HEADQUARTERS E U R O P E , M I D D L E - E A S T, A F R I C A
Destination Report England is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - March 2011 published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com
MORE POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND
BALTIC, Centre for Contemporary Art, NewcastleGateshead
> INTRODUCTION
ENGLAND NEVER STANDS STILL IT’S THE SECOND TIME HQ HAS PUBLISHED A SPECIAL FEATURE ON ENGLAND. OBVIOUSLY THE COUNTRY HAS MANY MORE SECRETS YET TO BE REVEALED. ENGLAND IS CONSTANTLY ON THE MOVE, WITH NEW HOTELS OPENING UP, OLD FACTORIES AND MILLS BEING TURNED INTO UNUSUAL MEETING VENUES,
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On en an
AMBASSADOR PROGRAMMES BEING SET UP ON A REGULAR BASIS. SIMON GIDMAN, BUSINESS VISITS & EVENTS MANAGER AT VISITENGLAND, SHARES HIS VIEWS ABOUT WHY ENGLAND IS SUCH
NEWCASTLE G
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> INTRODUCTION
HQ: Have things changed in the past year? How so?
NOTTINGHAM
One of the mo st sophisticated urban environments with a legenda ry past and an enviable rep utation for nig htlife
CAMBRIDGE
This elegant world-class university city is a centre of excellence both in learning and ambience
Simon Gidman: England is a country that never stands still. The change taking place in many of England’s major cities is very exciting. New hotels, conference venues, shopping centres and attractions have opened, continuing to strengthen the visitor offer. For instance, Manchester Central has just undergone an impressive redevelopment, ICC at Excel London opened last year to international acclaim, Brighton Centre is heavily investing in its renovation, just like Harrogate International Centre, set in the heart of the delightful Yorkshire spa town. Many of England’s famous historic cities have also seen some superb new hotel developments such as the Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, and the Cedar Court Grand in York. In 2011 we are preparing for more development. Due for completion in the summer of 2011 is for example the City Park in Bradford, Yorkshire. The project will create a vibrant 24,690 m2 public meeting and events space hosting 10,000 people in the heart of Bradford city centre. There is also the new Museum of Liverpool, due to open in July 2011: once complete it will provide 8,000 m2 of dedicated public space over three floors (more on this on the next page).
HQ: Does England continue to see international associations as its prime target when it comes to meetings?
OXFORD One of England’s most beautiful cities, dominated by the 1000year old university and impressive architecture
Simon Gidman: The English conference and meetings industry contributes around £15 billion to the English economy so we appreciate how important it is to continue to attract the leading international association and corporate meetings. England is a world leader in many fields including pharmaceuticals and healthcare, advanced engineering, environmental technologies and green energies and the creative industries such as digital media and video gaming and this is where see our future. The country is at the cutting edge of developments in these fields and it is essential that we continue to showcase our expertise in these areas to visitors from all over the world. Given the great destinations and venues we have to offer, the continued value for money and the easy access from around the globe it’s not surprising that more and more associations are looking at destinations across England for their main conferences.
HQ: What is Visit England’s ‘added value’ when you’re an association wanting to meet in England?
LONDON
Simon Gidman: We know that many associations need help and advice when planning their major conferences and events. England’s convention bureaux are extremely
Simon Gidman
England is a country that never stands still. The change taking place in many of England’s major cities is very exciting professional offering the full ‘convention bureau’ service at every stage of the planning process as well as during and post-event. They can offer venue search, site visits, social programme planning, bid preparation and presentation, transportation and logistical planning, online accommodation booking and marketing and promotion of the event. Many can also secure special conference rates for air travel and go to great lengths to provide a warm English welcome, with reps to greet, tourist information and maps and delegate cards for discounts in local shops and attractions. As the national tourist board, VisitEngland’s meeting and events division, MeetEngland, can act as a one-stop shop when it comes to choosing your destination. We can coordinate proposals from a number of different destinations, offering our in-depth knowledge of the whole country. We also carry out site visits where we take clients to a number of potential destinations and regularly present our leading cities to association planners around the world at networking dinners, exhibitions and events.
