Conference Venues
Take a look and book one of our conference venues
Bowden Hall Hotel
Beautifully refurbished Georgian house, set in the stunning Cotswolds countryside surrounded by rolling park and woodland.
Crumplebury
Luxury purpose-built corporate event venue situated on a private family estate in rural Herefordshire.
Foodworks Cookery School
Worked with companies big and small to host unforgettable corporate events.
Glenfall House
Peaceful seclusion offered by this Grade II listed manor house turned exclusive hire event venue.
Hillside Brewery
Wide range of challenging but fun activities and experiences that the team at Hillside can organise.
Island Hall
Island Hall is full of beautifully sourced pieces that complement the stunning renovation work of this 18th century property.
Kingscote Barn
As you drive down the private road to Kingscote Barn, you leave all the stresses and strains of life behind you at the gate.
Oxleaze Barn
This family-run venue gives you the flexibility to make it your own, to put your own individual stamp on your event.
Pensons at the Netherwood Estate
Perfectly linked design and décor to fit in with their surroundings, which dates back to the Doomsday Book.
Poulton Hill Estate and Vineyard
Floor to ceiling glass doors open out onto a Cloister Garden, complete with fountain for al fresco drinks receptions.
The Barn at Upcote
The rustic charm of the original farm barns with the modern purpose-built additions make this a stunning event venue.
The Great Tythe Barn
The C16 barn oozes historic character from its thick stone walls and the exposed wooden beams.
The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum
With views of historic St. Mary’s Minster, the roof terrace here really is a hidden gem in the heart of Regency Cheltenham.
Three Counties Showground
Nestled at the foot of the Malvern Hills sits one of the UK’s finest Showgrounds.
Tythe House
This 16th-century heritage house has been lovingly and faithfully restored to its former glory.
Wellington Barn
Away from the hustle and bustle, this converted 18th century barn is the ideal venue to host your next event.
Woodchester Valley Vineyard and Winery
The versatile Tasting Room can be used for team building events or a meeting space
What makes a good venue for a conference?
An annual customer or industry conference is a great way to bring your clients and staff together to celebrate success, share knowledge and provide insight into any future plans or roadmaps.
A conference is typically two or three days and can take on many different formats. When it comes to searching for conference venues, requirements can differ so we’ve taken a look at some of the key things you will want to think about when choosing your conference space in order to make it an event to remember!
Top three tips for deciding how many people to invite to your conference
Before you begin hunting for conference venues, have a think about how many people might be attending.
- Don’t forget that you will need to include staff in the final numbers, as well as sponsors and speakers.
- Having a rough figure in mind is a good place to start when speaking to conference venues – you can always adjust nearer the event. This will not only determine the type of conference venue you will need, but it will also inform other decisions such as catering requirements, entertainment and accommodation options.
- Consider your budget. Corporate events with up to 300 delegates may be suited to a hotel or smaller conference space such as Crumplebury or Glenfall House.
What does the conference agenda look like?
Do you plan to keep all your delegates together for the duration of the conference, or will they be split up into groups? Your event may require several conference rooms for keynote presentations and breakout sessions, so having a rough idea of the agenda will help give you an idea of what conference room rental is needed. Some conference venues may be able to offer flexibility with their space. They can partition off conference rooms or set up seating in theatre or classroom style to accommodate varying numbers. Three Counties Showground is an excellent example of a conference space that can provide for a mixed agenda as they have several conference rooms that can sit between 50-2000 people.
How to decide on catering options for your conference
Depending on the length and time of your conference, you may need to provide catering for parts or all of the day. Here are some ideas and things to think about when organising food and drink for your conference:
- Pastries with tea and coffee is a popular conference breakfast and can also be served during breaks. Fruit is also a good healthy option.
- Your event may have a gala dinner in the evening, or it could be a more informal affair with canapes or a light buffet for people to snack on during networking. When searching for conference venues, be sure to check if they offer in-house catering or if they can provide you with a list of preferred suppliers.
- Lunch arrangements can differ from venue to venue, depending on if you choose a hot or cold menu. If the meeting space has its own restaurant you may be able to dine there, or you could serve a working lunch buffer if that is more suited.
- Remember to check the catering details before the conference, for example what time any tea and coffee is arriving, or when lunch will be served.
- Collect any dietary requirements well ahead of time to ensure that you can cater for everybody!
- If you are having an evening meal, many conference venues will offer a tasting session a few months prior to the event. It is recommended that you attend this with a colleague or two, so you can sample the food on offer and make any adjustments to the menu in advance. We recommend Pensons at the Netherwood Estate for beautifully prepared food from fresh, local ingredients.
Where is the best location to hold a conference?
When deciding on conference venues you should ideally look for a location that is central for all your attendees. If the conference is local and your delegates don’t need to travel far, there may be more flexibility on venue choices as you could choose to provide transport either side of the event. If you have colleagues or clients travelling from further afield, or even internationally, you’ll want your conference space to be as accessible as possible. Take a look at the airport and rail links when conducting your search for conference venues. The Cotswolds and Malvern Hills are both good areas for people travelling from all over the country.
Top five technology needs for your conference space
IT and tech equipment play a pivotal part in proceedings, particularly for corporate conferences. Prior to the event, ask questions about the conference facilities including:
- WiFi availability
- Access to projectors/screens
- PA or speaker system
- Room and/or stage lighting
- Anything else that will help your event run smoothly
Book in a tech day with the venue team and go along with a checklist of what you might need in each conference room. Find out if the venue has an in-house AV team that you can call on for support if needed and if this is included in the conference room hire. It’s advisable to encourage your speakers to visit the venue before your conference for a test-run, even if that means turning up 30 minutes before the scheduled start time to run through a presentation. Having this sorted in advance will give you peace of mind on the day that your event can run without hitches!
What layout will you require for your conference venue?
If you are holding a large event with lots of people, consider the layout of your conference venue. Will delegates need to be moving around from room to room, and if so, how far will they need to travel? Will your venue have a main conference hall? Try to avoid anywhere which could see people get distracted or lost and make use of signage if it is available. Don’t forget to accommodate for any networking that make take place during your conference. Does your conference venue have the space for this? Our blog on the best room layouts for your corporate event is a great starting point.
Whatever your conference needs are, you can guarantee to find a suitable space by searching for conference venues via Secret Spaces. Our website has a range of stunning conference venues to suit varying capacities, so why not take a look and book a viewing today?
