Harry Harris

Episode 45: The UK Hospitality Industry: The Lay of the Land with Harry Harris

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During this episode of DESIGN POD, sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, Harry Harris, Managing Director at SUSD, talks to Sophie Harper about the changes he’s seen in the hospitality industry over the years and gives us his opinion on the investment market and disruptors affecting the current hospitality landscape in the , UK…

An architect by training and an entrepreneur in spirit, Harry Harris is a developer and advisor to investors active in the hospitality, co-living/coworking, senior living and residential sectors in London and further afield.

Harry had tremendous success as the developer of The Curtain Hotel in London’s Shoreditch. A new-build hotel, it was conceived as a response to contemporary lifestyles. The Curtain comprised hotel, restaurants, members club, coworking spaces and a rooftop bar and pool together with a strong focus on live performance and music curated to attract the neighbourhood artists and creatives. In 2018, just 18 months after The Curtain launched, Harry successfully sold the hotel to the Reuben Brothers and the hotel was rebranded as Mondrian Shoreditch, and this summer rebranded again with new operators to become the first Virgin Hotels London.

More recently, Harry and his team at SUSD worked on the acclaimed The BoTree in Marylebone and is currently working with Cale Street Partners on the redevelopment of The Park Tower Hotel, Knightsbridge. He has completed several co-living ventures with Cheyne Capital/The Collective and the latest development, in Maida Vale, is now on-site. In Fulham, another project completed by the SUSD team, luxury retirement apartments Riverstone Living, a Cheyne Capital/Goldman Sachs backed scheme, is receiving its first residents, and Harry and team have most recently been appointed on the Lazari Investments backed mixed-use redevelopment of Fenwicks of Bond Street.

Hear Harry talk about his experience and projects, and the challenges the industry has had to overcome, as well as finding out what he thinks about the security of the current market.

 

DESIGN POD is brought to you by Hotel Designs. This series is sponsored by Schlüter-Systems Ltd, produced by Kevin Lines, and hosted by Sophie Harper.

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.