Sam Pullan is the co-founder of the SPND Hospitality group, along with his partner Nicole Deighton. Together they’ve operated The Empire Café since 2023 and The Highland Laddie since 2025, with Sam leading on the operations and food side of the businesses.

A background in catering and cheffing has given Sam the hands-on experience necessary to the intuitive running of hospitality venues, and both Empire and The Laddie have quickly earned a reputation as best-in-class in the local market, with The Laddie quickly becoming a major name in the current classic pub revival, and being named Good Food Guide’s inaugural “Britain’s Best Pub” in November 2025, just six months after opening.

Other accolades include a string of national reviews in The Observer and FT, placement in Good Food Guide’s Best Local Restaurants, multiple local awards and nominations, and The Empire Cafe being named one of Code Hospitality’s Happiest Places to Work in the UK.