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You couldn’t really confuse a rainy Leeds dockside with the sunny sweep of the Mediterranean. But then you wouldn't get a beer called Aspirational Kickflip at Cannes.

I spent a day this week at the º£½ÇÊÓƵ Real Estate, Investment, and Infrastructure Forum in Leeds - more widely known as the unpleasantly capitalised º£½ÇÊÓƵREiiF.

It’s effectively the º£½ÇÊÓƵ’s answer to MIPIM, the world-famous property festival that happens annually on the Riviera waterfront at Cannes.

Like MIPIM it’s packed with dealmakers, investors, and officials from the public and private sectors. You can see them meeting at the outdoor pavilions, sheltering from the downpours on the rain-sodden artificial grass. You can see them packed into the cafes, theatres and meeting rooms in and around the landmark Royal Armouries Museum. And you can see them gathered around the dozens of stands in the exhibition hall.

Big events included , as well as Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram’s also connecting Manchester Airport and Warrington Bank Quay.

The North West was, as ever, well represented. Manchester and London shared the unmissable yellow and black Canary pavilion overlooking Leeds Dock.

Liverpool city region took a large stand just inside the entrance to one of Royal Armouries Exhibition hall. That was a smart move - its events were so busy that the crowds - all wearing headphones, silent disco-style - were unmissable.

Next door was the bright yellow Cheshire and Warrington stand, which was also busy throughout the night. And it was especially busy at closing time, when delegates passed around soft drinks and cans of ale from Chester’s Spookton Brew Co - including the refreshing Aspirational Kickflip pale ale.