Howard Assembly Room Leeds makes four appointments and relaunches bar as Opera North venue pushes into conferences and private hire
The Howard Assembly Room Leeds is making a commercial push into conferences, private hire, and business events after appointing four new staff and relaunching its bar and hospitality offer. The 300-capacity Grade II-listed venue on New Briggate, operated by Opera North, has hired Michael Wilkinson as Director of Strategy and Commercial for both Opera North and the Howard Assembly Room, alongside Megan Beaton as Commercial Sales Manager to lead the corporate events drive. The appointments signal a deliberate shift towards generating commercial revenue from a venue that has historically been known primarily for its live music and arts programming.
Introducing the HAR bar
The space formerly occupied by restaurant Kino — which closed at the end of 2024 — has been relaunched as the HAR bar, serving drinks from local suppliers and pizza delivered to tables by Leeds company Pizza Punks. The bar is designed as a day-to-night meeting spot, open beyond performance evenings to draw regular footfall. Beaton, who brings experience from senior commercial roles at Hilton and Escapism Bars spanning events, corporate partnerships, and high-value bookings, will lead the push for conferences and private hire.
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The Howard Assembly Room Leeds offers something unusual for the corporate market: a Grade II-listed building with what the venue describes as exceptional acoustics and modern facilities, combined with the option to book musicians from the Orchestra or Chorus of Opera North as part of an event.
“The Howard Assembly Room belongs to Leeds. Our focus is firmly on the future: building a vibrant day-to-night venue where people come to hear world-class artists up close, meet friends for a drink, or host events with real character. By growing the programme and strengthening the commercial offer, we’re creating a venue that reflects the creativity of this city and helps power Opera North’s wider work across the North.”
— Michael Wilkinson, Director of Strategy and Commercial, Opera North
What’s Driving the Shift
For Opera North, which permanently employs over 250 people in Leeds, commercial income from the Howard Assembly Room helps fund its education programmes and productions. The venue’s position on New Briggate, next to Leeds Grand Theatre and within walking distance of the city’s business districts, makes the corporate events market a natural fit. The live programming continues alongside the commercial push, with upcoming acts including Ed Byrne, A Guy Called Gerald, Katherine Priddy, Manchester Collective, and Eddi Reader.
Why this matters for Leeds
The Howard Assembly Room has a unique proposition in the Leeds corporate events market: a beautiful listed building, Opera North musicians available for hire, and a central location on New Briggate. For businesses looking for event space with genuine character in central Leeds, this is a new option worth knowing about. For Opera North, it’s a revenue stream that supports the wider organisation.
- To learn more about Opera North: https://www.operanorth.co.uk/
