Josh & Julie Niland: The Untold Story Behind 10 Years of Saint Peter

Behind the global acclaim, award-winning restaurants and culinary innovation of Josh Niland is a story rarely told. The story of two people building a business, raising four children and navigating the extraordinary pressures of hospitality together.

Josh’s contribution to Australian food has earned him international recognition and countless accolades, including the prestigious 2020 delicious. Produce Awards Maggie Beer Award for Outstanding Contribution to Australian Food. In 2025, Saint Peter was ranked No. 66 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants extended 51–100 list, the only Australian restaurant to feature.

Their new book, Saint Peter: Chapter & Verse, marks a decade of the restaurant that transformed how the world thinks about fish. But it's also a remarkably candid account of the highs, lows and realities of building a hospitality business.

Ten years after opening Saint Peter in Sydney, Josh and Julie Niland join Lucy Allon for a deeply personal and refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to open a restaurant, keep it open and sustain a marriage and family along the way.

For the first time, we hear more of Julie's story. Largely out of the public spotlight until now, she's been instrumental in building the business from day one, managing everything from finances and operations to marketing, e-commerce and new commercial opportunities.

Together, Josh and Julie reflect on the pressures, personal sacrifices and difficult decisions behind their success. They share how their partnership works, what they've learnt about leadership and resilience, and why the emotional cost of running a restaurant deserves more honest conversation.

From the painful decision to close restaurants to Josh's emotional response to reading Julie's chapter, this is a conversation about much more than food.

In this episode:

Julie Niland's pivotal, largely unseen role in building Saint Peter The financial and emotional realities behind restaurant success Marriage, parenting and working together under pressure Business closures, setbacks and the courage to make difficult decisions Building a trusted team and learning to delegate Diversifying beyond restaurants through innovation and e-commerce Cooking with the world's best: Rasmus Munk, Joan Roca & Virgilio Martínez The personal stories behind Saint Peter: Chapter & Verse Why, after everything, Josh and Julie still consider their friendship their greatest success About Josh & Juli