85. "We were £1.5M in debt": The turnaround strategy that could save your business | Zoe Paskin

85. "We were £1.5M in debt": The turnaround strategy that could save your business | Zoe Paskin

June 29, 2026 · 52 min

About this episode

Zoe Paskin shares her experience of turning around a nightclub in debt and the strategies for business survival in tough times.

Financial crises can hit any business- especially in today's economy. Selling might feel like the only option. But is it? What should founders do when things look bleak? How do you rebuild momentum, and give your business the best possible chance of surviving and thriving? When one pair of siblings were running The End nightclub, they found themselves £1.5 million in debt and facing enormous pressure to sell. Instead, they chose a different path, and turned the business around. In this episode of All About Business, James speaks with Zoë Paskin, co-founder and managing director of Studio Paskin. They are the independent powerhouse behind legendary London destinations like The Palomar, The Barbary, and the Michelin-starred Evelyn's Table, celebrated for maintaining flawless standards in a brutal industry. Zoë shares the remarkable story of turning around a legendary 90s nightclub facing massive debt, stepping into leadership when no one expected her to, and the reality of selling a business at its peak. James and Zoë explore how to scale when the broader market is struggling, how to strip down operational expenses to rescue a business, and why the best career advice may be to…

People in this episode

Host: James Reed

Guest: Zoe Paskin

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Studio Paskin, Reed Global, The End nightclub, The Palomar, The Barbary, Evelyn's Table

Places: London

More episodes of James Reed: all about business

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the James Reed: all about business podcast page.