Simon Woodroffe

What do you do when you’ve been a roadie, a stage designer, a TV executive, you’re nearing 40, running out of money, are unemployable and have a family to support? You start a conveyor belt sushi bar…well that’s what Simon did!

Simon left school at the age of 16 and spent 30 years in the entertainment business designing and staging concerts for many artists, including The Moody Blues, Madness, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder and George Michael.

In the ’90s, Simon went into television – spearheading the development of television deals to show international rock concerts worldwide, for the likes of Nelson Mandela, Amnesty International and the Prince’s Trust.

In 1997 Simon founded YO! Sushi, the UK’s only conveyor belt sushi bar. The concept turned dining out into a complete entertainment experience, featuring call buttons, robot drinks trolleys and Japanese TV. The first restaurant opened in the heart of Soho and became an overnight phenomenon. Today, YO! Sushi continues to expand both at home and abroad and has opened 100 restaurants serving 6 million customers each year.

Simon was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2006.

Simon was an original “Dragon” on BBC Two’s worldwide hit programme Dragons’ Den, making (and breaking) the dreams of would-be entrepreneurs pitching business ideas for financing. Simon has also featured on numerous television programmes including: Discovery TV’s VIP Weekends with Ian Wright, ITV’s Homes & Property and ITV’s The Millionaire’s Club.

YOTEL, Simon’s solution to boring and expensive hotels opened in 2007, and in 2011 launched a 669 bedroom site in central New York. Paris CDG is set to open in 2016, followed by the 600 room YOTEL Singapore Orchard Road, opening in 2017, and Miami, San Francisco and Williamsburg in the same year. Dubai and Singapore Changi Airport arrive in 2018.

YO! Home, Simon’s re-invention of the city apartment, launched at London’s 100% Design in 2012 and opened its first multi-unit site for sale in Manchester in early 2016.

Simon continues to develop new YO! brands today. To book Simon for your event please call a Prime Performers Booking Agent on 020 3500 3331 or email us at info@primeperformers.co.uk