Soho Splendour in Nottingham

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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Opened in late 2012, the De Vere Orchard hotel next to the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham is a triumph of modern architecture. With light open spaces and floor to rooftop glazing, this latest four star property provides the perfect setting for originally designed furniture pieces. The hotel is also noteworthy for its high environmental standards; a fact that made Morgan a compatible partner due to their own equally impressive eco credentials. The furniture was sourced by Glasgow-based interior designer Graven Images. Morgan furniture appears throughout including Soho banquette seating, which was developed in two heights, for the restaurant; this is teamed with the oak-framed Oslo dining chair upholstered in modern colours for a chic and functional dining experience. Soho armchairs with circular cushions are grouped throughout the stunning lobby area. Created by Morgan Design Director, Katerina Zachariades, the Soho soft seating collection, has become a popular choice for a wide range of relaxed seating environments. With echoes of 50s and 60s design, the range features softened corners and no harsh lines issuing a chic and welcome invitation to sit. The collection comprises a two and three seater sofa, an armchair and a daybed.

Oslo is a lounge and dining collection with a light design. Chairs feature an elegant oak skeleton with simple drop seat and back pads. Modern manufacturing techniques have been used to achieve a hand-crafted look.

All 202 bedrooms at the De Vere Orchard are furnished with a Boston cantilever table in oak from Morgan and the versatile Manhattan modular seating system features in the executive lounge.

Built at a cost of around £20m, the hotel was designed by architects RHWL and incorporates new technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Sustainable features include a green roof system, solar photovoltaic panels, ground-source heat pumps and a smart building management system which incorporates energy efficient lighting, glazing and a lower energy assisted-cooling ventilation system.

Guests can enjoy the roof-top gardens, an onsite gym, bar and brasserie-style restaurant and extensive meeting and training facilities.

The Orchard Hotel will be the subject of a full report soon

Daniel Fountain / 10.04.2013

Editor, Hotel Designs

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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.