Meet the team: The passionate professionals behind Nottingham Venues

A dedicated and talented team is behind every great event at Nottingham Venues. We pride ourselves on our wealth of experience at Nottingham Venues, across the business we have amazing people all in different departments that help bring an event together. We are excited to shine the spotlight on the remarkable individuals who form the backbone of our organisation. From event planners and managers to chefs and sales, each member brings their unique skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the table. Enjoy getting to know the exceptional people who help bring the events to life.

Peter Bartlett – General Manager, Orchard Hotel & East Midlands Conference Centre

Peter’s impressive journey across the hotel industry with renowned brands including Hilton Hotels and Marriott has been shaped by a passion for service excellence and team development. He joined Nottingham Venues to lead the Orchard Hotel and East Midlands Conference Centre, drawn by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic and forward-thinking environment.

No two days are ever the same at Nottingham Venues, and that’s what Peter loves about his role. Beyond the day-to-day operations, his focus is on shaping the future of the Orchard Hotel and East Midlands Conference Centre. He works closely with the team to keep operations running smoothly whilst developing long-term plans that strengthen service, enhance the guest experience, and keep us ahead in a fast-moving industry.

Peter is passionate about creating an environment where the team can truly thrive, encouraged to take ownership, share ideas, and make a real difference. He keeps a close eye on feedback to spot opportunities, fine-tune what we do, and ensure every guest leaves with a brilliant experience.

For Peter, it all comes down to leadership, resilience, and attention to detail. He believes in leading by example, keeping things clear, positive, and purposeful so the team feels confident and supported. Staying calm under pressure and always looking for ways to improve helps raise the bar, maintain high standards, and deliver exceptional experiences every time.

Ding Sing Yu – Meetings & Events Manager at East Midlands Conference Centre

Ding keeps operations in the conference centre running like a well-oiled machine. Her experience of working in the Bramleys restaurant has helped her understand our guests’ needs. With a keen eye for efficiency and a knack for problem-solving, she streamlines processes, enhances productivity, and ensures that everything operates seamlessly on an event day.

She manages a large team where she is genuinely invested in their development and training. Ding’s ability to balance multiple moving parts is instrumental in our day-to-day success.

David Cartwright – Head Chef at Bramleys Restaurant

David brings impressive credentials to Nottingham Venues, having previously served as Head Chef at World Service, a 2-rosette restaurant in the heart of Nottingham. He also spent time cooking for Mr Marinakis, the Nottingham Forest owner, before joining our team.

Now, David oversees the day-to-day running of Bramleys Restaurant at the Orchard Hotel, which holds 1 rosette. His vision is clear: to make Bramleys a place known for high standards of food, with the ambitious goal of achieving 2 rosettes – a real achievement for the whole hotel.

As a head chef, David has learned that success in the kitchen goes far beyond great food. It’s about leading with composure, communicating clearly, and creating an environment where every team member can perform at their best. He takes pride in balancing creativity with consistency, refining flavours, maintaining high standards, and adapting to new ideas and techniques. Above all, he believes that a calm mind, genuine curiosity, and respect for the craft and the people behind it are what turn a kitchen into something truly exceptional.

What David enjoys most about being part of Nottingham Venues is the people, his kitchen team, and how far they’ve come in just a year. With high expectations driving them forward, the team continues to elevate the dining experience at Bramleys.

Libby Wain – Financial Controller

Libby’s journey to Nottingham Venues is a testament to taking chances and seizing opportunities. She struck quite lucky getting a job here; after working in a newsagents and post office at the time, her friend got a job at Nottingham Venues and always talked about how incredible it was. When a vacancy came up in the Finance office, her friend recommended her for the post.

Behind every successful event and organisation lies a meticulous financial expert, and for us, that’s Libby. She oversees Finance across all our venues, setting budgets, reviewing profit and loss statements, maintaining balance sheets, and generally ensuring we remain profitable. With her sharp analytical mind and keen eye for detail, Libby keeps our financial health in check, supported by a great team who make her life a lot easier.

She thinks a keen eye for detail is key in her role, as well as being adaptable and open to change. What Libby loves most is how no two days are the same, and working with a great team who always make anything happen that is asked of them, no matter how weird and wonderful.

Looking ahead, Libby is excited to see how we grow in the future. Castle Meadow is a new project for us that looks incredible and could really enhance our reputation. It’s exciting to see this develop and makes her optimistic for what else we can achieve in the future.

Suzie Adams – Director of Human Resources 

Suzanne joined Nottingham Venues after a global career in hospitality, including senior HR roles with leading cruise lines such as Ritz Carlton. She was headhunted to establish best practices in people management for the Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection and has brought that same passion for excellence to Nottingham Venues. The opportunity to help shape a growing, ambitious organisation with a strong focus on guest and employee experience was a perfect fit.

As Director of HR, Suzanne leads strategic and operational HR initiatives across all Nottingham Venues sites, including Orchard Hotel, EMCC, Jubilee, and Castle Meadow Central. Her responsibilities span recruitment, talent management, employee engagement, training, performance management, and policy and process development. She also contributes to executive strategy and champions our values, ensuring our people practices align with business goals and guest satisfaction.

Suzanne’s approachable demeanour and exceptional interpersonal skills make her the go-to person for all matters related to our most valuable asset: our people. What she enjoys most about being part of the Nottingham Venues team is the energy and ambition. She loves being part of a journey that values both guest experience and employee development, with the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to excellence making it a truly rewarding place to work.

One of Suzanne’s proudest contributions isn’t a single event but an ongoing offering she heads up for our employees: championing mental health awareness and support. She has played a central role in promoting mental health awareness across Nottingham Venues. During Mental Health Awareness Week, she introduced a newly expanded team of Mental Health First Aiders, emphasising the importance of community and support within the workplace. Her communications highlighted the availability of confidential support and resources like the Employee Assistance Programme available to all employees. She has received really positive feedback from team members about the difference she has made to them with their variety of challenging situations, and it feels good to make a difference to people’s professional and personal lives.

Looking ahead, Suzanne is excited about embedding a culture of leadership and learning. Through initiatives like the Hospitality Leadership Programme and our evolving competency framework, we’re building a team that’s empowered, engaged, and ready to lead the industry. She looks forward to continuing to shape our people strategy and helping Nottingham Venues become a destination employer.

Our Nottingham Venues Team

These remarkable individuals represent just a fraction of the exceptional team that makes Nottingham Venues thrive. Each member brings their unique expertise, passion, and dedication, forming a powerful collective that makes our events successful. Together, we are determined to revolutionise our industry and leave a lasting impact.

Stay tuned as we continue to introduce you to more of our incredible team members, each with their own story of success and inspiration. At Nottingham Venues, the possibilities are endless, and our team’s commitment to excellence is unwavering.