Gorman’s Restaurants Limited exists to foster a deep connection between people and the natural world through exceptional, locally-sourced hospitality. Our purpose is to protect and celebrate the coastal biodiversity of Lincolnshire by operating a zero-waste, carbon-conscious business that champions local heritage and supports the long-term restoration of the Sandilands nature reserve

The Flyway Model: A Vision for Regenerative Coastal Hospitality

By Andrew Gorman, Director of Gorman's Restaurants Ltd

At Dough and Barley, we believe that hospitality at a site as precious as the Sandilands nature reserve is not just about serving food; it is about serving as a bridge between a restored environment and an inclusive community. We call this our "Flyway Model" of regenerative hospitality.

Why the 'Flyway Model' Matters

In traditional tourism models, businesses often act in isolation, focusing solely on the guest experience within their four walls. The Flyway Model challenges this by positioning the micro-enterprise (like our cafe) as a central engine for regional systems change. We argue that a small business is uniquely capable of being an agile steward of "Sense of Place."

Our Alignment with Global Goals

To ensure our vision creates a measurable positive impact, we have aligned the Flyway Model with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth – We champion the UK Living Wage and prioritize local micro-producers within 50 miles. By keeping wealth in Lincolnshire, we support a resilient local economy.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Through our leadership of the Lincolnshire Coast Inclusive Hospitality Working Group, we are removing physical and sensory barriers for neurodivergent and disabled visitors, ensuring the coast is for everyone.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption – We are committed to a circular, zero-waste kitchen and 100% plastic-free supply chains, advocating for a shift toward low-carbon, plant-forward heritage menus.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – Our collaboration with the National Trust and local government proves that small businesses can facilitate the cross-sector partnerships needed to achieve environmental restoration.

Beyond the Cafe

Our goal is to inspire a ripple effect across the Lincolnshire coast. When we embed JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and environmental stewardship into the DNA of a small cafe, we set a new benchmark for what visitors expect and what other businesses can achieve.

We invite our fellow hospitality operators and community members to join us in this shift from 'business as usual' to 'business as a force for good.'

Gorman’s Restaurants Limited is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as fundamental pillars of our 'Triple Bottom Line' strategy. We believe that true hospitality requires us to proactively dismantle barriers and create a welcoming environment for our team, our customers, and the Sandilands community.

Dough and Barley: 2026 Annual JEDI Progress Report

Our Strategy for Inclusion At Gorman’s Restaurants Limited, our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) is inseparable from our mission at the Sandilands nature reserve. We believe that for hospitality to be truly exceptional, it must be accessible and equitable for everyone. Our 2026 action plan focused on four pillars: Board Accountability, Capacity Building, Inclusive Policy Alignment, and Digital/Physical Accessibility.

Our Progress in 2026 We are proud to share the significant strides we have made this year:

• Legal Governance: We formally amended our Articles of Association to lock in our commitment to the "Triple Bottom Line"—People, Planet, and Prosperity.
• Digital Accessibility: We completed a formal audit of our website against WCAG 2.2 AA standards, ensuring that our digital home is welcoming to visitors using assistive technologies.
• Inclusive Policies: We updated five core business policies, adopting "Blind CV" recruitment to reduce bias and ensuring all our internal language is inclusive and gender-neutral.
• Team Capacity: We established a mandatory 7.5-hour annual JEDI training curriculum for our entire team, covering unconscious bias, neurodiversity, and environmental justice.

Challenges and Lessons Learned Authentic JEDI work is not without its hurdles. In the spirit of radical transparency required by our B-Corp journey, we are sharing where we have faced challenges this year:

• Rural Training Gaps: Being located in rural Lincolnshire, we found it difficult to source local, in-person facilitators for specialized neurodiversity training. We are currently working to bridge this gap through a hybrid model of digital and regional expert sessions.
• Heritage Planning Delays: While our digital accessibility is high, physical retrofitting for some heritage elements at the Sandilands site has been delayed due to planning complexities. We are working closely with the National Trust to resolve these in early 2027.
• Data Limitations: Because we are a small, tight-knit team, quantitative diversity tracking is statistically limited. We have learned to pivot toward qualitative "Worker Voice" sessions to ensure every team member feels they truly belong.

