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On the Mersey

Published: 21/05/2008 - Filed under: Archive » 2008 » June 2008 » Destinations » Features » Features » Destinations » Features » Destinations » Europe »

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Merseyside has been transformed in recent years to become a major business and cultural hub in the north-west. To coincide with Liverpool’s reign as European Capital of Culture for 2008, Carmen Coyne takes a look at the best meeting facilities on offer.

LIVERPOOL ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL

St James Mount, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 709 6271; liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

Described by the former Poet Laureate John Betjeman as "one of the great buildings of the world", Liverpool Cathedral is the largest in the country and the fifth-largest in the world, spanning an area of just under one square kilometre.

The beauty of this venue lies in its soaring Gothic architecture and visitors can fully appreciate it by going on a tour of the 100-metre high tower, the famous Corona Gallery 52 metres above the congregation, and the bell chamber, which houses the 14-ton Great George bell.

The cathedral offers an extensive range of venue options, including the nave, which seats 1,450, the Lady Chapel, the War Memorial Chapel, and the Chapter House. Separately, the Western Rooms offer a dedicated function suite with two oak-panelled rooms accommodating 100 for dinner or 120 for a reception.

Catering options include canapés, business breakfasts and five-course dinners, all prepared on the premises. Alcohol is available for sale in the Western Rooms function suite, the Refectory, the cathedral shop and the Café Bar. (Although wine can be drunk on the main Cathedral floor, the Well and the Lady Chapel, it cannot be sold.)

TATE LIVERPOOL

Albert Dock, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 702 7432; tate.org.uk

Tate Liverpool is the sister gallery to the world famous Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Tate St Ives. Launched in 1988, the gallery is housed in a converted warehouse on Liverpool’s Albert Dock (named after Prince Albert who opened it in 1846) and is a fine example of 19th-century British industrial construction.

The gallery showcases a wide range of modern and contemporary work, from painting and sculpture to photography and installation art. It also houses exhibitions from the Tate Collection as well as special exhibitions from the current international art scene.

Redeveloped in 1998, Tate Liverpool has seven distinct spaces available for meetings or conferences. The 100-seat auditorium with views over the river is perfect for product launches, while the light, modern Café has a sheer glass wall overlooking the dock and features a full bar. It can accommodate 70 for dinner or 125 for a reception, but is only available for evening or Monday bookings.

The boardroom on the top floor seats 20 and has natural daylight, but for larger events the Foyer and Wolfson Gallery is a good option. It can accommodate up to 450 delegates for receptions, although you do need to be a corporate member to hire it.

Tate Catering offers everything from canapés to three-course seasonal dinner menus, while its award-winning wine cellar offers a choice of over 300 vintages selected by Tate sommelier Hamish Anderson.

AINTREE RACECOURSE

Ormskirk Road, Aintree, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 522 2922; aintree.co.uk

Aintree Racecourse is best known for hosting the Grand National, one of the most testing steeplechases in the world, and a key date in the UK sporting calendar.

Just seven miles from Liverpool city centre, the racecourse can accommodate large and small-scale meetings, conferences and exhibitions. In a £35 million redevelopment project completed in 2007, two new grandstands were added: the Earl of Derby and the Lord Sefton, each with two main conference rooms.

The Earl of Derby’s Golden Miller Suite can seat 600 theatre-style, or 500 for a sit-down meal, while the smaller Papillon Suite can host up to 300 theatre-style or 250 for a banquet. On the fifth floor, there are six private Earl of Derby boxes overlooking the racecourse, available for up to 20 people, but some of these can be linked together for larger groups.

The new exhibition centre, the Aintree Pavilion, offers 3,700 sqm of exhibition space and can accommodate up to 12,000 people. Smaller breakout sessions can be arranged in the 30 glass-fronted syndicate rooms overlooking the course. Also available for delegates is a "Grand National Experience" tour of the venue.

Catering is provided by Letheby and Christopher, which was awarded the Greater Merseyside Food Charter in 2007.

