Sleepover is a new style of networking event for the hotel industry, bringing together like-minded ‘top of their game’ types involved in creating new hotel concepts worldwide. Informal, intimate and inventive, Sleepover Berlin saw 100 leading hotel innovators gather together for 24 hours of adventure. Our guests were leading hotel owners, operators, developers, architects and professional services.

The idea was for our guests to meet in a less formal environment than other industry events, for the sharing of ideas, experiences and knowledge to help grow each others’ businesses. So, no seminars, speed dating, or sales pitches, just social networking of the traditional variety – chewing the fat, chowing down, cheeky cocktails and chance encounters with industry friends both old and new.

Cutting edge, creative and just a little bit crazy, Berlin is one of Europe’s most dynamic cities for design, art, fashion, food and architecture as well as a hotbed of new hotel development. Our home-from-home for Sleepover Berlin was the Michelberger – a funky, edgy and fun hotel which gives its guests a feeling for the ‘real’ Berlin in stark contrast to the city’s mainstream business hotels.

We drove Trabants, we watched the sunset over Berlin from a rooftop bar, we feasted on traditional German treats. Along the way, drinks were drunk, ping pong was played, and tours were taken with the creative minds behind the Michelberger.

Next day we dragged our guests out of bed to look at art galleries and new hotels including a hard hat tour of the latest 5 star hotel in the making the fabulous Das Stue before taking them to a secret location (Pan Am Lounge, a private apartment where pilots and air hostesses kicked back in Berlin in the 1960s and 1970s) – for a farewell address from Design Hotels CEO Claus Sendlinger.

Event Feedback

“I would just like to thank you and your team for a fantastic and worthwhile weekend. From start to finish it was organised in such an efficient but friendly way that it proved to be the best visit I have had in ten years of going to Berlin. “
Conrad Smith- Managing Director – Reardon Smith Architects Ltd

“Just a quick note to thank you all for your hard work and making the last couple of days a great success. Great mix of people and locations – just perfect!”
Simon Ford – VP Global Brand Standards – InterContinental Hotel Group

Congratulations.  I thought the Sleepover event was a very interesting and well executed idea and I wanted to thank you swiftly for your kindness and hospitality.  I hope you feel that the exercise was worthwhile.  We certainly found the networking opportunities invaluable.”
Robin Sheppard – Chairman – Bespoke Hotels Ltd

“FABULOUS!!! A huge thank you to you all for a really EXCELLENT event. The feedback was that the event was very relaxed and convivial. The opportunity to meet each other in a non-pressurized way to opt in and out of the program was really good.”
Jan-Willem den Ridder – Vice President Development – EMEA, Dolce Hotels and Resorts

For the full list of  testimonials and feedback please click here

For images from the event please click here

The Stock Room is launching Spring 2012.

The brand credits its systematic growth across the UK to a rigorous franchise programme, masterminded by Head of Roomzzz Aparthotel UK Mark Walton. True to form as Newcastle City comes on board – the latest announcement from Roomzzz Aparthotel UK is that the brand is on track to achieve their forecasted double figures by 2014.

2012 sees the brand surge forward to open their fifth site within 6 years. Newcastle City is located in Friar House in the City Centre – a large Georgian House originally built in the 1700′s. Roomzzz Aparthotel is currently undergoing a sympathetic restoration programme on the Grade II listed building which will house 44 lifestyle driven and luxurious apartments and suites including a duplex penthouse.

Head of Roomzzz Aparthotel Mark Walton is confident that the brand will bring new dimension to staying away from home for the North East. He comments ‘Roomzzz Aparthotel – Newcastle City is a chic stay-away from home which gives suggestions and aspirations to a luxurious lifestyle that sometimes may seem beyond our day to day reach – we match luxe and Apple technology with affordability and practicality,  the combination of which promises to strengthen the marketplace  in terms of luxury stays in Newcastle’.

Roomzzz aim to change the way a brand, which falls into the ‘affordable’ bracket is perceived, has been achieved through its ethos and high standards since launch.

Roomzzz Aparthotel are known for their own take on deciphering their target audience and tailoring the appeal of the brand to match and manage expectation of customers across all sites. Smart marketing techniques champions customer interaction and weaves loyalty and measurability throughout the brand.

Head of Roomzzz Aparthotel, Mark Walton concludes, ‘The Roomzzz Aparthotel franchise model is accepted as an exciting investment. We are in discussions with several more franchisee partners including a site in Glasgow.’

