Conference Facilities in Leeds

Leeds may be the Knightsbridge of the North, but there’s more to it than shopping! It’s a cosmopolitan city with great connections, excellent accommodation and, as if that weren’t enough, over 100 conference venues.

The city is a blessing for event organisers, you’ll not find many places with Leeds’ connections – just 2 hours from London, eight miles from the airport, moments from the M1, M62 and A1 with the M621 coming right into the city centre. Accommodation is world class, the city is wonderful entertainment in itself and a variety of venues means the city can cater for almost anything.

Leeds Conference Venue

Saviles Hall, newly opened at the Royal Armouries increases exhibition space to a massive 3,700sq metres, with the bonus of seeing the venue’s wonderful displays. Harewood House is a superb spot for meeting and entertaining, with stunning gardens and interiors. Many of the city’s hotels offer great facilities too. The Queen’s Hotel, as close to the train station as is possible, is a fantastic venue for events. And across the city, from the Radisson SAS and the Marriott in the centre to boutique style award-winning 42 The Calls by the river, you’ll find quality venues for all manner of occasion.

Leeds Metropolitan University, the University of Leeds and Leeds Trinity and All Saints University are great academic venues and cost-effective options for the association market in particular. Leeds offers unusual venues as well. Headingley Carnegie Stadium will be a hit with sports fans, with views of the cricket pitch to one side, and the rugby pitch to the other! West Yorkshire Playhouse offers backstage tours as part of your event, or if you want high-energy team building, go to Xscape, for skiing and snowboarding that will really break the ice!

New Developments

The Royal Armouries’ Savile’s Hall, the colossal new banqueting hall named after local legend Jimmy Savile, holds 1,000 people. A major refurbishment at Leeds City Art Gallery means the Victoria Tiled Hall will provide a stunning backdrop to your event. Leeds Marriott, Hilton Leeds City and The Met all underwent major refurbishment programmes in 2007 with new meeting rooms at both the Hilton and the Met. Look out for the new City Inn opening
in 2009.

Something Different

Bramham Park, is a prime example of park planning in the French manner of Louis XIV. The parkland plays host to corporate event days and the house is a perfect for dinner and drinks parties. Three Albion Place this Grade 2 listed Victorian building was the networking hub of professional life for 150 years. Now beautifully restored it once again makes an impact as “the conference venue where leaders meet”.

Relaxing and Socialising

Perhaps best known for it’s shopping (head to Harvey Nichols and the stunning Victoria Quarter Arcades for real treats!), Leeds can keep anybody entertained. It’s home to many theatres, including the Leeds Grand Theatre and Opera House and the City Varieties Music Hall, the longest-running
music hall in Britain, plus the world renowned Northern Ballet Theatre. There are also gallery and museums, including the Leeds Metropolitan Gallery and the stunning Henry Moore Institute. Leeds excels in restaurants too – award-winners abound, and they’re very adventurous here! Chino Latino creatively combines Chinese, South East Asian, Thai and modern Japanese; and Anthony’s, with several regional and national awards, is fine dining with an adventurous twist. As well known for nightlife as shopping, Leeds won’t disappoint anyone with the energy to carry on after dinner -Oracle serves all night, and Oceana was recently voted Best Club in Britain.