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.
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.
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.116 | Spy Rows and Stadium Bans
20/10/2025
The government has continued to find itself embroiled in a row over Chinese spies, the West Midlands Police have banned Tel Aviv supporters from an Aston Villa European game. And the Green Party’s Zack Polanski has impressed.
Season 5. Episode 1. | Hospitality | Fazenda
17/10/2025
In this fascinating conversation DIB boss Frank McKenna and Tomas discuss his journey into the hospitality industry, some of the lessons he has learned along the way and his vision and plans for the future of Fazenda.
EP.115 | Can the Gaza peace deal endure?
13/10/2025
A peace deal for the Middle East. Kemi Badenoch’s maiden speech as Leader to the Conservative Party. Potential problems for Labour with a China crisis and a deputy leadership contest, which seems to be getting a little bit spicy.
EP.114 | Can Kemi continue?
07/10/2025
Kemi Badenoch finds herself less than a year into the job, fighting to retain the leadership of the Tory party. Can she survive?