CONTACT Simon Gidman Business Visits & Events Manager MeetEngland – VisitEngland +44 (0)20 7578 1442 simon.gidman@visitengland.org www.meetengland.com
A grand city wi th a perfect bin ding of the past and the present excit es and inspires like nowhere else in the wo rld HEADQUARTERS 3
> REGENERATION W London - Leicester Square
REGENERATION IS THE KEY WORD
Liverpool waterfront
WHETHER IT’S A VIBRANT URBAN METROPOLIS, BEAUTIFUL COASTAL RETREAT OR PICTURE POSTCARD RURAL VILLAGE, ENGLAND HAS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF DESTINATIONS EACH CAPABLE OF OFFERING SOMETHING VERY DISTINCT TO THE EVENT PLANNER. BUT THEY ALL HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON: THEY SEEM TO BE REGENERATING BEFORE OUR VERY EYES, AND FOR THE ASSOCIATION PLANNER IT’S JUST A WONDER.
England obviously can do global business centres, party capitals of the world, postindustrial chic, conferences by the beach and magnificent countryside. Its many heritage cities are known and recognisable the world over; across the country you will be amazed at the stunning contrast between modern and historic. In fact, it seems like no other place on earth gives the event planner the ability to readily combine rural and urban, modern and historic. The regeneration that seems to happen everywhere is really striking. In the last two years, I took two trips to England and each time I was amazed to witness how cities that I previously thought to be industrial and
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lacking in charm are in fact full of character, compact and easy to travel around and with so many interesting things to see and do - real gems for a conference delegate.
TRANSFORMING ALL THE WAY Take Liverpool for example. Over the past 10 years, millions of pounds of investment have transformed the City Region for tourism and business visitors alike, and yet it firmly retains a charming character - think about the Beatles! Included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list since 2004, it also celebrated its status as European Capital of Culture in 2008. Liverpool City Region has indeed an unbeatable variety of world-class museums, galleries and theatres, as well
as stunning architecture and a spectacular waterfront - just take my word for it. A major addition to the city’s cultural offer is the Museum of Liverpool, the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for over a century and a great place for special meetings or gala dinners. What’s of interest here is that Liverpool City Region has become known as the ‘Capital of Conferencing’, thanks to a number of new world-class venues for events and conferences. Among the showpiece developments is the award-winning Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool (ACC Liverpool), situated on the city’s World Heritage Waterfront, adjacent to Albert Dock, and also the BT Convention Centre which opened in Spring 2008. In terms of accommodation, the sector has, this year, seen the opening of independent hotels Heywood House and base2stay, and in 2011 choice will grow further with Days Inn and Hotel Indigo. Birmingham has also been undergoing radical infrastructural regeneration. The
> REGENERATION Birmingham
Piccadilly Square, Manchester
DID YOU KNOW THAT…
ExCeL London
+ England has 23 airports (5 in London) + There are numerous direct ferry connections from many cities across the European continent including France, Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway and Spain + Reclaiming your VAT is easy, thanks to the efficient system of the UK VAT refund authorities and the wealth of practical help and advice available + England is leading the way in ensuring events held here are truly sustainable. Many of England’s leading conference facilities have incorporated the latest ‘green technology’, source local food and have teams based within the venue that specifically help event planners to achieve the highest sustainability standards + England provides the event planner with great value for money thanks to recent changes in the exchange rates, competitive rates among a diversity of venues, great accessibility from everywhere in the world, and the government’s initiative to offer the visit of many attractions free of charge + BS8901, a British standard, was the first recognized sustainability standard for international events in the world.
