Will Dean — Founding Director

Will began working in hospitality at a young age, washing up in a small pub and then unexpectedly trusted - alongside a roguish friend - to independently operate a small takeaway next door. Making food with love and hearing the appreciation from customers has always made him happy and is something he continued to practice working in independent cafés in Bristol and Manchester, where he experienced the importance and power of community spaces.

Later moving into administration with a charity consultancy, he was inspired by the passion and impact the charities and organisations he worked with were making. Going on to work for the NHS and the General Medical Council, he gained experience in managing teams and safeguarding but ultimately was thinking of ways he could support people more directly.

His passion has always been with music + arts, with a degree in Music Production and as an award-winning filmmaker, he has experienced first-hand how sound and making art as a team can lead to better states of mind, new friends and a greater sense of community.

With FORKS, he brings these experiences together, through good food, safe, impactful spaces and bespoke communal instruments, whilst inviting friends and strangers alike to share their creative practices and passion. The aim is to make this sense of connection and joy accessible to everyone, inspired by the ways it has supported him personally.