Leicester, with its rich history, strategic location and great connections make it a popular city for corporate events and conferencing, and it’s fairly easy to find a venue here to suit your needs. But finding the perfect space isn’t just about capacities and AV equipment – there’s a lot more to consider. To make your choice of conference venue in the historic city of Leicester even more successful, here’s your expert guide on what to look out for.
Give guests something to talk about
Choosing a venue that reflects Leicester's story can make your conference more memorable. Historic monuments, museums and iconic venues like Mattioli Woods Welford Road, home of the Leicester Tigers since 1892, offer unique talking points and a great icebreaker for conference-goers.
Prioritise accessibility
You, of course, want your guests to show up to your conference event. Thankfully, sitting in the middle of the UK, Leicester is already a great location accessibility-wise. But it still pays to review the road, rail, motorway and even airport links reachable from your Leicester conference venue. Having a good idea of where most of your guests will be coming from is a handy starting point.
Go for green
In today’s world of corporate events, a venue's sustainability credentials are so much more than a nice to have. See if your Leicester conference venue has certifications like BREEAM or ISO 20121 – if they do, this is a fantastic indicator of how seriously the space takes sustainability. Food waste is also a controversial issue in the world of events, so remember to ask about how they plan to manage this.
Tech taken seriously
Modern conferences demand top-notch tech. Beyond just Wi-Fi, check out the venue’s IT infrastructure. Can it handle live streaming? Are there enough power points? Purpose-built event venues often have advanced tech setups for seamless sessions. Plus, ensure there's tech support on hand to swiftly tackle any hiccups.
Great acoustics
Poor acoustics can lead to strained communication and a subpar conference experience, especially if you’re planning to deliver a ground-breaking speech. If possible, visit potential venues during an event to judge the sound quality so you can ensure a clear and engaging experience.
Catering to all cultures
Good food is at the heart of every great event, and choosing Leicester caterers with lots of experience catering at conference venues should be top of the agenda. Remember to check if the venue can cater to vegan, gluten-free, halal, kosher and other dietary needs so everyone feels welcome, cared for and well-fuelled for the event.
Tap into local expertise
Making use of your venue’s contacts, leverage Leicester’s local expertise to add valuable touches to your event. Many venues have partnerships with local caterers, entertainment suppliers and tech providers, which will help streamline planning, save costs and add a bit of personality to the occasion.
Feedback counts
Don’t just rely on brochures and marketing collateral. Seek feedback from those who’ve hosted events at your shortlisted Leicester conference venues. Genuine insights into service quality, flexibility and problem-solving can reveal a lot about what to expect.
Reasons to make our stadium your Leicester conference venue
Transform your next conference into an unforgettable experience at the iconic home of the Tigers. Boasting nearly 4,000 square metres of space and 34 versatile rooms, our stadium can host up to 1,250 conference-goers with cutting-edge facilities and a backdrop where England’s most successful rugby team has made history.
When it comes to feeding your guests, you’ll have the privilege of working with the award-winning Levy UK + Ireland – experts in event catering from elegant formal dinners to sustainable, moreish lunches. And to make your conference truly one-of-a-kind, you can add on exclusive rugby-themed team-building activities like the Tryline Tussle and Drop-Kick Challenge.
Get in touch
We can’t wait to host your event at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. If you’re ready to start planning, let us know what you have in mind and we’ll be in touch.