Gone are the days when a night at the pub meant simply ordering a pint at the bar. Today, you might book a table online, earn loyalty points, and place an order through your phone — all before your drink even hits the table. Welcome to the new era of British hospitality, where technology is quietly transforming every stage of the guest journey. At the heart of this evolution is The Access Group.
A company reshaping how the UK hospitality sector operates with its integrated suite of front-of-house software solutions. Access stitches together a digital ecosystem that transforms traditional venues into high-tech hubs through smart reservations, seamless payments, customer insights, and AI automation.
Leading the charge is Martin Verdon-Roe, who oversees Access’s front-of-house division. Since joining the company, his focus has been on accelerating growth — both organically and through acquisitions. “Last year we acquired Wireless Social, QikServe, and Paytronix,” he said. “And we’re continuing that strategy. Our goal is simple: make the guest experience unforgettable, and help our partners thrive as a result.”
Access now supports every stage of the guest lifecycle. The journey might start with DesignMyNight, continue through reservations made via Collins or ResDiary, and flow into seamless order-and-pay systems powered by QikServe. Behind the scenes, Acteol serves as the CRM brain, helping operators gather and act on rich customer insights.
Martin’s mission is to fully integrate these tools into a unified front-of-house platform, reducing friction for operators and elevating the customer experience. “We’re also building AI capabilities under our Access Evo brand,” he adds, “making operations faster, smarter, and more intuitive.”
This tech-forward approach has helped Access double in size roughly every four years — a result of its deliberate mix of product innovation and strategic acquisitions. And nowhere is this transformation more visible than with Stonegate Group, the UK’s largest pub company, operating over 4,500 venues from lively Slug & Lettuce bars to cozy local pubs.
Stonegate turned to Access to unify its sprawling tech stack. Ashlie Thurston, Head of IT and Digital Transformation at Stonegate, led the process. “Access didn’t just meet our requirements,” she said. “They stood out for their agility and vision. What really sealed the deal was the potential for seamless integration, especially since QikServe was already part of their portfolio.”
Access’s role has evolved from supplier to strategic digital partner. Back in 2019, Stonegate implemented Acteol as its customer data platform, unlocking new opportunities in loyalty, personalization, and engagement. Adding Collins helped bring reservation data into the mix, historically a weak spot for the industry.
The result was what Martin calls a “virtuous cycle” — the more data captured, the better the guest experience becomes, which in turn drives more engagement and richer data.
Before the pandemic, restaurants typically captured less than 5% of guest data. Now, that number can exceed 80%. “That shift opens doors,” Martin said. “It changes how operators approach messaging, personalization, and ultimately, profitability.”
Stonegate’s new engagement engine, dubbed MiXR, works across all customer segments and sub-brands, powered by the Access ecosystem.
With growing resources and a strong acquisition pipeline, Access is well-positioned to adapt quickly — whether by building new tools, partnering with innovative startups, or acquiring proven solutions. “We work closely with our clients,” Martin explains. “Our strategy always centers on driving revenue and profitability through better guest experiences.”
As the UK hospitality sector accelerates into a tech-driven future, Access Group is proving that innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of charm. It’s about making every interaction smarter, faster, and more memorable — one pub, restaurant, or bar at a time.
