Venue Updata
From the launch of 'plot-to-plate' summer dining and festival-style packages to new appointments and enhanced seasonal offerings, it's a real scorcher of a month for venue news and updates from around the UK.
£9.4m upgrade begins at Harrogate Convention Centre
Improvement works are underway at Harrogate Convention Centre after it received a £9.4m investment from North Yorkshire Council.
The work, expected to be completed in spring 2027, includes the reconfiguration of the venue’s Studio Two to divide the space into up to eight breakout rooms, the installation of an escalator, and a number of smaller improvements to its interior.
The centre will also undergo a comprehensive programme of energy and climate control infrastructure upgrades, which will enable the venue to deliver a better delegate experience in a more efficient and sustainable way, with almost £150,000 in savings in energy bills.
Once complete, the Yorkshire venue’s total breakout capacity will expand to 2,600 and complement the 2,000-seat auditorium.
Michael Constantine, head of operations at Harrogate Convention Centre, said: “This is a really exciting milestone for the venue and a major investment in our future, enhancing flexibility, accessibility and sustainability, while helping us meet the evolving needs of conference and exhibition organisers for many years to come."
London Hilton on Park Lane enters a new era under new GM
London Hilton on Park Lane is entering a new era, shaped by the new appointment of general manager James B. Clarke and the continued evolution of its conference and banqueting offer following a major refurbishment completed in recent years.
As part of a new vision, the hotel is looking to reintroduce ‘glamour’ into events through the combination of people power, new facilities, and a new ambition for events that come to the hotel.
“An iconic address has always carried a certain expectation,” says Clarke (pictured, right). “What is evolving now is how that promise is brought to life: through a more deliberate focus on people, spaces, and delivery, while drawing on the glamour of our heritage and location.”
The transformation of the ballroom and surrounding spaces has already redefined what the hotel can deliver, with a focus on greater flexibility, improved flow, and the practical demands of modern production. Rather than fixed formats, the spaces now act as adaptable frameworks, designed to support everything from large-scale awards ceremonies to more intimate, design-led experiences.
From MOBOs to EURO 2028: Newcastle's rise reflects a shift in event destinations
Newcastle's growing profile as a host destination is helping to attract the attention of corporate event organisers, according to Crowne Plaza Newcastle – Stephenson Quarter, as a wider regional renaissance sees planners increasingly looking beyond London and traditional conference destinations.
Last year, Newcastle and Gateshead welcomed 17.5m visitors to the city – a 2.8 per cent increase from 2024, with major events and conferences playing a leading role in the year-on-year growth.
Newcastle continues to strengthen its position as a destination for major events, with the city preparing to host five UEFA EURO 2028 matches and welcoming the return of the Mercury Prize in October 2026, following its historic debut as the first host city outside London. Newcastle also welcomed the MOBO Awards for the first time last year, with Crowne Plaza Newcastle serving as a key event hub during the accompanying MOBO Fringe Festival.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle has experienced this growing interest first-hand, reporting a 36.1 per cent increase in new enquiries,
a 10.6 per cent increase in confirmed business, and an overall 9.1 per cent increase in its total sales pipeline over the past year.
Lime Venue Portfolio expands UK reach with Manchester United
Lime Venue Portfolio has announced a new relationship with Manchester United, further strengthening its collection of major UK event venues and reflecting the continued strength and growth of Manchester’s business events industry.
The new relationship means Lime Venue Portfolio will operate United Events – the dedicated non-matchday events division for Manchester United. United Events manages conferences, exhibitions, gala dinners and corporate meetings across the club’s Old Trafford home. Working from the Theatre of Dreams, the team uses 20 suites and more than 150 meeting rooms to deliver a wide range of corporate and live event experiences within one of the world’s most recognisable sporting venues.
Many of the venue’s spaces overlook the famous pitch, while planners can also build in exclusive experiences such as the Museum & Stadium Tour to enhance delegate programmes and create standout moments.
Jo Austin, sales director at Lime Venue Portfolio, said: “Old Trafford is one of the UK’s most iconic venues, set within one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing events cities. Manchester continues to strengthen its reputation as a powerhouse for conferences, exhibitions and international business tourism, and this relationship reflects that momentum."
ARC expands corporate events offer at Royal Windsor Racecourse
Arena Racing Company (ARC) plans to meet growing demand for experience-led corporate events this summer through a new collaboration between Royal Windsor Racecourse and UK Entertainment Group.
The partnership will see the venue take an entertainment-led approach across selected race days and hospitality offerings with a new open-air event format that blends live music and entertainment into a festival-style setting alongside its existing race day hospitality programme.
ARC, which operates 16 racecourses across the UK, said the move reflected a wider shift in how corporate events are being programmed, with venues 'increasingly chosen for their ability to support fluid, experience-led environments rather than fixed agendas'.
