Shell is a hospitality veteran with 18 years of FOH experience, specializing in operations, training, and business development. She has worked with some of London’s top restaurant groups, including Hawksmoor, Gaucho, and Polpo.

After experiencing a life-changing burnout in 2020, Shell shifted her focus to improving mental health and working conditions in hospitality, pushing difficult conversations into the open—particularly around the hidden epidemic of addiction.

Her podcast, We Recover Loudly, provides a platform for industry professionals to discuss substance use, recovery, and cultural change, proving that a thriving hospitality career doesn’t have to include alcohol or drugs.

Beyond podcasting, Shell offers onsite workshops, small group coaching for managers, and 1:1 recovery coaching for hospitality leaders looking to change their relationship with drugs and alcohol. As someone diagnosed as autistic, ADHD hyperactive, and dyslexic, she also delivers neurodiversity training, helping businesses create supportive environments that enhance mental well-being.

In addition to her advocacy work, Shell has launched a bold, unapologetic sobriety-focused merchandise perfect for gifting, which celebrates recovery with empowering designs and streetwear-inspired style. Her best-selling “Sober C*nt” socks have built a loyal following, and she’s expanding her collection to continue challenging stigma and inspiring confidence in recovery.

Shell is also the resident agony aunt for Low No Drinker magazine and the proud dog mum to Milo, a sassy sausage dog with a passion for brunch.

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Founded in 2016, the mission of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ben's Friends ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is to offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse or addiction. By coming together, starting a dialogue, and acknowledging that substance abuse cannot be overcome by isolation and willpower alone, Ben's Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.