The Midlands has the best features of the north and south. With its central location, beautiful scenery and a plethora of venues to choose from, it makes the ideal destination for any event. Molly Dyson gives you the guided tour. Encompassing 14 counties and more than 11,000 square miles, the Midlands region of England acts as the meeting point of the north, south and Wales. With everything from unspoiled country landscapes to modern city centres, event planners can enjoy plenty of choice when searching for a venue. The area is commonly divided into the East and West Midlands. To the east, you can find Leicestershire, the Peak District and Derbyshire, while to the west lie Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire.
Coventry is one of the better known cities in the Midlands. The original medieval cathedral was destroyed in World War II and a new, magnificent building was built next to the ruins. It makes an interesting side trip for those visiting on business. You can also find the Coventry Transport Museum and be reminded of the city’s role in the British cycle and motor industry, walking through 150 years of innovation. The Ricoh Arena is located in Coventry and makes an excellent venue for both intimate meetings and grand exhibitions, with space for anywhere from 12 to 7,000 delegates.
In Warwickshire, you can travel to Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare and home to the Royal Shakespeare Company. If your delegates enjoy shopping or dining between meetings, you may be interested in holding your event in the bustling towns of Leamington Spa or Kenilworth.
Built in the 1960s on what was previously industrial land, Telford in historic Shropshire offers a wealth of hotels and conference centres, including the 152-room Holiday Inn, adjacent to the Telford International Centre. The TIC has various rooms available with space for up to 275 delegates. For a luxurious approach, you may want to consider the Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa in Whitchurch. It offers 80 bedrooms, four meeting spaces with room for 300 delegates, as well as two golf courses. You can factor in an adventure for your attendees at Hawkstone Park Follies, or give them a history lesson at the Ironbridge World Heritage Site, where the world’s first iron bridge still stands.
Leicester offers the resting place of Richard III’s remains in the cathedral, as well as the ancient Roman ruins of the Jewry Wall Museum. The National Space Centre is an interactive museum where you can explore the universe and the history of space exploration. The museum also has seven meeting spaces with room for up to 200 delegates.
Maybe you’re looking for a piece of the great outdoors for your event, in which case why not try the breathtaking beauty of the Peak District National Park (pictured above), which provides the backdrop to Chatsworth house and gardens, home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The historic manor house is open to the public and has meeting spaces available for hire. Between meetings, delegates can explore the grounds to see works of art and gorgeous gardens, or shop and have a meal.
WELL CONNECTED
How to get there – and where to stay
Being centrally located and encompassing so large an area, the Midlands is a logical choice for PAs planning events where delegates will be travelling from around the UK. The M1, M6 and a vast number of other major M and A routes run throughout the area from major cities such as London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff. Many rail companies operate regular services to most of the cities in the area, including London Midland trains to Birmingham and Telford; Virgin Trains to Stoke-on-Trent; and the East Midlands line to Leicester.
There is an array of places to stay, from modern hotels to historic manor houses. Holiday Inn operates a number of properties in the area and you can find four-star accommodation at places such as the Hallmark Hotel in Derby, Ettington Chase in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Mercure Brandon Hall Hotel and Spa in Coventry. Many of the historic places to stay offer well-kept grounds and luxurious amenities, giving delegates the perfect place to relax after a long day of travel and meetings.
MEET IN STYLE
Belgrade Theatre, Coventry
The Belgrade Theatre offers a variety of meeting spaces. These start at smaller meeting rooms accommodating just eight people, or you can book the main stage auditorium for a conference of up to 850 delegates. With on-site caterers and AV equipment available, the theatre has everything you need to host an unforgettable event. belgrade.co.uk/services/events-and-conferencing/
De Vere Colmore Gate, Birmingham
The newest addition to the De Vere Group’s portfolio, Colmore Gate offers the convenience of a city centre and the luxury of a modern venue. Occupying two floors in a visually striking tower, it has 18 meeting spaces, with rooms for one-on-one meetings or larger halls for up to 150 delegates. In typical De Vere style, rooms have access to wifi and wired internet, AV equipment and LCD TVs. deverevenues.co.uk/locations/colmore-gate.html
Stoke Rochford Hall, Lincolnshire
Offering 26 separate meeting spaces, Stoke Rochford Hall has something for every type of event. It has suites for board meetings and the largest space can accommodate up to 300 people. State-of-the-art AV equipment is available for hire and catering is provided in the corporate packages. For longer conferences, delegates can stay in theon-site bedrooms and relax at the seasonal pool, or adjacent 18-hole golf course. stokerochfordhall.co.uk
Sedgebrook Hall, Northamptonshire
Sedgebrook Hall combines traditional style with modern facilities. It features 102 comfortable rooms, as well as conference and banqueting space for up to 200 delegates. Located 20 minutes off the M1 in the village of Chapel Brampton, it makes an ideal venue for a quiet meeting set away from the hustle and bustle of the city. sedgebrookhallnorthampton.co.uk
Wolverhampton Racecourse and Conference Centre
This makes a good choice for many different events. For smaller meetings you can opt for suites that overlook the racecourse, or for large conferences there is the Ringside suite, which can accommodate up to 600 delegates. If you need an outdoor space, you can book the grassy area in the centre of the track. An added benefit is the on-site Holiday Inn. wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk
NSPCC National Training Centre, Leicester
The NSPCC National Training Centre is a purpose-built venue for training and conferencing events. It has 12 seminar rooms for smaller meetings of up to 40 delegates, or a conference hall for staged presentations to up to 220 people. AV equipment is available throughout the facilities and there is an on-site restaurant. nspcc.org.uk
Three Counties Showground, Worcestershire
The venue can be booked for both large exhibitions and small meetings. It offers the Leadon Suite for boardroom-style meetings of up to 50 people, the Perry Suite for up to 200, or the huge Severn Hall, which can host up to 2,200 delegates. threecounties.co.uk/venuehire/
RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire
For an unforgettable event, hire a hangar at RAF Museum Cosford with space for up to 300 delegates to dine among the aircraft. It also has smaller meeting rooms and a conference space, which can host up to 130 people. There is AV equipment available for hire and catering services. rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/
