Megan’s April roundup

Wow… what a month of opposites. Here’s your April roundup from our fabulous sales manager, Megan.

April started slowly (hello Easter), and it really highlighted something we’re seeing more across the industry. When school holidays fall at different times across the country, that “quiet period” stretches longer than you expect. But then… the flip side. You go from having availability to no availability almost overnight.

And that’s the challenge right now: how we, as an industry, manage those peaks and troughs, and how we support clients to be a little more proactive when it comes to securing their dates.

From quiet to completely full

The final week of April? Incredible. Every single day is fully booked, with some fantastic events through the doors.

A huge shoutout to the BME Leadership Network Anti-Racism Conference; the atmosphere was electric. One of my favourite bits of feedback was that it was “so lovely to hear so much whooping and joy in a conference space.” That says it all.

We followed that with another full exclusive-use event for 100+ delegates, a brilliant public-sector audience, amazing energy, and a genuinely lovely vibe throughout.

And that’s something we’ve seen a lot this month, public sector clients really making the most of the space, connecting, collaborating, and enjoying being together.

Accessibility isn’t a checklist; it’s a feeling

I’ve been talking a lot on my own LinkedIn (you can connect with me here) about accessibility this month, and April really brought that to life. Because the reality is that walking into a room with 100+ people can feel like a big ask. So, the question becomes: how do we make every single person feel comfortable the moment they walk through the door? And actually, it starts way before that.

• It’s in the pre-event comms.
• It’s in setting expectations.
• It’s in the conversations between our clients and us.

Accessibility isn’t just about step-free access or dietary requirements; it’s about creating an environment where people feel at ease, included, and ready to engage.

And when you get that right? It sets the tone for everything that follows. We work hard to ensure that everyone who walks through our doors has the best possible experience at Horizon Leeds.

The “quieter” days matter too

Now, whilst the start of the month felt slower, it’s never quiet at Horizon Leeds. Those days are where the magic behind the scenes happens – deep cleans, maintenance, health & safety checks,  all the things that keep the venue running exactly as it should.

But they’re also gold dust for something else… Show rounds. When we’re fully booked on exclusive use, it can be quite hard to get people in to see the space. So those quieter windows are the perfect opportunity to come in, have a coffee, and properly experience Horizon Leeds (and I love a show round, it’s where the best conversations happen ☕).

Exclusive use is in demand right now

April has been a strong month for those 100+ delegate events, and honestly, that’s where Horizon Leeds really shines. Add in the sunshine, the riverside walks, the buzz in the rooms, and it just feels good being here.

One of my favourite things is seeing delegates from completely different events bump into each other, chatting like old friends. It’s become a bit of a hub, and that’s exactly what I always wanted Horizon Leeds to be.

Collaboration over competition

We attended a brilliant Independent Venues Leeds meeting this month, and it’s always a great chance to sense-check what’s happening across the industry. The big theme this month was: Last-minute bookings vs. limited availability. We never want to say no to an enquiry, but the reality is, once a date is gone, it’s gone.

There’s no escaping it; the industry is still challenging. But one thing we hear a lot is: “You’re always booked up on the date I need.” The truth is that the most popular dates get snapped up quickly. So, if you’ve got a specific day in mind, it’s worth getting in touch early to secure it. And if you can be a little flexible, we’ll happily work with you to find the best alternative date to suit your clients and your plans.

As with all the best things, the earlier you book, the better your chances.

So, if you’ve got a board meeting, leadership session, or key strategic event that can’t move easily, please plan. We’re already taking bookings into 2027 for those fixed, diary-heavy meetings. Getting them locked in early makes life easier for everyone.

As part of the Independent Venues Leeds collaboration, the group has also released a new blog: “Why Choose Leeds and Why Choose Independent?”, which is a useful piece from the independent venues’ perspective on what the city can offer your events. Definitely worth a read (and easy to share with clients looking at Leeds as a destination).

UKREiiF is just around the corner…

With UKREiiF fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to think about how you balance packed agendas with giving yourself and your delegates a bit of breathing space.

Back-to-back meetings are great, but sometimes the best conversations happen outside the room. That’s exactly why we created our Walk, Talk, Connect routes: simple networking walks that take you along the river, through Leeds Dock, and around some of the key areas many of you will already be visiting during UKREiiF. Find out more and view the routes. Whether it’s walking from the station to stepping out between sessions or hosting a more informal catch-up. It’s a great way to see a bit of Leeds and create space for better conversations, and a way to transform your event or meeting.

We’re hosting several fringe events at Horizon Leeds and are really looking forward to being part of the energy UKREiiF brings to the city.

We do still have a small amount of availability left, so if you’re looking for a space for a smaller meeting or a last-minute fringe event, give me a shout via sales@horizonleeds.co.uk. It’s limited, but there are still a couple of opportunities there.

Hospitality Live: a big highlight

This month also saw the very first Hospitality Live in Leeds, and what a day it was. We exhibited alongside The Studio (yes… a competitor 👀), which sparked some great conversations. Through the Independent Venues group, it’s about collaboration; if we can’t host your event, we’ll help you find somewhere in Leeds that can.

Let’s keep business in Leeds. Let’s keep it independent.

ESG: let’s make it real

If you’ve seen my LinkedIn posts recently, you’ll know my focus right now is ESG.

Not as a buzzword. Not as a tick-box exercise.

But as something that genuinely shapes how we plan and deliver events. I’ve been sharing simple, practical ways to think about accessibility, sustainability and overall social impact. I’ve created a couple of straightforward guides to help with that. If you’d like a copy, just drop me a message on LinkedIn. Always happy to share or have a chat.

A little heads up (and a helpful offer 👀)

We’ve also got some exclusive Horizon Leeds offers running at the moment, particularly for those larger events.

Our current “1 in 20 goes free” day delegate rate offer is a great way to keep costs realistic as numbers grow.

So, if you’ve got something coming up and budgets are tight (which we know they often are), give me a shout as I’m happy to talk it through and see how we can make it work.