Cavern Club in Liverpool
city’s status as ‘the city of 1,000 trades’ and the leader of the Industrial Revolution transformed in the 1970s with the construction of the National Exhibition Centre, next to Birmingham Airport and the soon-tobe-completed M42 motorway. The biggest exhibition centre in the UK, the NEC has grown from strength to strength. Birmingham’s transport network is also undergoing significant change. Investment into the redevelopment of Birmingham’s New Street train station aims to turn it into a world-class gateway for the city. The ‘Birmingham Gateway’ scheme was unveiled in 2006 and promises more space for passengers. The project is due to be fully completed in 2015. Last but not least, Birmingham Airport’s existing main runway could be extended to 3,000m as soon as 2012, ensuring it can serve a full range of worldwide destinations.
last 20 years, a critical momentum has been established in the city, driven by people who produce results and get things done. If you keep returning to Manchester you will be amazed at the speed things change there. Recent and upcoming additions to the city’s already extensive meeting and event offerings, include new venues - the expanded Manchester Central Convention
England obviously can do global business centres, party capitals of the world, post-industrial chic, conferences by the beach and magnificent countryside. Its many heritage cities are known and recognisable the world over Complex, once a central railway station, the Point at Old Trafford, the new National Football Museum, People’s History Museum, and numerous new hotels, as well as further access to the city via different airlines.
DRIVE TO CHANGE Combining historical importance, awardwinning architecture and rich culture, Manchester is a popular destination of choice for association planners. Over the
when it’s over. East London best embodies this strong desire: with its own airport (London City Airport) and London’s first international conventiontion centre, it’s undergoing radical changes. ExCeL London has indeed just completed a huge expansion programme that has created new, versatile spaces. In terms of accommodation, I wouldn’t be able to list all the new openings
And of course there is London, which doesn’t really need introduction. Just as it gets ready to host the 2012 Olympics, it hopes to make good ‘meeting’ use of the developments
here, so I have selected just one. In February 2011, W London - Leicester Square opened its coveted doors to the public. Set within the epicentre of London’s entertainment scene, the hotel is nestled between cultural Soho and the world-famous square. The building stands 10-storeys tall, veiled in translucent glass, which changes colour according to the time of day, the ambience of the area, or happenings in the hotel or the city.
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> NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD
MORE SURPRISES FROM NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD ‘SURPRISING’ IS OFTEN A WORD USED TO DESCRIBE NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD. LOCATED AT THE HEART OF NORTH EAST ENGLAND, THE RIVER TYNE IS THE DESTINATION’S LIFE-BLOOD, WITH THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE ON THE NORTH BANK AND THE TOWN OF GATESHEAD ON THE SOUTH. NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD ARE STITCHED TOGETHER BY SEVEN SPECTACULAR BRIDGES SPANNING THE CENTURIES, AND THE TWO PLACES FORM A COSMOPOLITAN HUB, A DESTINATION FOR BOTH BUSINESS AND PLAY, WITH STUNNING CITYSCAPES, INTERNATIONAL BRAND HOTELS, SPECTACULAR VISITOR ATTRACTIONS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
What makes the destination so surprising is the extraordinary personality that resonates from the city’s 2000-years of history and its warm and welcoming people. ‘Friendly’ hit the top spot for words used to describe the destination in a recent delegate survey conducted by NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, and showed delegate satisfaction to be high with 99% rating their conference venue as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. Already an established and popular destination for international association congresses, NewcastleGateshead has two leading universities at its heart and is internationally recognised for the quality of its medical, scientific and technological research. Newcastle University delivers world class research in new and renewable energies, marine science and technology, civil engineering, sustainability, medicine and clinical sciences - particularly stem cells and regenerative medicine, dentistry, cancer research and ageing and vitality. Northumbria University is developing cutting edge research in fields such as health sciences, design, architecture and the built
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environment and engineering. Both add to the destination’s strength and continued success as the UK’s most sustainable city (as named by the Forum for the Future in 2009/2010) and a leading light as a dedicated ‘Science City’.
from across Europe, but many of them may not be familiar with new, compact destinations like NewcastleGateshead which is increasingly offering an alternative, authentically English experience.
