Special Edition
23/10/2025
It’s coming up to the first anniversary of Donald Trump 2.0, there is certainly much to talk about and who better to catch up with what is happening across the pond in the United States than our man Martin Liptrot.