Tees Business LIVE heads to historic Empire for major debate on the future of town centres

The future of our high streets will come under the spotlight when Tees Business LIVE returns on Thursday September 17 with an expert panel set to tackle one of the biggest issues facing communities across the country.

Taking place from 11am until 1pm, September’s Tees Business LIVE is being staged in partnership with Pitch!, the exciting new two-storey sports bar currently being developed by Pneuma Group on the site of the former Bar Fresco beneath the A66 flyover, opposite STACK and close to Middlesbrough Station.

And in a first for Tees Business LIVE, the event will be held at one of Middlesbrough's most iconic buildings – The Empire on Corporation Road.

First opened in 1897, The Empire is one of the North-East's oldest surviving entertainment venues.

Over almost 130 years it has welcomed legendary performers including Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Harry Houdini and, more recently, the Arctic Monkeys and Ellie Goulding.

Today, with many of its stunning original features still intact, it continues to thrive as one of the region's leading grassroots music venues.

Against that unique backdrop, an expert panel will explore how Britain's high streets arrived at their current position, the challenges they continue to face and, crucially, what practical steps can help town and city centres become thriving destinations once again.

Joining the discussion will be Steve Cochrane MBE, founder of the award-winning Middlesbrough fashion retailer Psyche, which grew into one of the UK's best-known independent designer stores before its acquisition by Frasers Group in 2020.

Steve received an MBE in 2018 for services to the economy and regeneration in Middlesbrough and built Psyche into a destination retailer, winning Drapers Menswear Retailer of the Year and attracting shoppers from across the UK.

He will be joined by Graham Soult, one of the country's leading retail consultants specialising in high streets and town centres.

Working with local authorities, business improvement districts and independent businesses across Britain, Graham helps places attract more visitors, make better use of existing footfall and bring vacant premises back into use.

Having visited more than 600 retail locations nationwide, he has developed a unique understanding of what separates successful town centres from those facing decline.

Joining Graham and Steve will be Alex Hirst, the group sales and marketing director for Pneuma Group.

Alex manages Pneuma's sales pipelines and UK-wide marketing strategies, helping drive regional growth and investments.

She has previously worked on local urban regeneration initiatives in the region, including a place marketing role for a town centre, while alongside her current corporate role, Alex serves as a trustee for The Teesside Charity.

Lucy Pittaway, local artist and MD of the Lucy Pittaway galleries, will also be on the September panel.

Best known as a brilliant and multi award-winning local artist who has led her art business for many years, Lucy was a Tees Businesswoman of the Year finalist in 2024 and has also campaigned to raise funds for research into Motor Neurone Disease in memory of her late father, Boro legend Willie Maddren.

Completing the panel is Andrew Bartlett, founder of the ROAM visitor discovery app and a marketing consultant who specialises in helping shops, cafés and hospitality businesses use digital technology to increase footfall and grow sales.

Representatives from Pitch! will also discuss their ambitious investment in central Middlesbrough and why they believe leisure, hospitality and entertainment continue to play an increasingly important role in attracting people back into town centres.

Alongside the panel discussion, delegates will enjoy networking over refreshments, a presentation from event partners Pitch! and the latest updates from the Tees Business team.

Description supplied by the event organiser.