Jessica Roberts, Head of Business Tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau says : ‘NewcastleGateshead has long been known as a place that produces leaders at the forefront of invention and development, from George Stephenson, known as the ‘father of the railways’ and Joseph Swan, inventor of the incandescent light bulb. These days, the quality of our academic research is renewing the destination’s reputation as an innovative, forward looking place and this is reflected in the broad range of international congresses hosted here. Delegates from across the world come to NewcastleGateshead to meet, debate and explore new ideas in a setting that has been inspiring people for centuries’.
NewcastleGateshead combines all that is good about England’s conference offer; a wealth of experienced event professionals, easy access and low-cost international travel, an attractive, compact and welcoming city centre combining to ensure a first class delegate experience. As a growing destination it has, for many, an undiscovered charm; a rich Roman heritage is complemented by distinctive contemporary architecture, creating one of the most beautiful and striking conference cities in Britain.
MEET IN NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD, EXPERIENCE ENGLAND England is well known to conference organisers
NewcastleGateshead’s infrastructure was born out of the industrial revolution, which left its mark though the development of a well planned, beautiful city centre. The historic heart of the city, known as ‘Grainger Town’, is home to a the spectacular Grey Street, its curve of golden sandstone leading
Inside Gates
> NEWCASTLEGATESHEAD
tional Congress on Marine Corrosion, 10th International Colloquium on Group Theoretical Methods in Physics and the International Conference on Priorities in Healthcare. In coming years, NewcastleGateshead will play host to delegates from across the world with meetings including the European Society for Paediatric Research 2011 and the International Ethological Congress 2013 on their way.
Newcastle Civic Centre
Already an establ and popular dest ished for international ination association cong NewcastleGateshresses, two leading univ ead has at its heart and isersities internationally re for the quality of cognised medical, scientifi it c and technological rese arch
visitors away from the city’s main shopping area towards the famous Quayside. Here the 21st century takes over with striking contemporary icons such as the tilting Gateshead Millennium Bridge, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead. There are also two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Hadrian’s Wall and Durham Castle and Cathedral - right on the doorstep together with miles of beautiful coastline, studded with historic castles.
VENUE VARIETY Home to a diverse mix of inspiring and quality venues, NewcastleGateshead’s flagship congress centre is The Sage Gateshead, a stunning landmark building and the area’s largest venue. Its main auditorium can accommodate up to 1,650 delegates, and is complimented by a range of breakout spaces for up to 370 delegates and a stunning concourse with city and river views, an unrivalled setting for exhibitions, posters, catering and networking.
combined with attractive and accessible city-centre locations. As well as Newcastle and Northumbria universities, just to the south are Durham University, with a range of striking historic and contemporary settings, and the University of Sunderland compete with stateof-the-art conference spaces and home to the National Glass Centre. The latter is extremely popular for conference dinners and even offers live glass blowing demonstrations. Newcastle Civic Centre is a striking Grade II listed building and a versatile conference venue. Catering for up to 600 delegates, the impressive Council Chamber is one of the best equipped meeting rooms in NewcastleGateshead and the hospitality suite delivers superb conferences and corporate events by offering versatility and state of the art multimedia facilities. These venues are all complemented by a wide range of hotels and accommodation options, offering something for every budget from city centre university accommodation and discrete boutique hotels to big brand names including Hilton, Holiday Inn and Marriott. In total, NewcastleGateshead offers in excess of 5,500 bedrooms.
EASY TO GET TO An easily accessible destination for conference delegates, Newcastle International Airport is connected to over 250 destinations worldwide and enjoys direct connections to a range of major international hubs, including Dubai, Paris, Amsterdam and London Heathrow. The airport is just 22 minutes from the centre of the city via the clean and efficient Metro system or is just 10 minutes (around €20) in a taxi.
PLACE FOR BUSINESS While NewcastleGateshead may be new to some, many congress planners have already discovered its strengths as a conference city. Major meetings that have taking place in recent years have included the 15th Interna-
Inside The Sage Gateshead
For planners preferring academic settings, North East England’s major universities provide excellent meetings facilities for up to 800 delegates. They offer extensive meeting space and onsite, low-cost accommodation,
Its compact size makes NewcastleGateshead a very walkable destination, with its frequent Metro and QuayLink bus services, the general rule is ‘you’re never more than 10 minutes from anywhere’ in the city centre.
