Blog.
Independent Venues in Leeds
Leeds is a city that is fuelled by independence. From shopkeepers and craftspeople to creatives and cooks, the city is a host to unique venues and radical innovators at the forefront of tech, healthcare, culture and sport. Hosting your conference at one of our many independent venues will ensure that your delegates will experience the exceptional, at a unique and curated conference or event.
We’ve collated some of Leeds’ best independents that will enhance your venue experience.
Come for the Culture
Northern Ballet is one of the cultural powerhouses of the North and the UK. Boasting the largest dedicated space for dance outside of London, Northern Ballet sits in the district of Quarry Hill; in an award-winning, environmentally-friendly building that offers a range of spaces for conferences of all sizes.
One of the many perks of hosting at an independent venue is the bespoke, personalised touch that they can add to any event, and Northern Ballet are able to offer an element of dance to an event through team-building and energiser sessions, or a talk from its very own team.
Duke Studios prides itself on putting people first, bringing delegates together to collaborate in a city centre venue. An open and collaborative space, Duke Studios is based around a co-working model, and provides four meeting rooms that offer creative and interesting spaces that allow great ideas and ‘stuff’ to be achieved. The largest space can accommodate up to 100 delegates and all the rooms come with the most up to date AV technology as standard, including multi-camera live streaming options, 6K laser projection and Pioneer Pro Audio equipment.
As one of the most recognisable spaces in the city, Leeds Playhouse is a truly unique venue that can meet all of your conference and meeting needs. Opened in 1990 and with a glowing reputation for being one of the most exciting producing theatres in Britain, Leeds Playhouse offers a high spec auditorium that can accommodate 350 – 750 people. For smaller meetings The Congreve, Priestley and Meeting Room 1 are also available within Leeds Playhouse, holding all the technical equipment you would need as a producing theatre.
As your conference or event comes to a close, you can even have the opportunity to treat your delegates to a one-of-a-kind backstage tour and to see a show to widen the scope of your conference.
Another Quarry Hill favourite, Leeds Conservatoire is one of the country’s leading conservatoires in the UK, delivering expert music and performing arts education to a community of over 1,200 students. As an AIM-accredited venue with outstanding facilities which include a 350 capacity auditorium with high quality equipment available at your fingertips. The team at Leeds Conservatoire can deliver events that look, and as you would expect sound, first class.
Location, Location, Location
Horizon was established in 2014 and focuses on providing award winning digitally led conference facilities. Part of the NHS Confederation, the revenue Horizon generates is reinvested to support the Confederation’s work to represent the NHS and support its members to continually improve care for patients and the public. Situated on the third floor of 2 Brewery Wharf, Horizon’s riverside location benefits from stunning panoramic views of the city and boasts rooms suitable for 2 – 250 delegates. The venue is leading the way for digital events in the city with its virtual and hybrid streaming studio. With multi camera set up, control room, professional level sound and lighting equipment and super-fast internet connectivity their event planners can help deliver a fully branded event and connect delegates no matter where they are based.
The Studio is another space that benefits from easy accessibility from Leeds Train Station and by road. With 11 vibrant event spaces, The Studio can accommodate up to 180 guests in a theatre-style conference, with each space equipped with technology including HDMI data projection, Apple TV and integrated audio systems to ensure maximum productivity at your event. Guests are guaranteed a friendly welcome from The Studio’s dedicated events team, and can take in panoramic views of the city from its stunning outdoor balcony.
Aspire is an opulent building which has a long respected history. Originally built in 1771, the building was home to Leeds General Infirmary, before it was demolished and rebuilt to become home of the head office for the Yorkshire Penny bank. The building has been sympathetically restored paying homage to its roots in a modern and contemporary style to become one the city’s leading dedicated events space. Ideally situated within walking distance of Leeds Train Station, and with multiple parking options nearby too, Aspire is an easily accessible venue that offers a range of large and small meeting rooms as well as a stunning mezzanine and banking hall to give your event the wow factor.
Venues with a Difference
Shine is a social enterprise and state-of-the-art, award-winning business and social hub situated just minutes from Leeds city centre. The venue aims to raise aspirations and create opportunities within their community and understands that where you meet and work truly makes a difference. Shine has invested in creating a creative and inspiring work environment that you want to be in and stay in. For over 10 years, Shine has been welcoming conferences to the city, from Prime Ministers to start-ups, with 18 rooms to cater for 2 to 100 people.
Sitting in the heart of God’s own county, Harewood House benefits from a rich history and stunning grounds that are easily accessible from the hustle and bustle of Leeds city centre. Acknowledged as one of the Treasure Houses of England, Harewood House gives delegates the opportunity to dine amongst one of the best private Renaissance art collections in the country in the grandeur of its gallery, or can offer a formal experience in its courtyard conference space which benefits from sliding doors to suit your event however grand or intimate.
Harewood House is a stunning backdrop to choose to leave your delegates with a lasting memory of their time in our city.
Another venue boasting the wow factor is The Mansion; a Grade II listed venue, located in 700 acres of stunning parkland, which provides a spectacular grand entrance and unrivalled views overlooking the upper lake at Roundhay Park. Standing as one of the best historical venues in the country, The Mansion’s two main function rooms can seat up to 220 guests with an additional 3 rooms for smaller meetings, all of which carry the equipment you’d need to ensure the smooth running of any event. With stunning, restored interior spaces, delegates are welcome to enjoy a taste of Yorkshire from its award winning on-site catering team; Dine, which is renowned for quality food, service and event management to give you peace of mind and a perfect event.
Leeds Media Centre is at the forefront in bringing conferencing into the digital age. With cutting edge technology and audio-visual equipment, the venue is the ideal choice for hybrid events. Three meeting rooms are also available to seat up to 80 delegates with an eclectic mix of multi-cultural cuisine, and a fully licensed bar to ensure your delegates get the opportunity to make the most of the time in the city.
Good for Grub
Representing one of Leeds’ oldest brewing dynasties, The Tetley has been synonymous with Leeds for over 200 years. Today, however, The Tetley is a pioneering centre for contemporary art and offers a warm, traditional Yorkshire welcome into a range of exciting conference, meeting and event facilities. The team can provide exciting catering options with four rooms to hire that are fitted with quality AV equipment.
Northern Monk is a pinnacle in Leeds’ drinking scene. The brewery is infamous across the city, and the whole of the North, Northern Monk is bursting with character. Situated in a former Mill, the Chapel Hall in Northern Monk’s Grade II listed building features original iron pillars, red brick walls and flagstone. It is the perfect space to celebrate all that makes Leeds an exceptional city. Able to hold 120 delegates, conference organisers can rest assured that those attending will have an enjoyable experience.
For a flavour of local life, Trinity Kitchen is the place to go. Combining six new street vans every eight weeks along with permanent food and drink residences, Trinity Kitchen offers delegates the opportunity to truly experience Leeds like a local. With its vibrant space to host after conference drinks receptions, you can also give your delegates the chance to absorb knowledge and network with others in their field in this foodie environment.
The Conference Leeds team have a wealth of experience to offer the support and advice you need to find your perfect venue, to ensure every single delegate experiences the exceptional. Start planning your next conference with the help of our interactive venue map, to discover how you can bring your conference to Leeds, with ease.