Bristol, located in the southwest of England, is a vibrant city known for its rich maritime history, diverse cultural scene, and innovative spirit. The city offers a wealth of opportunities for the events industry, with excellent venues such as Bristol Beacon, Ashton Gate Stadium, and the historic SS Great Britain. Its infrastructure, including Bristol Temple Meads railway station and Bristol Airport, ensures easy accessibility. Additionally, Bristol’s professional event management services, diverse catering options, and lively arts and entertainment scene make it an ideal location for hosting a wide range of events, from corporate conferences to cultural festivals.
Let’s have a look at top 10 venue developments in Bristol:
We The Curious
Bristol’s We The Curious science centre has reopened this summer after a closure following a fire, showcasing a refurbished Grade II listed building on the historic Harbourside. This versatile venue is perfect for conferences, dinners, award ceremonies, and meetings. The Rosalind Franklin Room offers 468m² of space, accommodating 80-240 for cabaret, 80-460 for theatre, and 80-300 for dinner.
We The Curious stands out as a prestigious corporate event venue in the South West, with air-conditioned rooms, natural daylight, private outdoor roof terraces with stunning views, and unique spaces for drink receptions and team-building activities. The hands-on science centre features award-winning exhibitions, providing an inspiring backdrop for any occasion.
Address: 1 Millennium Square, One Millenium Square, BS1 5DB
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/we-the-curious-conferencing-p75271
Contact: venuehire@wethecurious.org
Wake The Tiger
Wake The Tiger is the UK’s largest immersive art experience. This venue offers bespoke packages for 1 to 500+ guests, ensuring a unique and memorable event. Perfect for private celebrations or corporate functions.
Opened in July 2022, Wake The Tiger showcases the city’s vibrant creative scene with a fantastical journey through the magical realm of Meridia, featuring dozens of imaginative rooms. The second phase, OUTERverse, opened in February 2024 with 10 new rooms and experiences. Available for exclusive hire, this unique venue blends steampunk, new age, futurism, and victoriana.
Address: Wake The Tiger, 127 Albert Rd, Bristol BS2 0YA
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/wake-the-tiger-p3547223
Contact: info@wakethetiger.com
Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre
Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre – Bristol’s largest residential venue – is the perfect spot for both leisure and business. Its newly renovated rooms and suites include modern amenities, plush bedding, free water, and Wi-Fi. Their focus on the details ensures a streamlined travel experience, complemented by smart service and delicious food at the Brew Bar.
For events, Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre offers 19 flexible spaces, including the South West’s largest event space, the Bristol Suite, accommodating up to 600 guests. The hotel is undergoing a multi-million pound makeover, set to complete mid August 2024, enhancing its appeal for residential conferences with 300 rooms available.
Conveniently located with easy transport links to the train station, coach station, and Bristol Airport, the hotel also features an adjacent car park for direct access.
Address: 2 Lower Castle St, Bristol BS1 3AD
Contact: bristolcity.events@deltahotels.co.uk
Bristol Beacon
Bristol Beacon reopened in November 2023 after a five-year, £131m transformation, featuring two international-standard performance venues, a new restaurant, and revamped cellars for education and performances. Formerly Colston Hall, it now includes the 2,000-capacity Beacon Hall, 500-capacity Lantern Hall, and 200-capacity Weston Cellar. Its modern makeover retains beloved features like Byzantine arches, now housing the Colonnade restaurant, which offers contemporary European cuisine with local produce.
Ideal for conferences, weddings, parties, and meetings, the versatile venue has already hosted events like the sold-out Festival Congress 2024. As a music charity, Bristol Beacon promotes the joy of live music through performances, talent development, and education. By hosting events here, you support their mission of providing transformative musical experiences. Committed to sustainability, Bristol Beacon aims to become the UK’s first net-zero concert hall by 2030.
Address: Trenchard St, Bristol BS1 5AR
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/bristol-beacon-p900193
Contact: commercialevent@bristolbeacon.org
Armada House
Armada House, a new events venue in Bristol’s Old City, welcomes you with a grand Edwardian foyer featuring a chandelier, marble flooring, and unique original features, including a magnificent 16th-century fireplace.
Ideal for meetings, product launches, conferences, and summer parties, Armada House offers corporate hire packages that include AV equipment, flipcharts, unlimited Wi-Fi, tea, coffee, all-day kitchen access, and a buffet lunch. Armada House is close to hotels, restaurants, and public transport, just a five minute drive or 15-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads train station.