MORE INFO www.NewcastleGateshead.com/Meet
> SHEFFIELD
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SHEFFIELD HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER? HONESLTY, BEFORE I GOT THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE LAST JANUARY, ALL I KNEW
©Sheena Woodhead
SHEFFIELD, A TRUE GEM TO BE DISCOVERED WAS THAT THE MOVIE ‘THE FULLY MONTY’ TAKES PLACE THERE AND THAT THEY MANUFACTURED GREAT CUTLERY IN THE PAST. I WAS ASTONISHED TO DISCOVER A CITY ON THE MOVE, BUSTLING WITH INNOVATIVE, DYNAMIC PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY. FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETING, IT COULD WELL BE THE PLACE TO BE, SHEFFIELD HAVING STRONG CLUSTERS
City Hall
OF COMPETITIVENESS IN MANY KEY AREAS.
Me
Enough of this industrial, bleak image that Sheffield still might have in some people’s heads! If it was recognized for its iron and steel industries in the 18th and 19th centuries, the city has moved its focus to several other areas towards the end of the 20th century: advanced manufacturing, digital new media, healthcare technology, gaming content development and e-learning. Sheffield is where innovation and creativity have pride of place, with a solid entrepreneurial, hardworking mindset. The Sheffield city region seems to be a good place to do business, especially since it’s more affordable than other English destinations.
RESEARCH CENTRES Of course, a city would not be striving without a strong university and, as luck would have it, Sheffield has two! Set up in 1905, the University of Sheffield has long been considered one of UK’s most important educational institutions producing worldleading research and quality graduates. Established in 1969 and situated in the heart of the city, Sheffield Hallam University is considered progressive and innovative, with
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no less than 16 research centres and several research groups that could well of interest to you readers: materials science, art and design, sports science and engineering, biomedicine, and economic and social research. There, Conference 21 takes care of all your needs for conferences, meetings, training sessions, exhibitions, social events, and much more. Its biggest capacity is 450 people theatre style. Needless to say Sheffield has a strong Ambassador Programme, whose aim to bring more conferences to the region. More than anybody I’ve met so far, Emma France, Business Tourism Manager at Sheffield Convention Bureau, embodies this key idea that conferences are all about networking, links between academics and industry, and so on. She says: ‘A passionate and well connected ambassador can often influence a decision on where a future event is held. We want to harness this passion for showcasing what they do well. We will give the ambassador the confidence to say to his professional body “why not host an event in Sheffield?” as well as the knowledge and support to deliver a successful event.’
When it comes to meetings per se, there are of course plenty of bespoke training centres, cutting edge academic facilities, sporting venues and large scale banqueting facilities that cater for up to 1,800 delegates. One of Sheffield’s strongest assets as a meetings destination is definitely its compactness. Forget the big metropolises where it takes hours to go from A to B. It seems there’s nowhere finer for association meetings requiring major venues with a range of differently priced hotels within close walking distance - there are more than 1,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the central business district.
SPORT AND CLASSICAL LEGACY But what Sheffield likes most to brag about is its sport legacy. That was news for me, but sports are everywhere to be seen all over the city. During my brief journey there, it seemed like everywhere I turned to, there was a sporting venue that could host small and bigger events alike. Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday boast top class facilities, you can follow European and World Champion Jessica Ennis’ tracks and host an event
Outside the train station
> SHEFFIELD University of Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam University Winter Gardens
Crucible
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SHEFFIELD
Memori
al Hall, C
ity Hall
When it comes to meetings per se, there are of course plenty of bespoke training centres, cutting edge academic facilities, sporting venues and large scale banqueting facilities that cater for up to 1,800 delegates
at the awesome English Institute of Sport, and of course there is Sheffield’s Ponds Forge, one of the region’s leading banqueting venues and also the host to international swimming and diving championships. Then there are the more classical venues. Sheffield has no purpose-built congress centre, but it boasts an even better venue: the City Hall. Located in the heart of the city centre, this fascinating art deco building - maybe the most popular and beloved for the locals - offers an inspirational setting for all conferencing and event needs. With a range of flexible facilities, it hosts over
700 major entertainment and business events a year. Dominic Stokes, of Sheffield International Venues, says that: ‘We’re as at home managing a major rock show as a conference for over 2,000 delegates. So you can have complete confidence that your event will be delivered to the highest standard.’ His references don’t surely lie. These are of course only highlights of a meetings destination that can fulfill the needs of the most demanding association planner. Sheffield boasts definitely more gems yet to be discovered. Take my work for it!