He continues ‘Newcastle City is an incredibly exciting location for the brand – we are looking forward to being immersed in the rich vibrancy that the City offers residents and tourists alike. We are proud to be a part of Newcastle’s hospitable future.’

Silversmiths is known in Sheffield for it’s multi-awarding winning plaudits and after it’s celeb infused Gordon Ramsay experience the restaurant was already well positioned locally.  The restaurant found itself needing to move on to the next level in terms of branding, identity and publicity in a national rather than local spectrum. The restaurant knew their food was fabulous – but brand, tone, message and ID needed to reflect both the heritage and modernity of the emerging brand.

A veritable feast of great fodder for stories… Independently owned and operated their ethos is to select the best Yorkshire produce, support regional farmers and bring their customers a true field to plate experience. 100% of their suppliers are Yorkshire based and 70% are Sheffield based. Menus are thought of in seasonal terms which means  menus change daily.

They seek out and plunder the rich diversity of the fields and the oceans and Silversmiths chefs forecast growth and harvest patterns to bring  the finest and freshest variety of the best food in Yorkshire.

Silversmiths are based in an historic cutlery works in the City and  present a true Yorkshire dining experience one that is founded on history and embraces fresh innovative sourcing and presentation of food. 93ft are working in phases to create an atmospheric and classic interior using heritage worn architectural salvage sourced locally to develop story lines and customer enchantment.

We are delighted that Silversmiths is featured in The Good Food Guide 2012 and was a finalist in The Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards 2011. The Observer Food Monthly Awards have also placed Silvesmiths as a runner up in the highest accolade of ‘Best Restaurant’ in the UK in their 2011 awards.

Ultimately created to pair high end style with effortless luxe. Playing on the notion that scarves can be a means to reflect mood – Yaelle scarves are awash with bold palates and bring exquisite glamour from past eras as well as satisfying latest on trend desires.

Tipping a nod towards global influences, the intimate feel of a luxury scarf around the neck or hair captures elements of divine beauty and aspirational travel, style and being. Yaelle pursues the ideal of marrying culture and style in distinguishable form as fashion and art.

Yaelle scarves are printed in England using the latest digital technologies onto fine crepe de chine silk. They are designed by the hand and heart of Yaelle Caplan. Her global wanderings have shown her that life is best captured through experience and this lesson unfolds sensually as a rippling silk scarf unfurls with intricate stencil detailing, rich colour and hand drawn illustration created from the base of water colour.

Introducing personality to the scarves through the addition of a charm allows the wearer to interact with the scarf in more ways than just wearing it. The Russian Doll collection allows the wearer ownership of a miniature hand painted russian doll offering a pact of friendship and shared adventure. The charm which accompanies the Hamsa collection is a finely made filagree Hamsa hand for both good luck and fortune to encourage the wearer to be bold in life choices and courageous in path finding.

Working to compliment designs by 93ft and exquisite bespoke illustrations by the ever in vogue Esra Roise working from her Oslo studio.

The mini spa is an exclusive hideaway in South Yorkshire dedicated to the love of looking and feeling tip top. They specialise in luxury treatments for those looking for a little glamour in their lives and daily grooming and pamper essentials for ladies who love to look and feel fabulous.

As well as a spa Mio Amore are also an online shop to give fans that polished spa look. They stock an extensive range of best selling Dermalogica® and ‘celeb fav’ Fake Bake products. They stock specialist ranges such as ChromaWhite and MediBac to everyday essentials such as targeted moisturisers, exfoliants, toners, cleansers, eye treatments and masques.

It’s a well known fact that when we look amazing we feel fabulous as well… ladies…this one is just for you… with love x

The Chimney House has rapidly gained the support of the business communities inside and outside of South Yorkshire into Leeds, Manchester and London through a professional and thoughtful presentation of an alternative meeting space.

The Chimney House has been referred to as a ‘Landmark’ and given ‘iconic’ status. The Meeting Room has played host to debate and teaching from Sheffield universities, to strategy meetings and networking for businesses from all around the UK It has also hosted the making of Heaven 17’s new film, photshoots, interviews, away days, private dining, workshops, training and dynamic product launches.

An intriguing and luxurious environment made so with a unique building, fascinating interior design, architectural lighting, open fires, exposed brick work, beams and original features. The interior designed lends itself to all styles and influences from faded glamour and Boho Chic to luxurious Art Deco to timeless design classic furniture and love of random (Mr Toad style ‘request’ horn and a test your eyes eye test on the stair) and beautiful things.

