Andrew Bentley BEM

I’ve been helping to create, consult on, and run businesses in the cultural, private and third sectors for a while now. 

I was responsible for the concept and creation of Storyhouse, the renowned charity and venue. Together with friends and colleagues, we have transformed the national landscape for successful cultural hubs. What could be better than a library that’s also a busy theatre producer, restaurant, café, cinema and community hub?  Nothing, as it turns out.

I often work with a range of very talented, senior associates and colleagues, we are all passionately committed to providing our clients with the very best service and outcomes for themselves and their communities.

  • Director

    Andrew led Storyhouse for ten years as lead consultant and eight as its founding Chief Executive.

    He has both consulted on and run, numerous cultural venues and business, including a stint as Director of Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall, which he also re-built. Along the way Andrew has worked on all sorts of festivals, arenas, large scale events and cultural building projects.

    A parallel career has been in leading hospitality and marketing businesses, including founding Liverpool’s multi award-winning Hope Street Hotel, as well the award winning restaurant The London Carriage Works.

    Andrew was awarded a BEM in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to arts and libraries.

  • Associate

    Caroline is a marketing and communications specialist. As a consultant her work has been focussed on visitor attractions, culture and leisure. Recent clients include Liverpool’s Bluecoat Arts centre, Kew, Storyhouse, Glastonbury Abbey, SS Great Britain, and World Heritage site Jodrell Bank. Prior to becoming a consultant Caroline held senior roles in leading arts organisations and attractions, including Marketing & Comms Director at Wales Millennium Centre, and Marketing Director at Chester Zoo where she worked from 2012 – 2021, responsible for marketing, PR, public affairs, sales, events, membership and fundraising.

    Caroline has expert technical knowledge in marketing and business development, communication and stakeholder engagement, sales and marketing direction.

  • Associate

    Ian is an extremely well-known, and highly respected, leader in the arts community. For 16 years he led on the North West theatre sector for Arts Council England, where he was also responsible for the agency’s entire capital programme investment for the North of England. He also oversaw Art’s Council England’s governance development programme in the North, working with over 200 culture charity boards. Ian was the first Chief Executive of Shakespeare North in Prescot. Ian has managed numerous theatres over many years and was on the National Theatre Council.

  • Associate

    Hannah is a creative and highly qualified design professional with over 22 years industry experience.

    In the library and cultural sector she has worked on Storyhouse (designing library, workshops, restaurant, bar and performance spaces) Z-arts , Manchester (theatre, gallery and performance spaces) Cultura, Nootdorp, Netherlands (library, cafe & restaurant, educational spaces). Brindley Theatre (library, restaurant, bar, study areas and children’s library) BplusC Library, Stevenshof, Leiden - Netherlands (library, café, cultural centre) Oldham Old Library (adaptive reuse library, gallery).

    Hannah designs unique public spaces and is passionate about engaging with communities on how they are going to work