Liverpool’s Finest Entrepreneur

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An absolute privilege to sit down with Derek Lilley for this weeks Sofa Stories episode. 

Derek and Edwina Lilley were regarded as visionaries in the hospitality industry after founding, operating and selling Est Est Est, Piccolino and the Bar & Grill’s.

Prior to the serious world of hospitality,  Derek has enjoyed one the most colourful of careers you can imagine, spanning many years in the dangerous industry of saturated deep-sea diving around the world (pic attached modelling his 1960’s diving helmet!) living in Singapore, Monaco, Nigeria and being air lifted off a sinking oil rig in the North Sea! 
Derek and his best friend, Alan Maxted, then opened a beach bar in Portugal called the Contented Sole and a water skiing school!

Derek and Edwina then went on to found the Restaurant Magazine  and subsequently the ‘Top 50’ restaurant awards, which was sold to William Reed publishing and is now globally recognised as the benchmark for the best places to dine (and stay) in Europe and beyond. 

Edwina having understood the lack of back office automation in their restaurant businesses began a journey of software development and with Derek's support and a chance meeting with Ben Hood in the Knutsford Wine Bar, the family moved into tech - That company, Fourth is now a billion $ business operated out of Austin, Texas! 

Today, the Family are totally committed to building The Edwina Lilley Charitable Trust  created as a lasting legacy and memory to Edwina. The Trust works in collaboration with charities to support & fundraise for initiatives which make a difference to children's lives globally.

So without further ado, let’s get into it.