Member Spotlight: Rachael Easton, Founder and Creative Director, With Rachael LTD.

Introduce yourself:

I’m Rachael, Founder and Creative Director of With Rachael LTD, a design studio specialising in hospitality venues and destination spaces. My journey started with a deep fascination for how spaces make people feel. How the right lighting, layout, and carefully considered details can completely shift someone’s mood or memory of an experience. That emotional power of place has stayed with me ever since.

After studying interior design, I spent over 12 years in the industry, working my way from junior designer to creative lead within an agency environment. I had the opportunity to design for everything from boutique hotels and award-winning restaurants to large-scale rollouts and brand-led destination venues. It gave me a solid foundation, but over time, I found myself questioning the wider impact of my work. I realised that while aesthetics mattered, they only told part of the story. Venues also needed to function, to support business goals, and to serve both guests and staff in meaningful ways.

So I founded With Rachael to flip the script. My mission is to create spaces that are not only beautiful but strategic. Places that reflect the heart of a brand while supporting growth, guest experience, and operational flow. I work with hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners and groups who are deeply invested in their venues and want them to be more than just spaces. They want them to be a living, breathing extension of their brand and business goals.

At the core of the work I do is a belief that good design should work hard for a business. That’s why I take a hands-on, research-led approach, aligning every design decision with the client’s vision and commercial priorities. I collaborate closely with owners and operators to ensure their space not only feels right but performs by attracting the right guests, enhancing loyalty, and turning one-time visits into lasting impressions.

Career highlight:

One of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing the transformation, not just in the spaces I design, but in the businesses and people behind them. Watching a venue come to life and knowing it’s now helping a client grow, attract the right guests, or reconnect with the heart of their brand. That’s the real highlight for me.

Another defining moment in my career was stepping out on my own to launch With Rachael. It was a leap, but it gave me the freedom to work in a way that truly aligns with my values, combining design, strategy, and purpose to create spaces that drive results and feel deeply meaningful.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work collaboratively across disciplines. I have worked alongside branding teams, operational consultants, architects, and developers, to ensure every aspect of a venue is aligned and intentional. I’ve also worked with larger multi-site operators to develop design guidelines and principles that help create quiet consistency across their estate, ensuring each location feels unique while still clearly connected to the wider brand.

Name three words that describe your personality:

Curious, passionate and intentional

What’s the best thing about pro-manchester?

I joined pro-manchester because of the openness of its community. As someone who wasn’t naturally drawn to traditional networking spaces, it felt like a welcoming and supportive place to start, and to grow. The mix of event formats makes it easy to find your own rhythm, whether that’s through casual catch-ups, more structured sessions, or inspiring panel events. What stood out most to me is the hands-on approach of the pro-manchester team,they genuinely want to see their members succeed and go out of their way to champion and promote them. That level of care and connection makes a real difference.

What are your priorities for 2025?

2025 is all about intentional growth. I want to continue building With Rachael through thoughtful collaborations with operators, consultants, and brands who see design as a strategic tool, not just a finishing touch. I’m also focused on developing more content and thought leadership around the power of design in hospitality, helping venue owners and operators understand how space can directly support their goals.

Beyond that, I’m prioritising clarity and depth in the projects I take on. I want to work with people who care about what they’re creating and are excited to build something meaningful, not just beautiful. That sense of alignment is where the best work happens.

What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?

Manchester’s ambition to become a leading European hub for innovation and international investment is setting the tone for some really exciting shifts. You can feel it in the energy of the city—across hospitality, design, and beyond.

Favourite meeting place in Manchester?

Foley’s is my go-to atm! I love working from there, and it’s a great spot for a coffee and a good conversation. I’m also a big fan of exploring Manchester’s independent coffee shops, especially anywhere serving a great flat white with oat milk. The independent restaurant scene is just as exciting, it’s full of creativity and passion, and it’s a constant source of inspiration.

Are there any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet?

I’d love to connect with hospitality operators, developers, and brands who are creating or evolving venues and want to take a more strategic approach to design. I’m also always interested in meeting collaborators, particularly those in operations, brand, or guest experience, who share a belief that great spaces start with a clear purpose. Whether it’s a new opening, a rebrand, or improving performance in an existing space, I’m always keen to explore how design can support those goals.