Simon Woodroffe

Simon Woodroffe (born 14 February 1952 ) is a British entrepreneur and business speaker, known as the founder of YO! Sushi and Yotel. He appeared as an investor on the first series of BBC's Dragons' Den, before being replaced by Theo Paphitis from the second series onwards.

Woodroffe's first YO! Sushi restaurant, opened in 1997, introduced conveyor belt sushi to the UK market and included technology such as automated drink delivery systems, tableside call buttons, and self-heating plates.

Woodroffe was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006 for his contributions to the hospitality industry.

Early life and education Woodroffe was born in Oxford to a military family; his father served as a brigadier in the British Army. He grew up with his younger brother Patrick (born 1954) in Essex, where the family resided in a farmhouse. Woodroffe attended Marlborough College but left at age 16 with only two O-levels. In the 1960s, he became a road crew and stage designer for artists such as Rod Stewart, the Moody Blues and Jethro Tull.

YO! Sushi Woodroffe founded YO! Sushi in 1997, financing it through extended supplier payment terms rather than traditional start-up capital. Initially perceived as supported by major brands such as Honda and Sony, their contributions were later clarified as minimal sponsorship.

In 2003, Woodroffe sold a controlling stake in YO! Sushi for £10 million to Primary Capital, while retaining a 22% share.

Yotel and YO! Company Woodroffe established the Yotel brand in 2007, introducing compact hotel rooms modeled after first-class airline cabins. The chain began operations at London's Gatwick and Heathrow airports before expanding internationally. By 2016, Yotel operated over 1,000 rooms across three countries. He has collaborated with organizations such as Make Justice Work, which is focused on reducing reoffending rates and has publicly advocated policies giving priority to rehabilitation and skill-building within the prison system.

Awards

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, 1999. Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), 2006.