Team comes together at Sheepfolds Stables
The leisure development within the Riverside Sunderland regeneration project will be fronted by Nigel Wood as general manager of operations with Cat Sanderson also joining to run events.
A new social destination for the city, Sheepfolds Stables is due to open in summer, offering a diverse range of independent food, drink, events and entertainment venues.
Wood brings more than 20 years’ experience working in events and hospitality management including high-volume branded sites, independent bars, restaurants, gastro pubs and nightclubs.
His expertise spans both front and back-of-house, as well as time served as owner/operator of a local micropub. As GM of operations, he will now be responsible for overseeing all service offering within the Stables development, working closely with individual tenants to ensure the highest standards of food, drink, hospitality and customer service are available to guests.
Wedding, events and hires manager Sanderson, will head up a team that will welcome an anticipated 150,000 plus guests to the site within the first year of opening. This will include wedding parties, business delegates and private guests attending functions from corporate conferences to birthday celebrations.
The Stables, built in 1883, are currently being redeveloped by Sunderland architecture and engineering practice, Building Design Northern.
Managing director, Richard Marsden, said: “The opening of Sheepfolds Stables is imminent and highly anticipated, so we are delighted to have appointed Nigel and Cat who between them will deliver the highest standards of hospitality and events management.
“This is a prime leisure destination that has seen major investment over the last 18 or so months, attracting many high-profile operators who each bring something unique to the venue. The expertise that Nigel and Cat both bring supports this even further.”
