Uptown Events

Adam Phillips

Adam Phillips

Director

Adam joined Uptown Events as a director in 2006 having originally trained as a chartered accountant at BDO Stoy Hayward. Throughout school and University Adam ran his own events company which he merged with Uptown when he joined. He works on a variety of different events such as private parties, corporate parties, conferences and away days. Adam is very involved with his clients and it’s rare for him to have a day without any meetings. Adam is married with 3 boys.

Perfect Day Off:  Spending the day with my wife and three boys on a beach with my mobile phone switched off!

Ultimate Party Song: “Dont stop me now” by Queen

Most Memorable Event: I have been involved in numerous private parties over the years and each event is unique its own way. The most memorable event I was involved in was a 30th anniversary party for a company. We constructed a large marquee in Waterloo overlooking the river and the event was for around 800 people. We had a champagne reception outside and then a seated formal dinner. I was able to be really creative with the entertainment and design of the event.

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Belinda Hemmings

Corporate Events Manager

Belinda joined Uptown Events in 2007 as a university placement student. While on her year-long placement she worked on the Private Events side of Uptown Events, after a fantastic year Belinda left to finish her degree. Once Belinda had completed University she temporarily returned to Uptown Events before heading off for 6 months to travel Australia and South East Asia. After an amazing experience travelling Belinda returned to London and Uptown Events in 2010 and now works on the Corporate Events side of the company.

Perfect day off: Relaxing in the sun with a glass of Pimms.

Ultimate party song: All Night Long by Lionel Richie

Most memorable event: The most memorable event I had the pleasure to organise was a Christmas party at the top of the Gherkin. It is a stunning party venue with breath taking views across London and delicious food. Splitting the event over two spaces, the dinner and speeches took place on the lower restaurant level while after dinner the guests were moved upstairs to the very top of the Gherkin and enjoyed 360 degree views over London while chatting at the bar and dancing the night away in a top London venue.

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Bert Habib

Director & Co-Founder of Uptown Events

Bert Habib joined forces with Mark Sudic in 1987 straight from school to create parties for North London teenagers.  After a while, people and charities started asking to have their events organised by them.  A former pupil of JFS, Bert has been part of Uptown Events from the outset. Bert has always maintained a day to day involvement in everything that goes on and always remains hands-on at any event.  Even after 25 years, Bert remains passionate about every event no matter how big or small and strives to maintain the high standards that Uptown Events has become known for. Bert is married with 2 children and hopes one day they’ll join him in the company.

Perfect Day Off: would be spending a day at Champneys being engulfed in total relaxation (with his wife, of course!)

Ultimate Party Song: “I Will Survive” by the Hermes House Band

Most Memorable Event: the most memorable event I was involved in was a 25th anniversary party for a company in Kent.  The owner who had a home with a very large field, decided he wanted us to put a funfair in his very large garden and have a BBQ for 500 of his staff and their families.  Although there was a marquee with entertainment and a band and emergency rain protection, it was the hottest day of the year and everyone partied until the early hours.  The party ended with a spectacular firework display.  I’ll always remember the looks on the guests' faces and how friendly every single person was that came.

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Carly Buch

Events Assistant

Carly is a new member of the Uptown team.  Originally from South Africa, she graduated with her BA in Drama. She then went onto perform in South Africa, Dubai and China. In 2011 Carly completed her MA at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama which is how she came to live in London. Events are akin to a one night performance and events management to directing. Loving performance as she does, she was thrilled to join Uptown getting a chance to be involved in creating magical memories for clients.

Perfect Day Off: This would include sleeping, eating good food, drinking good wine, watching good theatre and listening to good music - in no particular order. 

Ultimate Party Song: ‘September’ by Earth Wind and Fire is always a good one!

Most Memorable Event: Most memorable event has to be the first event I managed for Uptown which also happened to be my first Quinceañera - South American traditional 15th Birthday Party. With masks, drummers and Carnival dancers it was an awesome night and definitely one I won’t forget.

