Conference Venues for hire in Chester
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Chester Cathedral's Nave leads capacity charts at 850 theatre style, followed by Storyhouse's main auditorium at 800. Chester Racecourse offers the most flexible large-scale option with its Pavilion Suite accommodating 700 delegates, whilst the Crowne Plaza's Kings Suite handles 600. For something different, the University of Chester's Molloy Lecture Theatre seats 310 in tiered rows. Most large venues cluster within 15 minutes' walk of Chester Station, with the Racecourse providing 11 different spaces allowing you to scale from intimate boxes to exhibition halls.
Day delegate rates start from £25 at Mercure Chester Abbots Well, climbing to £45-£85 at premium properties like The Chester Grosvenor. Budget-conscious options include Holiday Inn Express Chester at £195 for full day room hire including AV, whilst Grosvenor Museum's Victorian lecture theatre runs £183-£204 daily. Mid-range hotels like ABode Chester quote DDR from £49.50, with 24-hour packages from £185. Cathedral and racecourse spaces command £3,500-£7,500 for major events, though smaller heritage rooms start from £250.
The Queen at Chester Hotel sits directly opposite Chester Station, just a 1-2 minute walk from platforms. Hotel Indigo and The Mill Hotel both claim 6-10 minute walks, whilst city centre properties like Crowne Plaza and The Chester Grosvenor average 12-15 minutes on foot. For drivers, DoubleTree by Hilton and Chester Racecourse provide extensive parking, with the A55 and A483 offering quick motorway access. The Riverside Innovation Centre near Chester Castle combines riverside views with an 18-minute station walk.
Chester Zoo's The Square lets you conference amongst 37,000 animals, with gardens and conservation experiences built into packages. Storyhouse combines a working theatre with cinema and studio spaces for creative presentations. St Mary's Creative Space offers a deconsecrated church hall for 200, whilst Chester Town Hall brings Grade II listed civic grandeur. The Cathedral's Chapter House seats 100 in medieval surroundings, and Oddfellows Chester provides quirky Georgian rooms with secret garden structures for breakouts.
Crowne Plaza Chester leads with 11 rooms on a purpose-built conference floor, ranging from boardrooms to the 600-capacity Kings Suite. DoubleTree by Hilton offers nine meeting rooms including a 477-square-metre ballroom for 300. The Queen at Chester features eight spaces topped by the Colonnades Ballroom for 400, benefiting from recent £5 million refurbishment. Smaller properties like ABode Chester maximise their footprint with four flexible spaces including the 150-seat Brasserie, whilst Hotel Indigo focuses quality over quantity with one impeccable 12-person boardroom.
University of Chester spreads nearly 200 rooms across multiple campuses, with Riverside Innovation Centre offering modern business training facilities for 180. The King's School provides IT suites with 28 PCs alongside traditional meeting rooms. For residential training, Crabwall Manor combines four meeting rooms with spa facilities and grounds for team-building. Holiday Inn Chester South keeps things simple with three naturally-lit rooms up to 80 capacity, whilst Mercure Chester Abbots Well offers eight spaces with garden views and value DDR from £25.
Most major conference venues include accommodation, with Crowne Plaza's 160 rooms complementing their 11 meeting spaces. The Chester Grosvenor provides five-star rooms alongside Westminster Suite conferences, whilst The Queen at Chester Hotel offers 218 bedrooms above their ballroom facilities. Country options like Rowton Hall and Crabwall Manor create residential conference environments on peaceful estates. DoubleTree's spa rooms add relaxation to multi-day events. Even boutique properties like Oddfellows Chester combine 18 unique bedrooms with their quirky meeting spaces.
Storyhouse stands out with full production support across theatre, cinema and studio spaces, ideal for presentations needing technical polish. Chester Racecourse and major hotels provide comprehensive in-house AV with dedicated technicians. Academic venues like University of Chester lecture theatres include built-in projection and recording capabilities. Even heritage spaces adapt well, with Grosvenor Museum's lecture theatre featuring integrated AV systems and Chester Cathedral offering full event production. Most venues now include hybrid meeting technology, though specifics vary from basic screens at budget properties to full streaming setups at premium locations.
Chester Cathedral's Refectory seats 120 for atmospheric dining after daytime conferences in the Nave or Chapter House. ABode Chester's racecourse-view terraces create memorable settings for 150 seated guests. Rooftop options include The Mill Hotel's new events centre with canal views. Chester Racecourse transforms from daytime conferences to evening galas with multiple dining spaces overlooking the track. For intimate groups, Oddfellows' Secret Garden structures offer quirky private dining, whilst The Chester Grosvenor's Arkle restaurant holds two Michelin stars for ultimate client entertainment.
Location divides between city centre properties within 15 minutes of the station and edge-of-city hotels offering parking and lower rates. November to February brings better availability and pricing, though Chester Race Days in May-September can limit options near the course. Hidden costs to check include parking (scarce in the centre), catering minimums, and equipment hire beyond basic AV. Consider whether you need breakout spaces, as venues like the Cathedral offer impressive main halls but limited syndicate options. Book Storyhouse and Chester Zoo well ahead as their unique offerings fill quickly for creative conferences.