The unique element of The Chimney House is the provenance of the lights, doors, floors, furniture and structure. Carefully restored from derelict every doorway, fireplace, window, inch of brickwork and ceiling has been recycled, ethically and sustainably sourced from architectural salvage yards and reclaim sites to complement and enhance the heritage of the building. In the truest form of sustainability The Chimney House has been rescued and restored.

LARK is currently developing new Chimney House products including Business Class and The Pop Up Dining Hall concept – which has already received accolades from The Guardian.

LARK has also put together an awards presentation to The Sheffield Business Awards – and The Chimney House is a finalist for the Enterprise Award for 2010.

The Chimney House is currently a finalist in the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2011 for The Pop Up Dining Hall

The Chimney House has also been shortlisted for the RICS Awards 2011 for Building Conservation.

We’re loving teaming up with the best brands in the UK… and we’re enjoying our season of ‘Pop ups’ hosted at ‘awe inspiring’ The Chimney House.

Working to elevate profile as well as to create ‘on trend’ events which are highly enjoyable from the perspective of showcasing brands and house guests.

The next Pop Up coming right up…is the ‘most on trend’ (to quote Grazia) with an abundance of fashionistas and bright art brilliance. The evening is called Cocktails & Macaroons and we are delighted to welcome 3 of the UK’s leading ladies in style, creativity and fashion Roanna Wells, India Hobson and Yaelle Caplan and their respective brands to The Chimney House with indulgent purchasing pleasure in mind. Bringing to Sheffield an edge of European glam mixed with the best of British.

Each component of the property is able to communicate with others making it a highly efficient and accountable scheme. The building infrastructure pushes beyond sustainable, combining high performance and renewable methods including double air source heat pump technology, solar and rainwater harvesting.

Complete home automation, AV and eco technology systems have been amalgamated into a single coherent system, all managed via a centralised AMX control system and ipad technology.

Building on the ethos that homes can be more than ‘eco’, more than ‘designer luxury’, more than ‘sustainable’ – an actual ‘life assistant’ that morphs to needs, wishes and requirements of residents – cocooning them in a warm blanket of lifestyle driven technology.

1 Zero 4 has recently been shortlisted for the Pro-Yorkshire RICS Awards in the residential category. Results 20^th May 2011.

LARK is on board to reveal the story behind 1 Zero 4 and to take an audience through the step by step build as the ultimate showcase.

Known as the region’s ‘Property Oscars’, the awards celebrate the most inspirational regional initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.

The nominations in each category span a range of companies and projects, from small schemes achieved by the vision of one person to globally recognised developments with significant budgets.

Incredible super luxe scheme 1 Zero 4 has seen off stiff competition in the highly competitive ‘Residential’ category to take the trophy and amazing acclaim.

While The Chimney House is a finalist in the highly competitive ‘Building Conservation’ category.
Both entries were complied of a 1,500 word entry – written by LARK and beautifully designed by 93ft.

What the judges were looking for in entries this year
While the design, visual appearance, size and cost are important, they are not the determining factors.

In all categories the judges will be looking for a number of key points:

Achieving value for money in carrying out the scheme and its future economic viability.

Efficient use of resources and forward planning. Evidence of how the project has performed since completion e.g. was it designed to be energy efficient and is this being monitored?

Commitment towards innovation and sustainability.

Concept, purpose, use and most importantly, the project’s perceived impact on the end users in both the medium and long term.

Evidence of if, and how, the local community has been involved along with feedback from occupants and local residents.

Tailored to the needs and wishes of both the business and independent leisure traveller Roomzzz has set itself apart from the rest with innovation and forward thinking momentum. Lark has been involved with the brand since before the launch in November 2006. Managing a regional and national PR campaign as well as advising in advertising, Roomzzz has been received with singing praises across the national and lifestyle media, including being hailed as a 9/10 by The Times and ‘possibly the best hotel…ever’ by New Women magazine. Roomzzz was also shortlisted in the Innovation category for The European Hotel Design Awards in 07 as well as enjoying extensive coverage in The Daily Telegraph, Olive and JetAway Magazine in December 2009.