They said planners are prioritising destinations where guests can move between hospitality areas, outdoor spaces and live entertainment, enhancing wellbeing and creating more self-directed and engaging event journeys.
The Grove launches 'plot-to-plate' dining experiences
Luxury country estate The Grove is running a ‘plot-to-plate’ dining experience within its walled garden this summer that is aimed at residential corporate groups and experiential-led MICE bookings.
Jemima’s Kitchen Garden, a working ecosystem, featuring bay hedges, medicinal plants, fragrant herbs, active bee houses and wildlife ponds, will be operating to the end of September, serving a seasonal sharing menu for up to 38 seated guests or up to 70 guests for canapé receptions.
The venue will also be running a series of immersive kitchen garden masterclasses for corporate groups, including a garden forage and fire-baked flatbread workshop, garden-to-glass cocktail masterclasses using freshly picked herbs, and seasonal pasta-making, all designed to offer a flexible, seasonal and experience-led approach to outdoor hospitality.
RCP London Events champions good mental health and wellbeing
RCP London Events has appointed a new mental health champion to support its conscious inclusion approach, which embeds accessibility, wellbeing, sustainability and social responsibility into the design and delivery of its events and business.
Natasha Camenzuli, senior meetings and events planner at the venue, recently completed Mental Health Champion training with MHFA England, which focuses on helping individuals recognise early signs of poor mental health, hold supportive conversations, challenge stigma and signpost colleagues towards appropriate professional support where needed.
She said: “It’s helped me understand how important it is to create an environment where people feel comfortable talking about mental health and accessing support when needed.”
The Eastside Rooms appoints business development director
The Eastside Rooms in Birmingham has appointed Chris Reynolds its new business development director.
Reynolds, who has experience in hospitality, events and business development, working with brands including Moxy Hotels, Marriott Hotels, tobook and Conference Care, will be responsible for strengthening the venue’s sales and relationship-building expertise as it continues to grow its presence across the meetings, events and hospitality sectors.
The venue, located in Birmingham city centre, offers 23 meeting and event spaces and is
Reynolds said: “The opportunity to represent such a versatile venue and hotel was a huge attraction for me. The Eastside Rooms offers a purpose-built event space in the heart of Birmingham, alongside the strength of an adjoining Marriott-branded hotel. It is a combination that allows us to support everything from large-scale conferences to corporate meetings, awards, dinners and more bespoke experiences."
British Motor Museum M&E strengthens offer
British Motor Museum Meetings & Events is strengthening its corporate and association offer through a new campaign titled 'Where industry shapes what’s next'.
The venue which is based at the museum boasting the world’s largest collection of historic British cars, has expanded its meetings and events proposition to offer flexible conference space, museum access, incentive experiences, team activities, commercial investment and future hotel development.
Toby Batchelor, head of commerce, said the venue was placing greater emphasis on events that connect people, ideas and progress, particularly for organisations working across automotive, engineering, manufacturing, mobility, technology, STEM, education, leadership and professional communities.
“Organisers are under increasing pressure to make events work harder. They need venues that support the objectives of the event, help justify attendance and give delegates something they will genuinely remember,” he said.
The venue, which has 17 meetings and events spaces, has also appointed Tracy Ford as business development manager to support proactive growth across agency and end-client markets.
Hilton Birmingham Metropole team walk 50km around England's largest lake for charity
Twenty-five team members at conference and events hotel Hilton Birmingham Metropole have completed a 50-kilometre charity walk around Lake Windermere.
The walk around England's largest lake has raised more than £9.5k for the Fisher House UK charity, which gives as part of the hotel's 50th anniversary celebrations.
Nicola Betley, general manager at Hilton Birmingham Metropole, said: "As we celebrate 50 years of Hilton Birmingham Metropole, we wanted to mark the occasion by giving back to a cause that makes a genuine difference to people's lives. Fisher House provides incredible support to military families during exceptionally challenging times, and we are proud to support their work."
The 50km challenge forms part of a wider programme of activities celebrating Hilton Birmingham Metropole's 50th birthday throughout 2026.
BMA House encourages twilight networking
BMA House is encouraging event planners to think beyond the formal conference agenda this summer and extend its events into the evenings to give delegates more time to connect, reflect and continue conversations after the programme has concluded.
The central London venue has seen growing interest from organisers who want to make more of meet-ups so is offering complimentary twilight room hire for those who want to extend their events beyond 5pm.
Venue manager Hannah Robinson said: " With so many organisations now operating across hybrid or remote teams, in-person events are carrying more weight than ever. They are not just about content delivery, they are about culture, community and connection. Extending the day, even by a couple of hours, can make a significant difference to how people feel about the event and each other."