Sarah Willingham

Entrepreneur | Investor | Former Dragon on BBC’s Dragons’ Den

Sarah Willingham is a serial entrepreneur, investor and consumer-business expert whose career spans high-street brands, hospitality, media and strategic investment. She built her early leadership experience at global restaurant chains including Pizza Express and Planet Hollywood before acquiring and scaling The Bombay Bicycle Club into the UK’s largest Indian-restaurant chain.

Sarah later became a board director and serial investor, co-founding and backing brands such as London Cocktail Club and Craft Gin Club, and co-founding Nightcap PLC, a drinks-led hospitality group. Her television profile includes roles as an investor on Dragons’ Den and judge on The Restaurant.

As a proud mum of four, Sarah is passionate about proving that career growth, business leadership and family life don’t have to exist in conflict - she believes true success is built across all areas of life. She regularly speaks, advises and invests in high-growth consumer and lifestyle businesses and serves as a mentor to the next generation of founders.

Listen to Sarah's Podcast featured as part of research for the book Balancing Act.