Through this highly bespoke brand guests are able to choose which experience they would like to have based on the nature of their visit to North Yorkshire, urban, fine country life or prestige and boho glamour. LARK has positioned this brand in the local and regional press but majoring on national design and lifestyle press on and off line with an amazing response from international hotel and design magazine Sleeper, BBC Olive and luxury travel blogs. The Lawrance has been hailed ‘A bit of posh’ and ’5 star luxury for 3 star prices by The Sunday Times.  Through LARK The Lawrance was shortlisted in the prestigious 2010 RICS Awards for Leisure and Tourism and is shortlisted for The White Rose Awards 2010 for Best Serviced Apartments.

LARK has also compiled a chic Insiders Guide which is a partnership with leading brands in North Yorkshire. The guide is designed to enhance guests stays by handing out top tips for where to eat, shop (online and off) and spa. Behind the scenes reciprocal links to leading sites of our partners has driven new traffic to The Lawrance and has proven excellent for SEO purposes.

Glenn has also doubled Robert Downey Junior  in both Iron Man films and he has been involved in all the new Bond films and was nominated for a world stunt award for his acting role in Quantum of Solace. The stunt awards are dominated heavily by US actors and stunt personal but  being from Yorkshire, UK there was great scope to tell an inspiring story.

Glenn is one of the best in the business on a global scale – he’s worked with the biggest names on films such as The Dark Knight, The Bourne films, Tomb Raider and The Golden Compass.

Think of a historic and significant address in The City of York and an imagination capturing grade II listed building. Add a programme of meticulous restoration and preservation finished with our well known brand of exquisite taste and you’ll be thinking of The Lawrance at 74 Micklegate, York.

LARK has a proven track record of getting brands into competition shortlists with success in the RICS Awards, Ackrill Media Business Awards, The The European Hotel Design Awards to name a few.

Think of a historic and significant address in The City of York and an imagination capturing grade II listed building. Add a programme of meticulous restoration and preservation finished with our well known brand of exquisite taste and you’ll be thinking of The Lawrance at 74 Micklegate, York.

At the end of 2009 the company boldly announced their commitment to include high specification green building techniques and design to their portfolio. A move which, 6 months later has escalated the business into a top gear position with new designer residences and innovative commercial schemes stacking up in all aspects of the business from their Yorkshire Artisan Unit to superhomes and eco schools schemes.

LARK has proven that a strong and consistent approach is truly an agreeable route for the independently owned company the first part of 2010 regionally saw LaRock nominated for ‘best business’ award and saw their build and design creation of luxury aparthotel brand The Lawrance rewarded in the RICS awards 2010 with nomination in the highly acclaimed Leisure and Tourism award, their work in The Lawrance brand has also led to recognition from The White Rose Awards – Welcome to Yorkshire in the 2010 awards. 2011 has seen LaROCK as a finalist in the RICS Awards with their scheme 1 Zero 4 in the Residential category.

LARK works closely with the LaROCK team ensuring all elements of the brand are represented in local and regionally as well as nationally and throughout the trade.

With this in mind – Chef:Field is an accumulation of passion and curiosity for what can be done to turn the concept of ‘food festival’ on it’s head – outside the static and into a rolling, morphing identity.

The Chef:Field days & nights series. Popping up June 2011 in the City of Sheffield, UK.

Showcasing and interacting with some of the finest food brands from around the UK.

Chef:Field is a series of ‘pop-up’ food days & nights for food lovers that run monthly in the acclaimed historic and ‘on-trend’ venue The Chimney House.

Carefully chosen for their inspirational, provocative, motivational and educational qualities days & nights are ticket only affairs giving an audience with some of the finest names and innovators in the industry.

Chef:field’s events, occurrences and happenings explores the relationship between what comes out of the field (FIELD) and what happens after the harvest (CHEF) with consumption or preservation.

With the aim of keeping the festival ethos as ethical, responsible sustainable, innovative and educational as possible brands and names taking part will use Chef:field as a platform that engages with an audience over 48 hours with these principles in mind.

Working across the UK with a range of  high profile commercial customers – they specialise in measurable energy efficiency solutions. Ultimately their ethos is a simple one, ‘the less energy you use, the less expense you incur and the less carbon you create’… but how to tell customers and potential customers this without sounding too technical?

Specialising in future proofing systems by reducing carbon emissions through improved energy efficiency and renewable technology may be a topical tone at the moment – but to ensure they stand out from a growing crowd EES have adopted a design led approach and concise copy writing to achieve the goal.

LARK was tasked to explain procedure and regulations both current and future and to de-mystify jargon that is associated with carbon reduction. The end result was a simple and concise platform which the company could use to build profile and win business.