About Nightcap
Nightcap acquires and develops hospitality & leisure concepts that have significant growth potential across the UK
Nightcap was created to acquire and organically grow hospitality brands and venues that create vibrant, unforgettable guest experiences by bringing people together to share and connect. Our mission is to grow and support vibrant hospitality concepts that thrive in today’s evolving hospitality landscape.
We believe in celebrating social occasions in imaginative ways that go beyond the ordinary. We take pride in delivering engaging environments that attract a diverse and welcoming crowd and support dedicated and talented hospitality professionals.
Our team’s experience in acquisitions, outstanding operations and brand development allows us to seize opportunities at the right time—ensuring we continue to build a major hospitality group that thrives in a changing market.
We focus on supporting concepts that resonate with today’s consumers—whether through interactive live music, large scale events, innovative cocktails, just a couple of friends meeting for a catch up or vibrant late-night atmospheres that spark a connection.
As we grow, our priority remains creating memorable experiences that bring people together to have fun, laugh, celebrate and make lasting memories.
Our Team
Nightcap’s executive team is led by prominent hospitality entrepreneur and investor, Sarah Willingham, and boasts a market leading operational and corporate finance track record. Collectively, they have been involved in the operation of over a hundred bars and restaurants and have led a number of successful exits of hospitality companies for investors. The team is exceptionally well positioned to capitalise on the market opportunity.
Our Board
Founder and CEO
Sarah Willingham-Toxvaerd
Sarah is an entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience in the hospitality industry starting her career at Planet Hollywood and onto Pizza Express where she ran the International expansion. She appeared as a Dragon on BBC’s ‘Dragon’s Den’ and also as a judge and investor on ‘The Restaurant’. Sarah was formerly a director of the Clapham House Group plc where she co-owned, developed and sold the Bombay Bicycle Club. She was also responsible for the development of The Real Greek and Tootsies brands and the combined estate of 47 restaurants. Sarah is chair of the PE-backed Tonkotsu Group and a shareholder of the UK’s largest subscription business for alcohol, ‘Craft Gin Club’.
Founder and Executive Director
Michael Willingham-Toxvaerd
Michael is a serial entrepreneur, investor and venture capital and private equity professional. He founded and led the IPO of NeutraHealth plc in 2005 which he grew to a turnover of £34.6m and EBITDA of £2.3m in 2009. He was previously Managing Partner of HBG Holdings UK and CIO of HBG Holdings, the Dubai based private equity group as well as a director of the specialist asset management and investment banking group Rasmala plc. He has over 15 years of mergers and acquisitions experience and extensive experience in capital markets, strategy, finance, listing and advising companies privately and on the London Stock Exchange. Michael leads Nightcap’s acquisition and corporate strategy.
Non-Executive Chairman
Gareth Edwards
Gareth is a qualified solicitor and was previously a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons LLP, where he latterly held both the positions of Global Head of Corporate and International Development Partner. He is currently a strategic consultant and an Executive Director of London Bridge Capital Limited, an FCA authorised corporate finance boutique. He has significant public markets experience and is Chairman of Cornerstone FS plc, and a non-executive director on the Board of Various Eateries PLC, both of which are admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.
Non-Executive Director
Lance Moir
Lance has over 35 years’ senior business experience in financial and strategy roles. He has been Chief Financial Officer of WIN plc and Executive Director of IMImobile, Group Finance Director and Director of Planning and Business Development for First Choice Holidays plc, Director of Corporate Finance for Bass plc and Head of Corporate Finance and Planning for Storehouse plc. He has formerly been the senior independent director and chair of the Audit committee of Henderson Global Trust plc and also of Raft International plc. He has a PhD from Cranfield University. He is a fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers and is currently a Non Executive Director of Thatchers Cider Ltd.
Our Exec Board
Group Director of Business Operations
Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller brings extensive expertise in the hospitality industry to her role as Group Director of Business Operations at Nightcap. With over five years at Stonegate Group, Sarah excelled as Business Unit Director for the Late Night Division, overseeing popular brands such as Be At One, Slug and Lettuce and Popworld. Prior to that, she served as Operations Director at Novus, where she played a key role in managing a portfolio of bars, clubs, and restaurants.
Sarah is celebrated for her wealth of knowledge, strategic leadership and drive for success. Her dynamic approach and deep understanding of late-night hospitality make her an invaluable addition to Nightcap's fast-moving and ambitious team.
Group Sales and Marketing Director
Michelle Farrell
With over 14 years of expertise in the hospitality sector, Michelle is a seasoned professional specializing in Marketing & Sales, renowned for her success in cultivating digital-first teams. As the Sales & Marketing Controller at Intertain, she played a pivotal role in driving business growth, strategically implementing a digital infrastructure for the pre-booked sales team, a cornerstone for the company’s successful acquisition by Stonegate Group in 2016. Subsequently, at Novus, Michelle led the marketing, brand, and digital teams, contributing to remarkable growth that preceded Novus’s acquisitions by Stonegate Group and Shoreditch Bar Group in 2018 and 2019. In her latest role as Director of Marketing at Stonegate Group, Michelle spearheaded the digital agenda, orchestrating the introduction of a transformative digital infrastructure focused on guest data and acquisition, alongside innovative initiatives like guest-facing apps, website enhancements, and paid media strategies to boost pre-booked sales.
Group People Director
Adam Dilks
Bringing over a decade of expertise in HR management and leadership, Adam has forged a distinguished career marked by a demonstrated ability to cultivate high-performing teams, instigate inclusive culture change programs, nurture talent, and enhance overall organizational capability. Beginning his journey in retail, Adam honed his passion for people while spending significant years with Tesco. In 2018, he transitioned to hospitality, assuming the role of Head of Employee Relations at Greene King, offering him a profound understanding of the industry’s intricacies and firsthand knowledge of the challenges faced by teams. Progressing to HR Director for Greene King’s Premium, Urban, and Venture brands in 2020, Adam orchestrated People Teams across diverse and autonomously operating hospitality businesses. In 2023, Adam ascended to the executive board at Nightcap, where he spearheads the group’s comprehensive people strategy.