Meet Up North: One month to go!

Terrace of King's Street Townhouse
1024 576 Hamish Kilburn
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This time next month, hoteliers, designers, architects and suppliers will gather at Kings Street Townhouse hotel in Manchester for the inaugural Meet Up North

Taking the successful ‘meet up’ networking concept up North for the first ever, Hotel Designs will next month host Meet Up North, a social event that aims to bridge the gap between designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers alike.

The venue

Meet Up North will take place in one of Manchester’s finest hotels, Kings Street Townhouse, which The Telegraph recently described as,”the antithesis to a chain hotel,” comparing the experience of staying there similar to “staying with a rich friend who has extremely good taste.” The hotel is situated in an Italian Renaissance-style former bank dating from 1872, on a quiet side street within central Manchester’s historic Upper King Street Conservation Area. AEW Archtiects, whose directors will attend the event, was engaged in the design and transformation of the hotel, and completed the project in February 2016.

The agenda

The evening will commence with an official welcome from the newly appointed editor, Hamish Kilburn, who will briefly talk about the history of Meet Up, it’s purpose and why this year it’s being taken outside of London.

The mic will then be handed over to the award-winning Principal of Richmond International Fiona Thompson. The celebrated visionary designer will speak the the audience about past projects, future predictions and the significance of worthy collaborations. “Only through a thoughtful collaborative process, which acknowledges individual skills, talents and perspectives, can a project be successfully completed,” Fiona said ahead of the event. “Richmond International is extremely excited to take part in Meet Up North, an event which honours the significance of professional collaboration, and in turn reflect on the successful partnerships Richmond International has had the pleasure of being part of over the past 51 years.”

Completing the line-up of speakers will be the headline sponsors of the event, Marca Corona. The Italian ceramic tile specialists will provide the audience with an in-depth industry insight and will be available to answer questions after.

How to get involved

The evening will then continue with all the ingredients for a successful networking recipe. Canapés and complimentary drinks will be served on the balcony of Manchester’s most talked about hotel in 2017 and 2018.

If you are a hotelier, architect, designer or supplier and would like to also benefit from the event, there are very limited available. Please head over to the website where you can secure your place.

 

Hamish Kilburn / 18.06.2018

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.