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Laura Beck

Private Events Manager

Laura originally joined Uptown to gain experience in private events back in 2008 following her work for an event agency in the corporate sector.  After graduation from the University of Manchester, Laura joined an event agency specialising in high end private events, finally returning to Uptown 6 months ago with more experience and inspiring new ideas! Laura loves watching months of planning and designing come to fruition and the fact no two days are ever the same. Her knowledge and enthusiasm enable clients' visions to become a reality.

Perfect Day Off: Good cocktails, good music, good company and sunshine

Ultimate Party Song: It changes weekly but currently Michel Telo “Ai Se Eu Ti Pego”

Most Memorable Event: Building an Arctic set in a hotel for a Barmitzvah. The boys’ entrance involved creating a snowstorm on the dance floor and the décor incorporated ice, 2m high tablecentres and video footage of the Northern Lights piped around the room. An X Factor celeb performance topped the evening off together with fantastic DJs.

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Lisa Marks

Private Events Manager

Lisa originally started Uptown Events on a three week work experience placement in 2009 after completing a Social Psychology degree at the University of Kent. Shortly after, Lisa was offered a job to work full time with Uptown and was thrilled for the opportunity and challenge of working in an industry completely different to anything she had done before.  After initially helping out generally within the office Lisa took over dealing with Private Events at Uptown when Belinda went travelling for 6 months at the beginning of 2010. Lisa loves working on as many events as she can and loves the challenges that her job throws at her!

Perfect day off:  Spending the day at a totally empty Westfield followed by some delicious cocktails in the evening

Ultimate party song:  This Is How We Do It – Montell Jordan

Most memorable event: The most memorable event I was involved in was a Barmitzvah at the stunning Landmark Hotel in Marylebone. Our task was transforming the hotel ballroom into a mini Wimbledon. With the room completely unrecognisable from how it had been only hours earlier that morning - the entire room had been astroturfed and beautiful flower arrangements - with tennis rackets in them of course - decorated the tennis player themed tables. The tables centred round an incredible, bespoke, tennis court dance floor - complete with tennis net mechitza to be used during the Israeli dancing.

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Mark Sudic

Director

Mark Sudic and Bert Habib first started creating events in 1987, focusing on large parties and club promotion for London teenagers. In 2006 Adam Phillips joined them and Uptown Events was created. Mark has always been passionate about events and new ideas within the industry. Mark works on both private events and large corporate events from conferences to Christmas parties. Mark is married with twin girls.   

Perfect Day Off:  In the hot tub with some bubbly.

Ultimate Party Song: “Gangnam Style” by PSY

Most Memorable Event: The most memorable event I created was a corporate Teambuilding Event and Awards Ceremony. The two day event took place at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire and was attended by 150 employees and their families. The event consisted of various outdoor teambuilding activities, a conference, awards dinner and overnight stays. A large part of the event was outside therefore, we also built a marquee structure in the grounds in case of bad weather but luckily the sun shined.

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Michelle Schechter

Accounts Manager

Michelle joined Uptown Events at the beginning of 2012 and has already become part of the furniture. Michelle says working for an events company is her dream job as she loves finding out about new party venues. Prior to joining Uptown Events Michelle worked as a nursery school teacher which included caring for children with special needs. Michelle is married and has four children aged between 9 and 14.

Ultimate Party Song: Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

Perfect Day Off - Shopping in Selfridges

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Natalie Cole

Private Events Manager

Natalie joined Uptown Events in 2010 when she moved to London from her native Israel. Having worked as a wedding coordinator in Israel, Natalie then travelled Australia for a year before joining a leading caterer as an Event Manager, where she honed her creative skills before joining the Uptown team. Her remarkable eye for detail and her passion for innovation allow Natalie to create a “wow” factor at her events.

Perfect Day Off: Eating at a good restaurant and spending time with friends

Ultimate Party Song: Salaam

Most Memorable Event: Transforming a blank canvas studio into a Moroccan themed banquet for a Barmitzvah. Everything down to the music was authentic and the venue was unrecognisable by the time the guests arrived.

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