26 January 2026
Last week, we hosted our first ever Night-Time Economy Conference at the O2 Guildhall to support businesses and partners.
The conference builds on the current quarterly Licensing Link meetings, that allow licensed venues to meet with key partners including Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, Southampton City Council to discuss current trends and issues in the industry as well as an opportunity for partnership working and opportunities.
The conference, aimed at all hospitality and night-time economy venues, gave businesses an opportunity to speak directly to industry experts and partners, share intelligence and gain practical support and insights to help grow.
We were pleased to welcome Michael Kill, CEO of the Night-Time Industries Association to the conference who opened the event along with Vice Chair of the Licensing Link Board, Gary Bennetton. Mike spoke later in the conference offering his thoughts on the future of the industry including the current threat of business rates.
During the afternoon, a number of speakers delivered talks and workshops, including:
- Inspector Tim Williams, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
- Paul Dimmer, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary Licensing Team
- Russell Hawkins, Southampton City Council Licensing Manager
- Mark Harrison, Cuffe & Taylor/Southampton Summer Sessions 2026
- Nick Cunningham, Counter Terrorism Security Advisor, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary
Jade McCauley, Operations Manager at GO! Southampton said, “Enabling businesses in the evening and night-time to get together to discuss, collaborate and find solutions at a time when they need it most is a top priority for us. We hope to grow this conference in future years and continue supporting our businesses and the industry.”
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said, “Great to be at the GO! Southampton Night Time Economy Conference! Collaboration and co-design are key to building a clear, inclusive night-time strategy that drives footfall and boosts the visitor economy. Fantastic to see Southampton show up and commit to a city that thrives both day and night!”
Hugo Gerbranij, Deputy Venue Manager, O2 Guildhall Southampton, said, “It was a fantastic opportunity to host GO! Southampton for a more expansive Licensing Link Meeting at our venue. The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, a diverse range of stalls, and excellent engagement throughout. A special thank you to GO! Southampton for organising such a successful and insightful conference!”
Thank you to our host venue O2 Guildhall, caterers Stakks Pancake House and all the guest speakers and stands who took part on the day. For all our future events head to www.gosouthampton.co.uk/events