+ A third of Sheffield lies in the Peak District National Park with its glorious countryside. Treasure Houses like Chatsworth House can be reached in around 25 minutes. + Sheffield is England’s greenest city and has more trees per person than any other city in Europe. It’s ideal for a post-conference stroll! + The world’s largest independent medical device manufacturer has built is European headquarters in Sheffield. A perfect link for an association meeting. + Sheffield is one of the most connected cities in the UK and will benefit from 97% super fast next generation broadband by 2012. Could this be the dream of any conference’s delegates? + Sheffield is an incubator for digital industries + The climbing facilities and natural features in and around Sheffield attract enthusiasts from all over the world. Sheffield is also the only city with a national park within its boundary. You now what to do during the weekend before your event starts. + Sheffied’s Meadowhall is one of Europe’s largest shopping malls. See above. + Sheffield is the home of football where the rules were written and the world’s first club was born- and you can still see the original rule book whilst you are here!
MORE INFORMATION www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/conference
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> VENUES & SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
Blenheim Palace
Alnwick Garden
Special venues and social programmes options
UNUSUAL ENGLAND WHAT’S REALLY GOOD ABOUT ENGLAND IS THAT IT’S FILLED WITH HISTORY, CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS. SO WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIAL VENUES OR PRE- OR POST-CONFERENCE POSSIBILITIES, YOU JUST HAVE TO TAKE YOUR PICK. BELOW ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS CLEARLY WORTH CONSIDERING - OF COURSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE! Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
PALACE, CATHEDRAL AND CASTLE Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, stands in a romantic park created by the famous landscape gardener ‘Capability’ Brown. It was presented by the English nation to John Churchill, first Duke of Marlborough, in recognition of his victory in 1704 over French and Bavarian troops. Characterized by an eclectic style and a return to national roots, now a UNESCO world heritage site, it is a perfect example of an 18th-century princely dwelling. Blenheim Palace has been hosting functions for many years and its hospitality services
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extend from providing a unique meeting and conference venue (capacity for 6 up to 200 delegates) to elegant fine dining in the Palace and State Apartments. Maybe Britain’s ultimate castle, a magnificent monument rising sheer above the river Avon, Warwick Castle brings to life over 1,000 years of history. Founded by William the Conqueror on 1068, it owes its present grandeur to the 14th century Beauchamp earls and provides us with a fine example of 14th-century fortifications complete with dungeons. Inside the castle itself, Georgian Coach House provides the
Edgbaston Botanical Garden
ideal venue for a meeting for up to 70 people: afterwards you can explore the Castle including its fantastic birds of prey and its stunning interiors. Let’s also mention the special events that you can organize there: Pageant Field accommodates up to 1,000 people. Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the UK. Its awesome scale and beauty, matched with dedicated events and excellent catering provide a totally unique venue, for all kinds of events - private dining in the Western Room as well as large-scale gatherings, for up to 2,000 people, are
> VENUES & SOCIAL PROGRAMMES
Manchester United
SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS
Warwick Castle
England is synonymous with sport, with its world-class venues, premiership football clubs and plethora of facilities. Whether you’re a spectator or prefer to take part, there’s so much to choose from. In Manchester for example, The Point is Lancashire County Cricket Club’s stunning new events centre at Old Trafford. Purposebuilt to an extremely high specification, The Point seats up to 1,000 guests and caters for a wide range of events. Renowned as the home of the world’s most famous football club, Manchester United, Old Trafford is one of the leading meeting venues in the UK. Boasting 24 purpose-built event suites and a host of smaller meeting rooms, Old Trafford offers unrivalled choice and flexibility for any event. Home of the famous horseracing festival in March, Cheltenham racecourse is another option, with great event facilities for 2 to 2,500 people, in the heart of a beautiful georgian spa town on the fringes of the Cotswolds.
