Entrepreneur, author and restaurateur

Founder, owner and creative driving force behind all things YO!, Simon Woodroffe left school at the age of 16 and spent 30 years in the entertainment business. His production companies in London and Los Angeles designed and staged concerts for most of the 70's and 80's performers from The Moody Blues to Madness and Rod Stewart to George Michael and events such as Live Aid.

YO! Sushi was founded in 1997 by Simon after an acquaintance suggested he open a conveyor belt sushi bar with girls in PVC mini skirts...and so started the world's most famous conveyor belt sushi bars featuring call buttons, robot drinks trolleys, Japanese TV and most recently self heating plates.

Restaurants followed in the department stores Harvey Nichols and Selfridges and across London. Latest are a megasite in Edinburgh and an island site at Paddington Station the precursor of a roll out through airports and shopping malls world-wide. 2002 openings include Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Kuwait.

YO! Below first opened its doors in early 1999 featuring sunken tables, self serve beer, smoke extracting ashtrays, singing waitresses, tarot readings, massage and bento meals.

The company intends to expand through economic downturn taking advantage of lower costs and more opportunities and its variable customer price ticket. Internationally YO! has taken its first cautious steps and interest is high throughout the world for its brand value as well as systems, developments and know how.

YOTEL! - Simon's long vaunted hotel concept is well into development and looks set to emerge in 2002 as a low cost, city centre, highly innovative alternative to the conventional hotel. Other projects that are tentatively being explored are Body YO!, a Japanese health spa concept and YO! Wear as well as the long talked about YOGANIC!

AWARDS

2001 Retail Interiors Awards Best Food & Supermarket Design for Edinburgh
2001 Retail Interiors Awards Most Outstanding Retail Experience for Edinburgh
2001 Theme Best Marketing Award
2000 Group Restaurateur of the Year
1999 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
1998 Marketing Week Design Effectiveness Award

Simon is in great demand as a speaker at corporate events talking about entrepreneurship, customer service and creativity.