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

Anfield Road, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 263 7744; liverpoolfc.tv

Just four miles from Liverpool’s Lime Street railway station, Anfield offers an unbeatable location, steeped in sporting history. Liverpool FC sits alongside the greatest names in British football history, and as such needs no introduction. With a record 18 League cups and five European trophies, Liverpool is the most successful English club on record.

Set within the stadium, there are six main conference suites, which can each accommodate 250-350 guests theatre-style, with one suite for up to 500. The downside is that none of the suites offers views of the stadium. However, for those who do want to overlook the pitch, there are 31 air conditioned executive boxes suitable for 12 people boardroom-style, and a larger one which can seat 40 diners. One-third of the boxes have been refurbished and many feature match memorabilia from Liverpool’s illustrious history.

To add a touch of sporting glamour, guests can visit the club museum or join a tour of the stadium, visiting the players’ dressing rooms, the tunnel and the team dugout. Expert guides will take you through the milestones of the club’s history and even allow you to stand on the Kop, the famous terrace behind the club’s goal.

Catering is provided by Heathcotes Restaurants, offering canapés, buffets, barbecues and gala dinners.

MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM

Albert Dock, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 478 4780 liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime

The Maritime Museum charts the history of Liverpool’s development as a port since its heyday in the 19th century, when it became the second most important city in Britain.

The museum began life as a gallery in 1931, housing ship models and paintings. The collection grew in the following decades and was updated in the 1980s as part of a larger redevelopment of the Albert Dock.

The museum now houses permanent and temporary exhibitions, a maritime reference library and an archive dating back 300 years. This is one of the finest collections of merchant shipping records in the UK, and includes official documents on shipping companies, as well as personal papers relating to seamen and their families.

The venue has three large meeting rooms, two of which can seat 200 for dinner or 150 for receptions. The Lecture Theatre can seat 100 and comes equipped with a PA system, double-side projection, CD player, radio microphones and static screen, all at no extra cost. Parking is available at the adjacent King’s Dock.

RADISSON SAS HOTEL LIVERPOOL

107 Old Hall Street, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 966 1500; liverpool.radissonsas.com

Just seven miles from John Lennon International airport and a ten-minute walk from Lime Street railway station, the Radisson SAS hotel sits on the city-centre waterfront in the business district. The four-star deluxe hotel is a relative newcomer to Liverpool, having been completed in 2002, and is an ideal venue for conferences.

On the first floor there are nine meeting rooms, all with natural daylight and some with views of the river. The largest, the Kings Suite, can accommodate up to 200 for receptions, 180 theatre-style or 140 for dinner, but can also be divided into three smaller venues. Smaller set-ups are available with rooms configured to seat 12 to 40 boardroom-style or 40 for dinner. The rooms all feature minimalist décor so delegates can transform the interiors to suit their style.

Meeting rooms all come with the latest equipment including audio-visual technology, surround sound, air conditioning,

CROWNE PLAZA LIVERPOOL

St Nicholas Place, Princes Dock, Pier Head, Liverpool; tel +44 (0)151 243 8040; cpliverpool.com

Sitting alongside the Royal Liver Building, overlooking the River Mersey, the completely refurbished four-star Crowne Plaza is a design-conscious property in the heart of the city, close to the Arena and Convention Centre.

The largest of the hotel’s seven conference rooms is the Princes Suite, which can accommodate up to 700 people theatre-style or 500 for a banquet. For smaller events this space can be split into three, with the larger room seating 300 theatre-style and the two smaller ones seating 50 each. On the third floor there are four additional rooms suitable for 24 classroom-style, and the Harrington boardroom seating 15. There are also four syndicate rooms which seat 12 theatre-style. All the suites have natural daylight.

Day delegate packages (from £40 per person) include refreshments, a two-course buffet lunch and use of the facilities; 24-hour residential packages are also available from £145 per person, and include a three-course dinner, overnight accommodation, full English breakfast and use of the health club. (Partners of delegates are welcome to stay.)

Getting there

Virgin Trains runs an hourly service from London Euston to Liverpool (journey time 2.5 hours). Visit virgintrains.co.uk.

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