Nick Harrison has been appointed general manager to lead a new commercial events team at Manchester Town Hall, supported by Hayley Gibson as head of sales.
The appointments are led by Manchester Central, the team behind the city’s flagship convention centre, as chosen by Manchester City Council to manage the events and weddings offering, as well as the forthcoming return of Sculpture Hall Café, at Manchester Town Hall.
The move brings the operational expertise behind one of Manchester’s key venues to a new heritage setting, marking a significant step in preparations for the Grade I-listed building’s return as a destination for corporate events and weddings, with bookings now open for events taking place from January 2028.
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The Town Hall will reopen to the public in 2027, almost 10 years after it initially closed its doors to the public for restoration work to begin in 2018, once work to repair and restore the Victorian masterpiece has been completed, under Manchester City Council’s ‘Our Town Hall Project.’
First up will be a series of celebratory reopening events, and a phased approach will then allow the building and teams to be fully prepared to host commercial events again from 2028.
Harrison brings thirty years of experience in hospitality, including St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, Autograph Collection, as well as opening five-star hotels across the North West, giving him a grounding in delivering exceptional hospitality within historic settings.
Gibson has 13 years of experience in weddings and events, and joins from Manchester Airport’s Concorde Conference Centre, where she played a pivotal role in building the commercial success of another distinctive, experience-led venue, also part of the Manchester Central portfolio. Together, the pair bring complementary expertise across heritage hospitality, venue sales and venue opening operations.
As the venue moves towards opening, a recruitment drive will get underway to build the wider team, creating a host of new jobs across events, sales and operations.
“Manchester Town Hall means so much to the city, and we can’t wait to help people make new memories in a building that already holds so many,” said Harrison.
“The building has an identity that is inseparable from the city, and that gives an event here a very particular sense of place. For corporate clients, it offers a memorable setting with a strong Manchester connection. Our ambition is for the Town Hall to complement the city’s wider hospitality offer and give more people a reason to celebrate, meet and spend time here.”
Among the venue’s standout spaces is The Great Hall, distinguished by its Ford Madox Brown murals, ornate ceiling and adjoining kitchen, a space Harrison envisages hosting everything from weddings to private dinners.
The upcoming unveiling of the transformed Town Hall comes as Manchester’s business and events industry continues to grow from strength to strength, with leading brands and businesses opting to host flagship events and celebrations in the UK’s second city. The relaunch of Manchester Town Hall’s corporate event spaces will provide a new (old) setting for ceremonies, dinners, conferences, and meetings.
Lori Hoinkes, CEO of Manchester Central, comments: “Manchester Town Hall is one of the most remarkable buildings in the country, and we’re honoured to be trusted with its next chapter, knowing how many people are eager to be back inside it. The building has always belonged to Manchester, and our job is to make sure it works hard for the city, drawing visitors from across the UK and around the world, while giving Mancunians a place to mark their biggest moments that feels deeply personal, proud and unmistakably Manchester. In Nick and Hayley, we have leaders who combine heritage hospitality with a proven track record of opening and growing distinctive venues, and together with the team they’ll build, they’ll bring the standard of delivery and care our clients already know us for.”
Cllr Garry Bridges, Leader of Manchester City Council, says: “Our Town Hall is a real Victorian masterpiece and we’re looking forward to sharing it with the public once again – lovingly repaired, restored and ready for another 150 years at the heart of Manchester. It’s a special building which belongs to the people and it’s great that they will be able to celebrate important landmarks in their lives, such as marriage, in its spectacular setting. The Town Hall is full of history. Here’s to many more stories being written within its walls.”
The team is now taking enquiries for corporate and special events, as well as wedding bookings, for the newly restored Manchester Town Hall, with events taking place from January 2028.
