PA Life talked to Richard Moorhouse, the Events Director at the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate, located on the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Richard has over 20 yearsโ experience in the industry and previously held operational roles at the Freedom Centre, Hull and in hospitality at Doncaster Racecourse. He was promoted to the role of Events Director in 2023 with 12 years of experience behind him as the Venue Manager, and now shares how the Yorkshire Event Centre hosts great events…
How does the Yorkshire Event Centre transform to different corporate events?
The Yorkshire Event Centre and sister venue, Pavilions of Harrogate are both flexible spaces that can be transformed for a diverse range of events including conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners, meetings, trade fairs and weddings.
The Yorkshire Event Centre benefits from 6,270m2 of pillar-free versatile space whilst Pavilions is a 13-room venue that is ideal for events that require a more intimate setting.
2024 has been another hugely successful year at The Yorkshire Event Centre which has included hosting Everything Electric, the Great Holiday Home Show and the 165th Great Yorkshire Show which once again, saw 140,000 visitors flock to the Showground. In addition to our established events calendar, Pavilions of Harrogate will have hosted over 350 events by the end of the year.
What makes the Great Yorkshire Showground unique?
The Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate are part of the commercial arm of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, a registered charity. All profits raised from events held at both venues fund the work of the Society, helping to develop an environment where farming, food and the countryside thrives and grows.
These venues are located on the iconic 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground and events booked at both venues also benefit from great outdoor space with breathtaking views of the Crimple Valley.
The Showground also boats thousands of free car parking spaces including 2,000 spaces on hardstanding and several EV charging stations.
Who are your typical clients?
Clients at the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate range from the leading national B2B and B2C brands, event agencies and the general public. A diverse audience enables us to host events that cater for a wide spectrum of clients.
Each client is supported by our experienced team to ensure that their event objectives are achieved in a professional and timely manner.
Why choose Harrogate and Yorkshire as a venue for your corporate events?
The Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate are easily reachable by bus, car, train, and plane. Situated just two miles from Harrogate Train Station, which offers six trains daily from London, and 14 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport, this premier events venue lies at an equal distance between London and Edinburgh.
The abundance of free car parking spaces, EV charging stations and short distance from the A1 are some of the many location benefits associated with these venues on the Great Yorkshire Showground.
As more teams adopt remote and hybrid working practices, companies can now access a national talent pool instead of just a regional one. This shift has led to a heightened demand for meeting spaces and corporate away days, as organisations seek out central locations to bring their employees together.
What advice would you give to PAs and EAs organising an event with you?
The events teams at both venues have a wealth of experience working with a range of clients and their event deliverables on a daily basis.
We recommend that any PA or EA who is looking to organise an event of any size to have the following information ready ahead of our first meeting:
- Number of delegates
- Budget
- Catering requirements
- Date of event
- Utilities required
- Wish list
As soon as we understand your needs, our team will go above and beyond to deliver solutions to meet your objectives.
Our events team are always available to answer questions that you may have, whether via phone, email or by arranging a meeting.
Do you have any corporate offers or services for PAs to be aware of?
At present there is an offer available for 10% off venue hire and packages on all events booked, and taking place between October and December at Pavilions of Harrogate.
We will work with you to ensure your event is both successful and memorable.
It is a privilege to lead such a fantastic, passionate team and I am looking forward to building on successful foundations to create more business opportunities while retaining our regular events and taking the venues to the next level.
The Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate are award-winning venues that have been hosting events for many years. Our wealth of experience and extensive knowledge ensures every event that takes place on the Great Yorkshire Showground is a success. Both venues are owned by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and all profits go back to the Society, a registered charity helping to support and develop an environment where farming, food and the countryside thrives and grows.
Contact the Great Yorkshire Showground
We are now taking bookings for 2025 and beyond. Plan ahead for your next event on the Great Yorkshire Showground and contact our Sales and Events team on 01423 544544 or enquiries@eventcentre.co.uk.
PA Life Club had a fantastic visit and dinner at the Great Yorkshire Showground in June.
