Sacha Lord

Sacha Lord is a leading voice in the UK's music, hospitality and night-time economy, renowned for co-founding The Warehouse Project and Parklife Festival, which together generate over £21 million annually for Greater Manchester and were acquired by Live Nation in 2024. He served six years as Greater Manchester's Night Time Economy Adviser before stepping into his current national role as Chair of the Night Time Industries Association, where he champions policy, safety and growth across the sector. His Sunday Times bestselling book, Tales From the Dancefloor, captures his journey from promoting at The Hacienda to becoming a national advocate. Audiences gain straight-talking insights into entrepreneurship, cultural leadership and navigating complex policy landscapes with resilience and vision.

When Sacha Lord co-founded The Warehouse Project in 2006, he set in motion a cultural movement that would redefine Manchester's nightlife and cement the city's reputation as a global music destination. Over three decades, he has built an extraordinary legacy that spans iconic festivals, policy reform and entrepreneurial success, all rooted in a deep commitment to the music, hospitality and night-time economy sectors. His journey began as a founding promoter at Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub, where he helped fuel the rise of house and techno culture in the UK. He went on to acquire Sankeys Soap before launching The Warehouse Project, booking internationally renowned acts including The Chemical Brothers, New Order and Calvin Harris. In 2010, he co-founded Parklife, now Europe's largest metropolitan music festival, attracting global headliners such as Snoop Dogg, Skepta and Liam Gallagher. Together, these events generate over £21 million annually for the Greater Manchester economy and support thousands of jobs. Both were acquired by Live Nation in a multi-million dollar deal in 2024, marking a defining milestone in Sacha's entrepreneurial career.

Appointed by Mayor Andy Burnham in 2018, Sacha served six years as Greater Manchester's Night Time Economy Adviser, championing hospitality businesses and leading initiatives to improve safety, transport and inclusivity across the city region. His tenure saw Manchester recognised as the night-time capital of the UK and ranked eighth globally for nightlife, surpassing cities like Budapest and Buenos Aires. In 2025, he stepped into a national role as Chair of the Night Time Industries Association, where he continues to advocate for policy reform and sector growth at the highest levels. His debut book, Tales From the Dancefloor, was published in 2024 and became a Sunday Times bestseller, chronicling Manchester's dance music explosion and his evolution from club promoter to national voice. A regular media contributor, Sacha has appeared on BBC Question Time, Sky News, ITV and Good Morning Britain, and has spoken at events including MADFest, Sound City UK and The Adam Smith Institute.

Audiences connect with Sacha's straight-talking style and his ability to translate decades of entrepreneurial experience into practical insights on leadership, resilience and navigating complex policy landscapes. He helps organisations understand the cultural and economic value of the night-time economy, offering strategic perspectives on growth, community engagement and sector advocacy. Whether addressing business leaders, policymakers or creative professionals, Sacha delivers actionable takeaways grounded in real-world success and a genuine passion for the industries he represents. His sessions leave audiences inspired to think differently about culture, commerce and the power of grassroots movements to drive lasting change.