The Downtown Den Podcast

Britain's cities and towns feature many distinguished buildings of historical significance. Sadly, in too many cases they have been left to decay. Latest estimates suggest nearly half a million buildings lie idle, boarded up, slowly falling apart.

Downtown in Business and PJ Livesey have written to ministers and parliamentarians calling for a change in how these buildings and assets are unlocked for housing, regeneration or other civic and community purposes.

Hear from DIB Chairman Frank Mckenna and PJ Livesey CEO Georgina Lynch on this important campaign.

Find out more by visiting: https://downtowninbusiness.com/news/2026/06/11/downtown-in-business-and-pj-livesey-call-for-radical-reform-to-save-britains-forgotten-heritage-joint-submission-to-parliamentary-in/

In this latest episode of the Downtown Den podcast, DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool, Cllr Carl Cashman.

 

In a wide-ranging discussion Frank and Carl discuss a variety of topics including city centre car parking charges and its effect on the hospitality sector, the UK’s political leadership challenges and his ambitions for Liverpool and his desire to work with the private sector.

 

Follow Carl on Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlcashman91/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cllr-carl-cashman-cemap-89a491144/

Welcome to Downtown Den. In today's Meet the Partner episode, we're joined by Anna Salisbury and Michael Smeaton from Glenville Walker's litigation team.

When your business hits a rough patch, or a property lease starts causing headaches, you need more than just legal advice – you need partners who'll stand by your side and turn complex problems into clear solutions.

Anna and Michael share their straight-talking insights on business recovery, helping you stay on the right side of your lease agreements, and why getting early guidance can make all the difference. These aren't just tips from solicitors sat behind desks – this is practical, commercially astute advice from people who genuinely understand the pressures you're facing.

Whether you're navigating a challenging recovery period or simply want to protect your business interests in property matters, this conversation will give you actionable guidance you can actually use.

Let's dive in.

Downtown in Business invited the Leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson into the Downtown Den to chat all things MIPIM 2026 with DIB boss Frank McKenna.

In this discussion Liam shares why attending the premier global real estate and urban planning summit, is important to Liverpool and the wider city region.

Liam explains why it is important the the regions private and public sectors attend MIPIM 2026 with a unified approach and his hopes for a wider collaboration with other UK regions.

https://downtowninbusiness.com/mipim

DIB boss, Frank McKenna caught up with Sean Keyes and William Baldwin from Sutcliffe to discuss the upcoming MIPIM 2026 property festival.

In this brief podcast, they discuss what MIPIM means to a company like Sutcliffe, what they are hoping to achieve in Cannes and share their advice on how best to get the most out of MIPIM 2026.

downtowninbusiness.com/mipim

Simon Krol and Daniel Tebay from leading construction company, Krol Corlett, join Frank McKenna on the Downtown Den to discuss the upcoming MIPIM 2026 property festival.

First time MIPIM attendees Simon and Daniel, explain why they are attending MIPIM and what opportunities they hope to find on the international stage.

Visit the Downtown in Business MIPIM microsite. www.downtowninbusiness.com/mipim

The Chief Executive of the Liverpool Business Improvement District, Bill Addy, joins Frank McKenna on the Downtown Den to discuss the upcoming MIPIM 2026 property festival.

They explore why MIPIM remains a crucial platform for Liverpool, the opportunities it presents for investment and collaboration, and how the city is positioning itself on the international stage.

Understanding Shareholders Agreements from the Experts at Glenville Walker

As part of Downtown Den’s Meet the Partners, Frank McKenna caught up with Michael Smeaton and Anna Salisbury from Glenville Walker to get advice for our members about Shareholders Agreements and why we need them. Going into business with a partner can feel like the start of something brilliant. You're aligned on the vision, excited about the opportunity, and ready to build something together. But what happens when things don't go to plan? When one person wants out, or priorities shift, or you simply can't agree on the next step?

That's where shareholders agreements come in. They're often overlooked in those early, optimistic days, but they're one of the most important documents you'll put in place. Think of it as a relationship contract for business partners – setting out who gets what, what happens if someone leaves, and how you'll handle the tough conversations before they become real problems.

Today, we're breaking down what shareholders agreements actually are, why they matter to your business, and the issues we most commonly see when they're not in place – or when they haven't been thought through properly. Because getting this right from the start can save you from costly disputes down the line.

For more information and to find out how Glenville Walker can help you visit www.glenvillewalker.com.

Enjoy a recap of Liverpool Business Improvement District's budget reaction webnar from last November 2025.

On Budget Day (Wednesday 26 November 2025), Liverpool Business Improvement District hosted a special webinar with a panel of industry experts to provide immediate analysis and insight.

Liverpool Business Improvement District Chief Executive Bill Addy was joined by Katelyn Dutton from Sedulo, Steve Nolan from Liverpool John Moores University and DIB’s Frank McKenna.

As the Chancellor delivered her latest update, the panel provided the context of how it will affect you, your business and your staff.

In this season of the Downtown Den podcast, we are joined by some of the leading personalities from across the hospitality sector.

In this episode DIB boss Frank McKenna chats with Sarah Matts from Hyatt Regency in Manchester and Annabel Lax from INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.

In this episode Sarah & Annabel discuss their careers in hospitality, why the enjoy working in the sector and their ambitions and thoughts on the future of hospitality.

Find out more about Hyatt Regency Manchester.

Find out more about INNSiDE By Meliá Manchester.

This season of the Downtown Den podcast is sponsored by The Hospitality Hero.