Room to breathe

We all know Brighton, the vibrant city by the sea with a long and storied conferencing history.

The Brighton Centre, Brighton Grand and the Metropole are three of the most visible meetings and events icons of this young, fun metropolis. The city is famed for its Regency grandeur, inclusive culture and buzzing nightlife, while tourists flock to the pier, the Pavilion and the pole (or the i360 as it’s more properly known). 

However, there’s another side to Brighton, with the stunning Sussex countryside and South Downs National Park right on the doorstep, offering conference planners and delegates the best of all worlds; city life, fresh sea air and green open spaces.   

“Being in either the coast or countryside environment has an incredibly positive impact on health and wellbeing – Brighton can offer that to both the business and leisure visitor,” says Darren Johnson, conference and business development manager at VisitBrighton. “Not only are we blessed with our natural environment, we work with a range of VisitBrighton Partner businesses that can provide authentic and sustainable experiences, activities and meetings in whatever environment they choose.” 

A perfect example of this is Ridgeview, a wine estate a stone’s throw over the Downs from Brighton in picturesque Ditchling, which is ideal for small groups and incentives.  

Ridgeview has been producing world-class sparkling wines for more than 25 years and is at the centre of the thriving English wine industry. To capitalise on that success, it’s expanding its events offering with a new visitor destination experience, due to open this summer. 

The new all-weather, outdoor venue will take pride of place alongside Ridgeview’s Chardonnay vineyard with glorious views across the South Downs National Park offering wine tastings, on-site dining for 120 and tours. Landscaped by RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winning designer Andy Sturgeon and accredited under the Wines GB Sustainability scheme, the Ridgeview philosophy of ‘Life is for Celebrating’ permeates the whole site. 

Showing its commitment to the wider area, VisitBrighton is working collaboratively with colleagues from Experience West Sussex, Visit Eastbourne and Visit 1066 Country to promote Sussex as a destination of choice for event planners.  

“With unrivalled access to international airports, a host of world class hotels and venues and a fantastic geography of vineyards producing some of the most innovative wines in Europe, we have a unique offer which we’d love to share with you!”, says Julia Gallagher, head of sales, marketing and partnership at VisitBrighton. 

Speaking of world class venues, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek at the stunning refurbishment of Brighton Corn Exchange, set to bring one of Brighton’s favourite venues back online for the event planning community. The 200 year-old former royal riding school has been stripped back to reveal its original heritage features, including the widest span timber frame in the country and its distinctive ornate windows. 

When finished it will make a unique venue for exhibitions, conferences and gala dinners, all complemented by a retractable 500-seat capacity on the ground floor and a new balcony level.  

The smaller capacity Studio Theatre is also part of the refurb, with its impressive architectural features having been carefully cleaned and repaired with the same high-end interior specifications as the larger Corn Exchange. New retractable seating with a capacity of 250 means the space can be easily adapted for private hire events and small conferences.  

Completing the works, a bright, contemporary street-facing café/restaurant will welcome visitors throughout the day and night, while on the upper level, a new light-filled viewing gallery will allow visitors to peer through the huge windows and into the vast Corn Exchange, giving the venue a real cultural hub feel. 

Opening for bookings from next year, the Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre are connected and available for hire in conjunction with the Brighton Dome Concert Hall, which accommodates 300 - 1700 delegates in tiered seating and a variety of seating configurations. The Concert Hall, the site of countless concerts across the years including ABBA’s 1974 Eurovision triumph, can be used as a main plenary alongside other venues on site for large scale conferences. 

On the subject of large scale conferences, did you know that the Brighton Hilton Metropole on the seafront is the South of England’s largest residential conference venue? It’s worth a quick reminder of the charms of this particular venue, where Victorian elegance and modern convenience mingle across more than 30 event spaces. These include a flexible venue for 3,000 guests, sea-view function suites, and even a converted chapel. The hotel is currently undergoing a full refurbishment of all its bedrooms and public areas – including its event spaces - due to complete in the autumn.   

The four interconnecting exhibition spaces are ideal for events of all kinds, while the dedicated conference team can help with everything from menus to equipment and decoration. 

The Metropole’s restored dining room, 1890 at the Met, offers beach views and Sunday lunch with live jazz, while the adjoining restaurant The Salt Room specialises in fresh British seafood and premium steaks.  

The Salt Room is run by local restaurateur Razak Helalat, who has been at the forefront of Brighton’s forward-looking food scene for more than a decade. His latest venture is Burnt Orange, a cosy joint just a stone’s throw from the seafront. There’s a beguiling focus on smoke and wood-fired flavours and a relaxed atmosphere that bills itself as “the grown-up hangout that’s open all day and just the right amount of night”.  

Burnt Orange’s first floor private dining room has full multimedia facilities, including a 54″ smart TV, ideal for boardroom meetings and creative brainstorms outside of the office. Delegates can order from a set feasting menu, where dishes such as smoked miso aubergine and Sussex lamb kofta are served sharing style to the table. 

Who to contact: 

VisitBrighton
T: 01273 292606
visitbrighton.com/conferences