Bristol

Introduction

As South West England’s largest city, Bristol is an exciting and dynamic destination and yet retains its unique character and friendliness. It is central to the rail and motorway network, with fantastic connectability to the rest of the world through the fast growing Bristol Airport, so is a perfect home for conferences, exhibitions, meetings and events, especially when delegates need to travel.

As you would expect from a leading European city, Bristol has a wide range of venues to cater for all events whether small and intimate or international conferences. As well as many leading hotel brands and outstanding academic facilities, the city is home to many unique and unusual venues offering the opportunity to really do something different - from ships to science centres, zoos to stately homes and castles to cinemas.

The largest venue, the University of the West of England, offers 4,000 square metres of exhibition space in its new conference centre and both Brunel’s Old Station and Ashton Gate Stadium offering over 1500 square metres of exhibition space, catering for over 800 delegates in each venue.

For partner and delegate programmes, Bristol can offer a wealth of experiences and activities to keep even the most demanding clients happy. With the coast and countryside just a short distance from the urban centre, you really will have the best of everything available.
Destination Bristol can assist you in planning your events including finding a perfect venue, sourcing accommodation (and an online delegate booking system), suggesting itineraries and programmes as well as arranging site visits.

Economic and academic specialisms

Bristol has a world-class knowledge economy based on aerospace, defence, engineering, ICT and electronics, financial services, media, creative and environmental industries, and the global reach of its outstanding universities.

As a city, Bristol can lay claim to a long tradition of scientific discovery, innovation and creativity, stretching from Brunel to Concorde and the A380 to the BBC and Aardman Animations.

In 2005, Bristol received its designation as a Science City recognising the Bristol City Region's world-class academic research as well as its strong scientific SME-base and potential to drive economic development through science and innovation. Bristol is also home to the UK's 3rd most powerful academic research cluster and the largest aerospace and silicon design industries in Europe.

The University of Bristol is one of the Russell Group of universities renowned for academic excellence and has prestigious faculties of engineering, medicine, Veterinary, dentistry, science, social sciences law and the arts. The new Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information is one of the finest nanoscience facilities in the world. The University of the West of England(UWE) has an active research community which makes a significant contribution to advances in industry, commerce, public services and the professions, both nationally and internationally, including the biggest robotics lab in the UK.

Key venues

The new conference centre at The UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre offers a fully versatile and dynamic 4,000 square metre space, providing you with the choice of utilising it as a single dramatic area, or dividing the space to fit your requirements. It boasts the largest exhibition space in the West of England, plus a further 25 meeting rooms, while a further 100 meeting rooms are available across the campus, located just to the north of the city.

Brunel’s Old Station is not only an impressive venue holding up to 800 delegates, but is of architectural significance, created by the great Victorian Engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Located adjacent to Temple Meads Railway Station in the centre of the city, it easy access from road, rail or air, via the Airport Flyer service.

Located just to the south of the city centre, Ashton Gate Stadium is the leading sports and leisure venue in south west England holding up to 900 delegates in its Dolman Exhibition Hall. As well as hosting regular sporting events, the stadium regularly attracts some of the biggest names in music.
With 300 bedrooms, the Bristol Marriott City Centre can cater for up to 600 delegates in the Bristol Suite and incredibly flexible facilities offering exhibition space in the lobby areas of the dedicated conference centre and a further 12 rooms available for individual meetings or one large event.

Accommodation

Bristol has over 3,500 quality hotel bedrooms in the central area of the city, with more than 1,000 located to the north and south of the city – all within 20 minutes. As well as major international brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Accor and Radisson, the city is home to boutique hotels such as The Bristol Hotel, part of the Doyle Collection and Hotel du Vin and Bistro.

To compliment the huge range of hotel accommodation, a wide selection of guest houses, serviced apartments and self catering apartments allows delegates a wide selection of choice for all.
Many hotels have been accredited through the Green Tourism Business Scheme and include Gold winners, Mercure Holland House Hotel and Spa in the centre of Bristol and Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House located the south of the city, further enhancing Bristol’s reputation as the Green Capital of the UK.

Destination Bristol work closely with all the hotels in the area and so can offer a delegate accommodation programme encompassing a number of hotels within close proximity of each other, or specific to the conference venue itself.

Unique venues for gala dinners and receptions

What better way to impress clients than a first class dining experience onboard Brunel’s ss Great Britain, a true Bristol icon. The First Class Dining Saloon has been recreated for guests to enjoy the luxurious Victorian surroundings with excellent food and 21st century technology. As well as iconic historic venues, the modern surroundings of Explore-@-Bristol and Blue Reef Aquarium offer clients a unique experience from corporate drinks receptions within the attractions to full gala dinners with incredible views over the Harbourside.

The Harbourside also offers a wealth of opportunities to wow your clients, from informal drinks on board one of the many working boats to dinner onboard the Glassboat Restaurant.

Bristol is full of historic venues with spectacular architecture and quality service to ensure that your event really does have the wow factor! Bristol's major City Museum and Art Gallery houses an outstanding and diverse range of objects, from sea dinosaurs to magnificent art. An event here is guaranteed to inspire you!

Destination Bristol can help advise and plan your events accordingly and suggest exciting programmes to make your event one to remember.