Sacha Lord has announced that he is to exit his role at Parklife and The Warehouse Project with immediate effect.
Greater Manchester‘s Night Time Economy Advisor, and the current Chair of the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), co-founded The Warehouse Project alongside business partners, Sam Kandel and Rich McGinnis, all the way back in 2006, and following the undeniable success of the venture, went on to launch Parklife festival in 2010.
But now, after 30 years at the top of Manchester’s music scene, Sacha has decided now is the time to step away from the industry and move on to “the next chapter” to focus on a number of other exciting future endeavours.
He has today confirmed he will be departing the businesses following a transfer of shares to LN Gaiety – which was agreed in 2021.
“The decision to step down was not an easy one,” Sacha said in an official statement.
“I will miss the team, the events, the customers, I’ll even miss the stress and the late nights, but I’ve known for a long time that Parklife 2024 was going to be the last for me. There could not have been a more perfect moment for me to step away than now – exactly 30 years since my first event at The Hacienda.
Sacha, who last month announced he is expecting a baby with his wife, Demi, says he’s “so excited for what’s to come” in the future.
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He continued: “This decision will free up my time to focus on my roles in the night time economy and hospitality sectors, and of course, most importantly, the birth of my first child with my beautiful wife Demi later this year.”
Sacha Lord announces he’s leaving his role at Parklife and The Warehouse Project / Credit: Greater Mancunians Project (via Supplied)
The Warehouse Project has regularly been named one of the best nightclubs in the world, and was even described by DJ Mag as “the concept that flipped the British nightlife script”, thanks to the countless internationally-acclaimed artists that have featured on the lineups over the last two decades.
Parklife, on the other hand, is Europe’s largest metropolitan music festival held annually, and has welcomed some of the biggest names in music, including Liam Gallagher, The 1975, and 50 Cent, to its Heaton Park stages.
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Closing out his exiting statement, Sacha said he’d like to thank the “millions of people who have stepped foot into The Warehouse Project or Parklife over the last few decades”, as well as express its gratitude to “those who have supported me and the team”.
The Warehouse Project was founded in 2006, and Parklife first began life in 2010 / Credit: WHP | Steve Turvey (via Supplied)
“I would also like to thank the tens of thousands of staff members we’ve had over the years, the suppliers, and those closest to me for putting up with the late nights.
“I am very excited to watch from afar, and I’d like to wish the team the very best going forward.”
Looking ahead, Sacha says he will now continue his work as “a voice for hospitality” across the UK, and will focus on several other avenues of business.
As well as having served as the region’s Night Time Economy Adviser since 2018, and currently holding the position as Chair of the NTIA, Sacha is also the Chair of the local football team, Wythenshawe FC, and is the founder of his very-own charity, the Sacha Lord Foundation.
The Sacha Lord Foundation is a charitable organisation seeking to encourage and support young people entering the hospitality sector.
Featured Image – Darren Robinson Photography (via Supplied)
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A new ‘disco den’ nightclub is opening in the Northern Quarter
Daisy Jackson
A brand-new nightclub is set to open in Manchester city centre next month, as our city’s late-night scene ramps up a gear.
Following on from the announcement of the return of Sankeys, this new ‘disco den’ will be an intimate loft space in the Northern Quarter.
As with Sankeys, the location of this new venue is being kept strictly under wraps for now, but they have teased some details to get us started.
It will be a New York-style loft club space, which wants to bring ‘the essence of Studio 54’ to Manchester.
The venue will be taking over the top floor of one of the Northern Quarter’s ‘most famous’ bars, and will have a maximum capacity of 150 people – pretty intimate for a nightlife venue.
The first two nights have been announced too – up first will be ‘Lollipop’, a new night of self-expression, freedom, disco, and drag dancers.
On Saturday 28 February, Mancs will be able to dance to the best house and disco music, from Jon Fitz, DJ Dave Cooper, Electric Emma Eden Binks, and Libby Nolan, with supporting performances from Gisele.
Then on Saturday 14 March, ‘Discolicious’ will take over – an inclusive club night founded by Jemma Bolt and Denise Van Outen.
The event is back from a summer-long residency at Ibiza’s UNVRS superclub.
Expect sequins, feathers, platforms and pure disco ball energy, with a line-up that includes Jemma Bolt, Laura Pradelska, Pips Taylor, Jules Pinkney and Manchester’s own Electric Emma.
Tickets for both events are available from Skiddle, with a password reveal three days before the event.
Discolicious tickets are on sale now HERE, and Lollipop tickets are available HERE.
The smash-hit daytime rave where you can still be in bed early is returning to Manchester
Clementine Hall
That’s right: Day Fever, the daytime rave designed to still get you tucked in at a reasonable hour, is coming back to Manchester city centre this year.
Following their biggest raft of shows across the UK and Ireland in 2025, the smash-hit night out that is very much aimed at those of us 30 and over – but fellow sleepy heads are obviously more than welcome – Day Fever are targeting big things in 2026.
Launched in early 2024 by actress Vicky McClure and Reverend & The Makers frontman, Jon McClure, Day Fever has become a cultural sensation.
From its debut in Sheffield to a tour that sees thousands of ravers hitting the dance floor each month, the message is clear: people want to dance and let loose, but still be in bed before 9pm – and let’s be honest, who can blame them?
The founders (L-R): Jon McClure, James O’Hara, Jonny Owen, Vicky and Chris McClure. (supplied)
Running from 3-8pm, Day Fever provides a proper night out that doesn’t completely write you off for the entire weekend.
“It started as a WhatsApp idea”, says Jon McClure. “Jonny just said, ‘A daytime disco, how good would that be?’ We’re all a bit nuts, so we just said, ‘Come on then!’”
“It feels like a massive house party at your nan’s,” laughs Vicky. “No drama, no egos, just people acting daft, getting dressed up, and having the best time.”
From here in 0161 and our mates over in Leeds, to Newcastle, Glasgow and many more, each Day Fever event has its own unique flavour.
There’ll be local DJs who know their crowds keep the energy high with a nostalgic mix of Northern Soul, disco, indie, and 90s classics. “Manchester goes mad for Oasis,” says Jon, “and if Vicky’s there, we have to play Whitney, it’s non-negotiable!”
For starters, just look at the turnout they got over Christmas:
They last popped up their second home of New Century Hall over the festive period, so it’s no surprise they’re coming back from.
Day Fever will be turning up the speakers at New Century once again on Saturday, 31 January, and we will absolutely see you there. Better still, the organisers have just announced additional shows due to phenomenal demand, including 7 March and 11 April here in Manchester.
Find the rest of their previously announced shows, as well as the extra dates for 2026, in full down below:
24 Jan, 28 February and 25 April – Glasgow, BAaD
24 Jan, 14 Feb and 21 March – Nottingham, Palais
24 Jan, 7 March and 4 April – Sheffield, City Hall
31 Jan, 7 March and 11 April – Manchester, New Century Hall
Emily Sergeant -
18th July 2024 