Address: Telephone Avenue, Bristol, BS1 4BQ
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/armada-house-p37091
Contact: events@bristol-venues.com
De Vere Tortworth Court
Just 20 minutes from Bristol and 30 minutes from Bristol Parkway, De Vere Tortworth Court offers 14 versatile event spaces and meeting rooms, perfect for conferences, meetings, team building activities and training sessions. Situated on the southernmost edge of the Cotswolds in the heart of 30 acres of rolling countryside, Tortworth Mansion House is an ideal place to host events.
The Westminster Suite, with its floor-to-ceiling windows and doors opening to the grounds, accommodates up to 400 guests for larger events. For smaller gatherings, the recently refurbished Victoria and Kitchener meeting rooms, featuring wooden panelled walls and high ceilings, hold up to 50 guests each. The Orangery, a Victorian conservatory built in 1874, boasts an ornamental glass ceiling and windows, accommodating up to 100 guests, with outdoor dining and seating available. Additionally, the Tipi at Tortworth caters for up to 80 guests and is perfect for summer get togethers or Christmas celebrations.
Each space is enhanced with 21st-century features, including smart technology, superfast free Wi-Fi with up to 1Gb bandwidth, a variety of food options, free-flowing coffee, guest rooms, and a dedicated conference host. De Vere Tortworth Court ensures a seamless and impressive event experience.
Address: Tortworth Court, Wooton-under-Edge, GL12 8HH
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/de-vere-tortworth-court-p2143303
Contact: tortworthconference@devere.com
Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter
Next to Ashton Gate Stadium, the planned development of a 4000-seater Sports and Convention Centre (SCC) is central to the Sporting Quarter development. Ashton Gate Stadium, a premier venue in the South West, offers versatile function rooms for corporate and private hire. Recently renovated, it now features a 27,000 capacity and state-of-the-art meeting spaces.
The Lansdown Suite accommodates up to 1,000 guests, ideal for large conferences. For smaller events, the Heineken Lounge offers a private bar and balcony with pitch views, while the Dolman Lounge is perfect for meetings and banquets. Unique executive boxes provide private balconies and floor-to-ceiling pitch views, perfect for board meetings and VIP events.
With great transport links, complimentary parking, tailored menus from in-house chefs, and Europe’s largest indoor pub screen, Ashton Gate is cutting-edge for sporting and corporate events.
Address: Ashton Road, Bristol, BS3 2EJ
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/ashton-gate-stadium-p1432143
Contact: events@ashtongate.co.uk
The Wave
The Wave is an inland surfing destination where everyone can surf on consistent safe waves all year round. Located 25 minutes from central Bristol, it’s the first destination of its kind in England, with a 200m surfing lake at its heart. The Wave is now powered by solar panels as part of their passion for technology, nature and human health.
There are three spaces available for private hire and given enough notice, clients can reserve the whole lake on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. A whole site takeover is also possible. Lake hire includes expert coaches and lessons; rates vary depending on the times of day and days of the week.
Address: Washingpool Farm Main Road, Easter Compton, Bristol BS35 5RE
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/the-wave-p3025053
Contact: groups@thewave.com.
Aerospace Bristol
Aerospace Bristol offers the exclusive opportunity to stage your event under the last Concorde to fly or in one of the museum’s purpose-built meeting rooms.
The venue can host a variety of different events, from small meetings, large conferences, drinks receptions and evening banquets. Aerospace Bristol also offers smaller meeting rooms, which are named after key Concorde destinations plus there is also a 146-seat lecture theatre. With the Concorde hangar being over 2,000sqm it is a perfect venue to fit over 500 guests in a banquet layout or over 1,000 guests for an exhibition.
Plus, whilst on-site, all delegates will also have complimentary access to go on board Concorde and visit the rest of the museum, which tells the story of more than a century of Bristol’s aerospace history.
Address: Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol BS34 5BZ
Website: https://www.visitwest.co.uk/meet/plan-an-event/venues-search/aerospace-bristol-p2105803
Contact: events@aerospacebristol.org
YTL Arena
In North Bristol, the YTL Arena is currently in development and will be the largest indoor Arena and Conference & Exhibition centre in the South West. Set in the legendary Brabazon Hangars, once home to the aviation icon Concorde (which was part-built in Filton, North Bristol), this 19,000-capacity venue aims to be Europe’s most sustainable arena, targeting carbon neutrality from day one.
The East Hangar will offer 11,000sqm of pillar-free floorspace with a 12m ceiling height, perfect for exhibitions and conferences. YTL Arena Bristol is set to become the number one live destination in the South West, blending iconic history with cutting-edge sustainability.
Address: YTL Arena Project Office, Gloucester Road North, North Filton, Bristol, BS34 7QH
Website: https://www.ytlarenabristol.co.uk/
Contact: info@ytlarenabristol.co.uk