possible. With its incredible architecture and amazing stained-glass windows, the Cathedral will make any meeting special. At the same time, you’ll be able to find out how it managed to survive two World Wars, periods of recession and great hardship in this important port of Liverpool to become a tribute to the dedication of a great many people and their skills.
It’s a stunning attraction and a floral wonderland, with acres of fascinating plants, water sculptures and the infamous Poison Garden. The landscape is eclectic, from the gentle waves of colour and scent in the Rose Garden to the riotous water displays of the Grand Cascade. But Alnwick Garden isn’t just an attraction for keen horticulturalists: association planners can organize a conference or a meeting there. Whether for a reception for 800 people, a presentation for 200 or a dinner for up to 500 people, the Pavilion offers beautiful, flexible spaces with the most captivating of panoramas.
What’s really good about England is that it’s filled with history, culture, entertainment and sports. So when it comes to special venues or pre- or post-conference possibilities, you just have to take your pick
For more gentle surroundings Birmingham can offer its Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston with elegant dining in unique surroundings. The Garden Suite is approached through the magnificent Tropical House and Terrace Glasshouses, and is the ideal choice for large social functions of between 180 and 400 guests. Look out for Jenny, the sulphurcrested cockatoo, and the blue macaw Lionel on the Gardens’ terrace!
TWO GARDENS AND TWO HALLS One of the most exciting contemporary gardens, Alnwick Garden is a garden for gardeners, with a design that looks to the future.
New Bingley Hall is Birmingham’s most recent and largest City Centre venue for banqueting, conferences and exhibitions.
Bordering the city’s Jewellery Quarter, the Hall accommodates 1,500 for a banquet, with stage and dance floor, and boasts excellent links to Birmingham’s motorway network, train stations and airport. While n the t old Bingley Hall was the country’s first purpose-built exhibition hall, its successor p builds on the reputation of the original and b is designed to be as flexible as possible. Maybe the finest neo-classical building in M Europe, St George’s Hall in Liverpool was Eu constructed in the mid 19th Century, with a dual purpose, to serve as both a concert hall and a courthouse. It’s now one of Liverpool’s main tourist attractions, and, with its splendid chandeliers and gilded plasterwork, one of the best assembly halls in Britain. Its Great Hall, with one of the world’s largest organs, is used for concerts and congresses. Its maximum capacity? 800 people.
HAVE FUN AND SLEEP Along with New York’s Broadway theatre, London West End is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English-speaking world. Seeing a West End show is a common tourist activity in London and for a delegate after a hard day’s work, it can be a fun thing to do. Thanks to DeWynters, a company really skilled in marketing cultural events like Mamma Mia!, Wicked or The Phantom of the Opera, I could experience first-hand what it’s like to be in the middle of the bustling, musical scene and enjoyed Priscilla, a great, over-the-top show. And let’s not forget most theaters can also be used as meeting venues! Last but not least, I would like to mention the Sheraton Park Tower hotel, in the heart of London’s fashionable Knightsbridge, a stone’s throw away from graceful Hyde Park. I was lucky enough to stay there during my (too short) stay in London and could enjoy maybe one of the greatest panoramic views of London. From private dining to conference luncheons to expert technical support, Park Tower’s flexible meetings and events services are tailored to meet your needs. And wait until you experience the coziness of it all for yourself!
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Inspirational ideas for successful events in England VISIT
The ofďŹ cial body for business visits and events in England