Food entrepreneur joins MediaCityUK’s The Landing as work starts on Social 7 project

MediaCityUK’s digital and technology enterprise hub The Landing has embarked on a refurbishment of its seventh floor.

The project will see the level become Social 7, a revamped space comprising meeting areas, a 200-person events room and conference facilities for the tech sector.

To strengthen Social 7’s offering, The Landing appointed culinary entrepreneur Carla Taylor to run its new food and drink operations.

Carla, founder of the Penelope’s range of food businesses, will deliver the services under a five-year contract with the development.

The Landing’s commercial director, Paul Billington, said: “Carla runs a number of food businesses around MediaCityUK already and her reputation for quality food provision is second to none.

“We are hugely looking forward to seeing what her team delivers here.”

He continued: “Social 7 is a really exciting development, both for our tenant communities and for the wider tech community. It will have connected spaces and this, along with the development of our brand new events and conference facilities, is all part of our strategic business plans.

“We have a particularly strong offering for those in the rapid growth healthcare, education, government, music and VR/AR tech industries.”

Carla commented: “This is a very exciting opportunity for my team. I’ve been running the Penelope’s businesses for nearly five years and we have always had a base at MediaCityUK, it has become home to us.

“We’re planning on bringing a different approach to food and leaning on my experience in the food sector in New York with things like grazing tables, local produce – high quality, but reasonably priced.”

She added: “We’re also planning a 30 variety gin bar and partnerships with local fresh food suppliers. My team takes pride on our personable service and we look forward to getting to know the tenants and catering for their needs.”

MediaCityUK managing director Steven Wild said: “The launch of Social 7 will bring a fantastic and new dimension to the catering and hospitality offering at MediaCityUK and will give our community a great space, to meet, socialise and do business.

“Carla and her team will inject the ‘anything is possible’ vibe into Social 7 and I’m sure it will be a great success.”

Social 7 will launch in March.

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