Flo Heiss

"'This is just another run of the mill pre-Christmas networking event. The wine is bad the food is poor and the company is even worse.'

That's what I tell people that ask me about the digitalpodge, so I can keep this unique social marvel all to myself!"

Flo Heiss Dare Digital
Chris Clarke

"Phil is a bit of a loner, so he organises this annual piss-up to make it look like he’s the life and soul. It’s the adult equivalent of the dorky kid who happened to have a swimming pool in his back garden. Quite sad really, but the food wine and chat are usually great."

Chris Clarke LBi
Tony Foggett

"I'm part of the Manchester contingent, we are trying to get Phil to do a franchise in the north called 'Digital Stodge'. I make the journey because it is such a great opportunity to learn, lunch and laugh. I haven't yet left a podge without a bunch of new ideas to take back to the agency, new contacts to lean on and a respectable hangover to deal with the following day."

Tony Foggett Code Computer Love
Richard Holley

"Phil's sense of humour sometimes gets the better of him, I may not be the tallest creative in the world but the babychair was not really required. Digital Podge is the only lunch that is worth flying over from Italy to enjoy. Sensational."

Richard Holley Diesel
Alasdair Scott

"When describing the spectacular event that is Digital Podge, consider meeting Genghis Khan, Marilyn Monroe and Andy Warhol backstage with Keith Moon at a Who gig and that's about 10% of how great it is."

Alasdair Scott Filter Worldwide
Suzanne Linton

"The only reason I came back from South America was to get to Digital Podge 08 – the hottest ticket in town."

Suzanne Linton Freestyle Interactive
Marc Giusti

"It seems that every year I get to meet more people than the last year. It’s very probably the best idea the digital industry never had. So thank god Phil did. It’s the lunch of the year. You might even find out why you lost that pitch too."

Marc Giusti GT
Tom Adams

"I met Phil Jones at the inaugural Digital Podge 6 years ago. The man changed my life and my business. I thought I was the only one. But in fact, Phil and this wonderful lunch have done something similar for almost everyone I know in the industry. The care, attention and downright thoughtfulness that makes it possible are the mark of an unusual man. We are lucky to have him and his mad obsession with bringing us together. Oh, and I always get too drunk and write sentimental things like this at the end."

Tom Adams Nitro Group
Tom Evans

"Ahhhhh Podge. Just the mere word fills me with the nauseous hangover of over indulgence, debauchery, industry gossip and a thoroughly good time. An industry lunch for digital people sounds as dull as a, er, really dull thing, but maybe its the venue, or maybe its the people, or the booze perhaps, or maybe its just Phil? but Podge is uniquely unpretentious, edifying and, quite simply, a great piss up. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Did I mention the booze?"

Tom Evans Mook
Simon Waterfall

"It's the only mass musical chairs event I know that everyone comes away a winner, a little more educated, little less jaded and a lot more drunk.

Happy days"

Simon Waterfall Poke
Dave Bedwood

"The fact that I can't remember how good ANY of the Podge lunches are is the best endorsement I can give."

Dave Bedwood Lean Mean Fighting Machine
Ross Laurie

"Digital Podge has reached legendary status in terms of industry events; attracting some of Digital’s top professionals and now seems to be stretching it’s international appeal. The fact that so many “rivals” can spend a whole day and night eating, chatting, excessively drinking and then probably heading off somewhere for an after party is testimony not only to our industry but also to Phil and the Podge team who have somehow managed to disguise this party as a legitimate day out of the office.

As it’s restricted to agency MD and CDs it’s the only reason I still work at Line as i won £21m on the lottery last year."

Ross Laurie Line
Justin Pearse

"Digital Podge is the event of the christmas season, even through the alcohol soaked London that is Christmas in digital adland. The best place to meet all your old friends and make new ones, eat great food and get very drunk."

Justin Pearse NMA
Patrick Gardner

"If the digital life is a game then Podge is the ultimate powerup. In fact we like it so much we convinced Phil to help us get a spinoff started here in Sweden. Tell your co-workers you're off to forge important new contacts, explore strategic partnership opportunities and gather key insights into emerging industry trends. You won't be lying. Just dont add that you'll also be enjoying great food and entirely too much drink, and having a hell of a good time along the way."

Patrick Gardner Perfect Fools
Charlotte Wilberforce

"Podge, just try and stop me! It's the one day of the year clients, colleagues and friends know they can't get hold of me....I won't miss a minute."

Catriona Campbell Foviance
Rob Corradi

"I guess i must be a bit of a Digital Podge veteran by now, having survived all of them (I still get the flashbacks though). It's a unique opportunity to catch up with peers and to turn any competitors out there into industry friends by the end of the evening. It remains the one digital event I look forward to each year, pretty much as soon as the haze clears from the previous one."

Rob Corradi Preloaded
Trevor Chambers

"I’ve been every year and they just keep getting better and better. Super people, great atmosphere and all ego’s left at the door. It’s a great big digital industry hug, brilliantly put together by the one and only Mr Jones."

Trevor Chambers Start Creative
Margaret Manning

"One of the first things scribbled in my diary at the beginning of the year is the Digital Podge Lunch. Unlike normal "networking" events, Digital Podge manages to achieve a perfect convivial atmosphere in which to chat with fellow professionals. Until around 8pm that is, when we can only grin inanely and hiccup softly while talking more drivel than you hear at your average pitch! Roll on December…"

Margaret Manning Reading Room
Justin Cooke

"At Fortune Cookie some of our clients think we can look into the future. If I really could I would never attend digital podge. At 12.30 I look and feel like a million dollars but by 9pm a hundred rupees –fantastic day though, roll on DP6."

Justin Cooke Fortune Cookie
Felix Velarde

"How good is Digital Podge? I can't remember. I just know that every year since it started, when I've sobered up the following year's event has already been written in my diary in big digital letters. Essential, convivial and brilliant."

Felix Velarde Underwired
Rob Heasley

"Great venue, great people, great chef – far too much booze! It’s the one event you have to prepare for by not having anything important in the diary for the next morning!"

Rob Heasley Naked Penguin Boy
Vassilios Alexiou

"The amount of discipline required to make it through the podge is extraordinary. Such patience, self-control and systematic behavior is only observed in ant colonies. How can i have ludicrous amounts of fun with my peers without subjecting to acts i will be sorry for later on - one may ask. Come find the answer out, or forever be silent."

Vassilios Alexiou Less Rain