Our 2027 Goals Looking ahead to 2027, our focus remains on deepening our community impact:

• Achieving full physical accessibility certification for the Flyway cafe visitor hub.
• Launching a "Local Supplier Diversity" initiative to support underrepresented Lincolnshire makers.

Conducting our first formal Annual Pay Equity Audit to ensure fairness across our team. 

Dough and Barley: Our Climate Action Plan

Gorman’s Restaurants Limited is committed to a sustainable future. We have pledged to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Our strategy for the Flyway cafe at Sandilands includes:

• Energy: Transitioning to 100% renewable electricity and A-rated efficient appliances.
• Sourcing: Sourcing 70% of ingredients from within 50 miles of Sandilands to minimize food miles.
• Waste: Implementing circular, zero-waste operations with a 95% diversion rate from landfill.

Public Disclosure: Non-Lobbying Activity

Gorman’s Restaurants Limited is committed to transparency and ethical governance. We formally declare that the company is not engaged in any lobbying activities.

We do not employ internal or external lobbyists, nor do we provide financial or in-kind contributions to political parties, candidates, or lobby groups for the purpose of influencing legislation. While we are active in regional advocacy—specifically for coastal inclusivity and environmental stewardship—these activities are conducted transparently for the benefit of the community and the environment, and do not constitute corporate lobbying.

Our Approach to Lobbying & Advocacy

Gorman’s Restaurants Limited is committed to using its corporate voice responsibly. We formally declare that we do not engage in traditional lobbying activities.

Our Responsible Engagement Policy:

• Positive Impact: We only engage in advocacy that creates a positive impact on society or the environment (aligned with U.N. SDGs 8, 10, 12, and 17).
• Evidence-Based: All our public positions are grounded in reliable market research or peer-reviewed scientific data.
• Neutrality: We maintain a zero-contribution policy for political parties and a zero-tolerance policy for bribery and corruption.
• Governance: This policy is enforced by our Director and reviewed annually. We maintain a 'red line' policy for any intermediary organizations (like trade associations) that lobby against environmental or social progress.
• Grievances: Stakeholders can raise concerns about our conduct through our public Grievance Procedure

Gorman’s Restaurants Ltd (Dough and Barley) Stakeholder Grievance Form

Our Commitment to Transparency As a purpose-led business and an aspiring B-Corp, Gorman’s Restaurants Limited is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards across all our operations at Sandilands. We believe that every stakeholder—whether a member of our team, a local supplier, a visitor to the reserve, or a resident of the community—has the right to raise concerns or grievances regarding our business conduct, our environmental impact, or our social responsibilities. We view every grievance as an opportunity to listen, learn, and improve our partnership with the local landscape and the people who inhabit it.

How to Raise a Grievance While we always hope to resolve issues through direct conversation, we recognize that a formal process is sometimes necessary to ensure accountability. If you have a concern that you feel has not been addressed, please use the form below or contact us directly at contact@doughandbarley.com. All submissions are reviewed personally by the Director and will be acknowledged within forty-eight hours.

[Online Submission Form Fields]

• Your Name: [Text Field]
• Your Contact Email: [Text Field]
• Your Relationship to Gorman’s Restaurants:
• ( ) Worker / Staff Member
• ( ) Supplier or Business Partner
• ( ) Customer / Visitor
• ( ) Local Community Resident
• ( ) Environmental Advocate / Partner
• ( ) Other [Text Field]
• Date of the Issue/Incident: [Date Picker]
• Description of Your Grievance:
• Please provide as much detail as possible regarding the nature of the concern, including locations, specific events, or any policies you feel have been breached.
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• Impact of the Issue:
• How has this affected you, the community, or the environment?
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• Your Desired Outcome:
• What steps can Gorman’s Restaurants take to resolve this matter to your satisfaction?
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• Consent:
•  I consent to Gorman’s Restaurants Limited using this information to investigate my grievance. I understand that my details will be kept confidential in accordance with the company’s Privacy Policy.