Having graduated with a degree in Catering Sciences, Darryl joined Bass plc and spent a long and varied career starting as a General Manager of a Public House, and then as an Area Manager followed by time in Marketing and Risk & Compliance, before being appointed as the Head of Safety for Mitchells and Butlers.

Responsibilities included all aspects of Food Safety, Fire, Health & Safety, Trading Standards, Food Technical, including Allergens, and Safety and Quality within the Supply Chain.
In 2009, Darryl was a member of the Food Standards Agency’s Working Group on Scoring/Banding and Safeguards for the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. He subsequently gave evidence to the House of Lords Opposed Bill Committee on behalf of the BBPA when they petitioned the House of Lords against clause 10 of the London Local Authorities Bill 2008 (Mandatory Display for Scores on the Doors).

Darryl is Chairman of the UK Hospitality Food Experts Group and was instrumental in the publication of the Catering Industry Guide 2016 and 2022. He is author of the UK Hospitality Food Incident Guide.

In October 2019, Darryl was appointed chairman of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme Steering Group which advises the Food Standards Agency on the development of the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

Since August 2021 he has been the Food Safety advisor to UK Hospitality. He also advises several major pub companies.