Owner
Hem Naik
Co-owner and Sommelier
- Discipline
- Owner
- Based in
- Poole, United Kingdom
i. Biography
Restaurant ownership depends on systems as much as welcome: sequencing, cost, pacing, room tone, and the decisions that make a table feel coherent. At Thirteen in Poole, England, United Kingdom, Hem Naik works in that register as restaurant co-owner, bringing a second professional chapter to the dining room after The University of Sheffield, a career in engineering, and retirement from that field. Wine pairing is part of the meal’s structure, not a garnish to it. At Thirteen, Hem Naik treats the pour as a decision that has to meet the food, follow its weight, and support the plate without taking over. The work is measured hospitality: ownership, service, and wine selection held close to the experience of eating.
Coming Up
Engineering trains a particular kind of discipline: parts must relate, tolerances matter, and a finished system has to work under use. Hem Naik’s academic start at The University of Sheffield led into that field, giving his early career a foundation in precision and problem-solving before he moved into restaurant work. A shift from engineering into hospitality changes the materials but not the need for structure. After retiring from engineering, Hem Naik carried that steadiness into the restaurant world, where the visible welcome and the less visible mechanics of pacing, pairing, and service have to hold together. Contemporary restaurant ownership is practical work before it is anything else. In Poole, England, United Kingdom, Thirteen is the setting for Hem Naik’s second professional chapter: a restaurant role built around attention to the table rather than spectacle.
Where They Are Now
Wine pairing at restaurant level calls for restraint: the bottle has to sit beside the food, not flatten it or compete with it. At Thirteen, Hem Naik is co-owner and handles wine pairing for the restaurant, carefully selecting wines to accompany the food and shape the progression of the meal. The craft here is alignment. The former engineer’s respect for structure shows in the way pairing is treated as part of the meal’s architecture, while the co-owner’s hospitality work keeps that structure serviceable at the table. At Thirteen, Hem Naik’s work centers on pairing, ownership, and making wine and food read clearly together.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Hem
What is Hem Naik's current role?
As of 2026, Hem Naik is restaurant co-owner.
Where did Hem Naik train or study?
Hem Naik trained at The University of Sheffield.
What is Hem Naik known for?
Wine pairing at Thirteen.
