Meet the Team at The Walled Garden Venue in Nottingham
Nestled in the heart of Nottingham, our venue is more than just a place to celebrate. It’s a space that has been lovingly brought to life by our team.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, corporate event, or private celebration, our team is at the heart of making each occasion special so we thought it was time for you to be properly introduced!
Emma - General Manager
Emma has been with The Walled Garden since it first opened 12 years ago, drawn in by the unique opportunity to breathe new life into a place rich with history, and plenty of gardening! She oversees everything from the team and garden to company finances, ethics, and future plans, always aiming to create an inspiring, supportive environment for staff and guests. Her favourite part of the job? The incredible team spirit and watching the garden come back to life each year. Outside of work, you’ll find Emma gardening, getting stuck into DIY, reading, travelling somewhere sunny with friends, or enjoying mini adventures with her children.
Lauren - Sales Office Manager
Lauren is our Wedding & Events Office Manager and all-round powerhouse behind the scenes. She leads the sales team, supports our wedding couples from first visit to “I do,” and heads up The Evergreens - our sustainability team. Lauren was drawn here by her love of gardens, great service, and gorgeous spaces and its kept her here for over six years now! Outside of work, you’ll find her baking cakes, exploring new places, and walking her dog through the fields.
Sophie - Wedding & Events Planner
For the past two years, Sophie has been bringing energy, creativity, and a love for people to every part of the wedding & events planning process. No two days are the same for her, and that’s just how she likes it. Whether she’s walking couples through the venue or soaking up the garden views, she’s always got a smile on her face. Outside of work, Sophie’s all about long dog walks, Zumba sessions, interior design, and sipping cocktails in the sunshine.
Simon - Operations Manager
With over a decade at The Walled Garden, Simon is always there behind the scenes, making sure everything flows seamlessly. After many years working in hotels, he returned to his hometown of Nottingham to raise his young family and found the perfect fit with our team. For him the best part of the job is working alongside a team he genuinely enjoys spending time with. Away from the venue, he’s a live music enthusiast, a loyal Nottingham Forest fan, and a lover of all things football and darts.
Katy - Assistant Operations Manager
Meet Katy, our brilliant Assistant Operations Manager who’s all about making wedding days run like clockwork. From setting tables and organising ceremony spaces to keeping the drinks flowing, she’s the calm behind the scenes ensuring every detail is just right. With nearly four years at The Walled Garden, Katy brought her hospitality experience into the wedding & events world and never looked back. She loves being part of such a special moment in couples' lives. When she’s not at work, she’s busy with her two little boys, spending time with family, and winding down with a true crime doc.
Rob - Head Chef
Rob has been at the heart of our kitchen for years, bringing heart and soul to everything he does. As Head Chef, he’s known for his legendary BBQs and slow-cooked beef brisket, often declared the best for miles. A lover of rock and heavy metal, you can bet when Rob’s in the kitchen, music is spilling out from the kitchen radio.
Alex - Sous Chef
As Sous Chef, Alex ensures the kitchen runs like clockwork in the Head Chef’s absence. With nine months at The Walled Garden, he says he’s found a better work-life balance that lets him truly enjoy what he does. When he’s not creating delicious dishes in the kitchen, Alex is all about building model railways. And when he needs an energy boost, you’ll find him cranking Highway to Hell by AC/DC.
Harry - Operations Duty Manager
Harry is one of our reliable Duty Managers here at The Walled Garden. He first joined the team back in 2019 as back-of-house staff and worked his way into the operations team in 2023. Harry’s all about the people, he loves working alongside a team he can trust and have a laugh with. Outside of work, you’ll find him snapping photos, hanging out with friends, or catching up on the latest Formula One action.
Jake - Operations Duty Manager
Jake’s been part of the Beeston Fields team for nearly ten years, and has spent the last three working at The Walled Garden. He’s known for keeping things running smoothly, even when plans change last-minute, always with a calm head and a sense of humour. Outside of work, you’ll usually find him outdoors, playing football, going for a run, or doing anything that keeps him active.
Emilie - Head Gardener
Emilie has been part of the team for four and a half years, after falling in love with the garden while attending a wedding at the venue. Now, as Head Gardener, she leads the gardening team and brings creativity to the borders, problem-solving seasonal challenges and helping the space thrive. Her favourite part of the job is being outdoors, surrounded by birds, flowers, and a truly lovely team. Feeling the rhythm of the seasons, she says, is “so good for the soul.” Outside of work, Emilie enjoys trips to Broadway Cinema (A Nottingham gem!), National Trust days out with her daughters, or playing piano.
Abi - Marketing Executive
Abi joined the team in March and quickly settled into life at the garden. With a background in live music and events marketing, she was drawn to the chance to promote such a unique and beautiful venue. Whether it's dreaming up new ideas to help people discover the space, or planning upcoming campaigns, Abi’s all about sharing what makes the garden so special. She's loved watching it bloom for the first time this spring and feels lucky to be surrounded by so much nature, and a lovely team. Outside of work, you’ll usually find her listening to live music, at a festival, or eating her way around Nottingham’s best independent spots.
Anela - Weddings & Events Assistant
Meet Anela, our wonderful Wedding & Events Assistant. From behind-the-scenes admin to being there on the wedding day, she’s always ready to jump in wherever she’s needed. She joined the team just over a year ago, originally supporting operations before stepping into her current role, a natural fit for someone with a lifelong love for weddings. Anela’s favourite part of the job? Watching each couple bring their own style and magic to the marquee. In her spare time away from work she loves adventuring with her two children (or sneaking in a solo shopping trip when she can!).
Aja - Junior Sous Chef
Meet Aja, our talented Junior Sous Chef who helps deliver top-quality food at all of our events. After starting as an agency chef nearly four years ago, she joined the team full-time. A former professional footballer, Aja brings that same passion and teamwork into the kitchen. She’s worked in kitchens across the world but says this is one of the best thanks to the amazing team. Outside of work, she loves hiking, travelling, and a good singalong pop hit from any era!
Will - Maintenance
If anything needs fixing or building at The Walled Garden, Will is your man! He’s been part of the team for a year and a half, keeping everything in top shape behind the scenes, from everyday maintenance to bigger projects that help the venue shine. One of Will’s favourite parts of the job is simply driving through the gates into the picturesque surroundings of Beeston Fields. When he’s not at work, he enjoys family walks and appreciating the natural world, always reminding us to “stop and smell the flowers.” Safe to say, he’s in the perfect place to do just that!
Ella - Florist
Ella is our in-house florist (check out her business Old Bricks and Blossom) and has been part of The Walled Garden team for nearly a decade. She’s worn many hats over the years, from wedding planning to gardening, before finding her home in floristry. These days, she works closely with couples to design beautiful, bespoke arrangements for their big day, from the first mood board to the final bouquet. She loves the garden (and the fact that dogs are welcome at work!), and when she’s not surrounded by blooms, you’ll find her on countryside walks, sipping wine with friends, and dancing to anything 80s.