Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham

Right on the riverside in the centre of historic Durham, a big modern hotel with 11 meeting rooms offering a total of 1,100 square metres of space for business meetings and events of all manner and size, from 2-400 guests. That covers product launches, awards ceremonies, AGM’s, presentations, press days, conferences, training sessions and board meetings. And let’s not forget those more sociable corporate gatherings – gala dinners, networking receptions and that glittering Christmas party.

All meeting rooms have natural light (some have floor to ceiling windows) and look out over the river and the city. There’s a large private bar and a lounge area with views of the cathedral, and a business centre with fax and printing services. The biggest event space is the Auger Suite which can hold maximum numbers of 400 standing or 250 for a sit-down dinner; it’s got a bar and pre-event space - useful for registrations and break outs. The Auger can be partitioned into two smaller rooms that each have capacity for 120 delegates theatre style, or 80 for a banquet.

The Seam room accommodates 100 people standing or 70 seated, and then there are 3 Cavil Rooms; as a whole these have space for 80 standing/40 seated, two rooms together hold 40 standing/20 seated, and individually they are ideal for those smaller executive meetings and interviews. The Drift rooms also offer the perfect space for smaller events.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham has the Experience Meetings concept at the forefront of its corporate ethos; this encompasses free high speed wifi, up-to-the-minute AV equipment tailored to your event, freshly prepared food from a choice of menus, an attentive team with a ‘Yes I Can’ mantra. Delegate packages start at very reasonable rates and include a projector and screen, flipchart and pens, unlimited refreshments and a buffet lunch.

For overnight delegates there are 207 contemporary bedrooms providing a restful environment with supercomfy beds, flatscreen TVs and posh toiletries included. They can opt for riverside dining at the in-house Collage Restaurant which serves British brasserie with a twist, or chill with a drink in The Bar. There’s an on-site spa and health club and parking for 120 cars. Durham is within easy reach of major routes, the city train station is just over a mile away, and Newcastle International and Durham Tees Valley airports are both within 45 minutes’ drive.