Discover why Sheffield is one of the most talked about cities right now and why it might just be the ideal destination for 2023. You might be excused for thinking that Sheffield flies a little under the radar of other northern metropolises, but the city is regularly hitting the press for its cultural and foodie scene- and hosting some impressive conferences and events.?
From stylish venues and hip regeneration projects to its wealth of green space and sustainability credentials, Sheffield is a real crowd pleaser. Little wonder, then, that it was voted 2nd best destination for a European city break by Time Out and Observer Food Monthly says it’s this year’s foodie hotspot. Good news for delegates!
There’s space to breathe. Not every major city can boast of being inside a national park, yet a third of Sheffield lies with the celebrated Peak District. Sixty-one per cent of the city’s entire area is green space, making it a great destination to find venues with al fresco areas or build outdoor experiences into your event.
Sheffield city centre is well into a £470 million redevelopment of the city centre known as Heart of the City. This is already transforming Sheffield’s centre into a sustainable and socially responsible celebration of heritage buildings alongside brand-new contemporary buildings.
Heart of the City will enhance Sheffield’s constantly evolving food & drink scene, creating more venues for eating, drinking & socialising with an independent vibe, from emerging independents & beloved local institutions to recognised names. Street food is big in Sheffield with numerous outlets, collective venues & regular events that combine pop up artisan food, with music & art. Event Central is a new development which will see six storeys of flexible event space. Intended to be a showcase of creative talent perfect for performance or exhibition, a variety of spaces will be on offer including a 200-capacity basement space.
Venue highlights include the Winter Garden- Europe’s biggest urban glasshouse. The city’s flagship venues (2000+ seater Sheffield City Hall and the 500-seater Cutler’s Hall) are complemented by stylish residential venues such as the Crowne Plaza Royal Victoria and the Leopold Hotel in the city centre and Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa and Double Tree by Hilton on the outskirts of the city.
A new Radisson Blu hotel is taking shape with an enviable location overlooking the Peace Gardens. Opening later in 2023 it’s restored the charming Victorian architecture of the original building and, as well as events space, it will introduce a stunning roof top bar and 154 bedrooms. The sparkling new Courtyard by Marriott hotel opens this summer. The 150-bed hotel occupies a prime position on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (close to M1 Junction 33) with ample parking and EV charging points. Small meeting and private dining spaces are available for up to 10 guests.
Both universities have impressive spaces. The latest addition is The Wave at the University of Sheffield. The Wave’s sustainable design is a first for the university. This net zero operation uses ground source heat pumps to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer, whilst solar panels generate all electricity. Five impressive lecture theatres host between 120 and 400 delegates with 16 further seminar rooms at event organisers’ disposal. Impressive architecture, top sustainability credentials and a short walk from the city centre!
The Conference team have recently worked with event organisers and ambassadors to secure conferences and events worth more than £5 million to the local economy. This includes several national and international sector-specialist events set to take place over the next couple of years, including the Annual International Stillbirth Alliance Conference; the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons Annual Congress; NDE In Nuclear Conference; the International Society for Study of Celiac Disease General Assembly, SUMO Digital Developers Conference and the 52nd Meeting of the British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes. The recent announcement that funding is now complete for the National Centre for Child Health Technology at the Olympic Legacy Park is also great news for conferences and events making Sheffield a global player in the Life Sciences sector.
Conference Sheffield team are always available for advice on any aspect of event planning in the city. They can be contacted on 0114 273 5978, by emailing conferences@sheffield.gov.uk or you can find a wealth of information at www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/conference