Ramside Hall's Bishops Suite takes the crown with 600 theatre-style or 500 for a seated dinner, though the Radisson Blu downtown runs close behind at 500 standing reception capacity in their combined Auger rooms. For city-centre convenience, the Radisson offers 11 different spaces across a dedicated events floor, while Ramside adds championship golf courses and a spa for those planning multi-day conferences. The Delta Hotels by Marriott maxes out at 120 theatre in their refurbished Cromwell suite, ideal when you need cathedral-quarter atmosphere without resort-scale logistics.
Day delegate rates start from £22-28 at the Honest Lawyer Hotel for basic packages, climbing to £32.95 at Ramside Hall with their leisure facilities included. The Radisson Blu's published DDR begins at £35, while their executive away-day packages reach £299 per person. Room hire only varies widely: Bowburn Hall quotes £275 for a half-day ballroom booking, while the Radisson's larger Auger suites run £600-1,200 for full-day hire. Most city-centre hotels bundle catering, with the Delta Hotels listing coffee breaks at £5.50 per person and working lunches from £50.
The Radisson Blu provides around 120 spaces right in the city centre at Framwellgate Waterside, while Ramside Hall boasts 600 spaces for major conferences. Bowburn Hall includes free parking with approximately 100 spaces just off the A1(M), and the Honest Lawyer Hotel offers similar provision. City-centre options like Hotel Indigo and the Delta Hotels have limited on-site parking, though both sit within Durham's park-and-ride catchment. The Kingslodge Inn near the station offers some parking despite its central location.
The Delta Hotels recently upgraded to ClickShare wireless presentation systems and video conferencing across their five event rooms, while the Radisson Blu includes modern AV in their riverside meeting spaces as standard. Hotel Indigo's Council Room combines period features with contemporary tech for board presentations, and Ramside Hall's conference suites feature built-in screens and sound systems scaled for 600 delegates. Most venues include basic projection and flipcharts in their day delegate rates, though high-spec requirements like simultaneous translation or live streaming typically incur additional charges.
Hotel Indigo's Council Room works beautifully for 22-28 around the boardroom table in their Grade II listed setting, while the Radisson Blu's Drift and Kist rooms accommodate 12-18 for more intimate discussions. At Ramside Hall, several executive boardrooms seat 6-10, perfect for leadership retreats combined with spa access. Farnley Tower Guesthouse offers a quiet 20-25 person meeting room overlooking the city, while The Kingslodge Inn provides informal spaces for business breakfasts near the station. The Delta Hotels' Cromwell 1 seats just 10, ideal for interviews or small team sessions.
Ramside Hall leads with 128 bedrooms plus their 600-capacity conference facilities, offering 24-hour delegate packages from £179 including dinner, breakfast and leisure access. The Radisson Blu's 207 rooms pair with their 11 meeting spaces for multi-day events, with 24-hour rates from £179. Bowburn Hall provides 20 bedrooms for smaller residential meetings, while 61 Durham (formerly Hallgarth Manor) offers 24 rooms alongside Venue 61's 300-person capacity. Even the boutique Farnley Tower has rooms above their meeting space for executive stays.
The Delta Hotels publishes transparent catering prices: continental breakfast £16.50, working lunch £50, and formal dinner £75 per person, all prepared by their in-house team. Hotel Indigo elevates the experience with Marco Pierre White restaurant handling their Council Room catering. Ramside Hall includes multiple restaurants plus dedicated event catering for up to 500 guests, while The Kingslodge Inn specialises in relaxed networking breakfasts and buffets. Most venues offer dietary accommodations with advance notice, from Bowburn Hall's straightforward buffets to the Radisson's riverside private dining.
Ramside Hall's summer marquee accommodates 250 for seasonal events with views across the golf courses, while their grounds enable team-building activities between sessions. The Radisson Blu's riverside location includes terraces for networking breaks, and several rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows opening to balconies. Bowburn Hall sits in private gardens suitable for breakout sessions in good weather, while Farnley Tower's elevated position offers outdoor space overlooking the cathedral. The Delta Hotels' Old Elvet location puts you steps from the riverbanks for walking meetings.
Bowburn Hall specialises in training days with their ballroom accommodating up to 160 classroom-style at £400 full-day hire, popular with local businesses and NHS trusts. The Radisson Blu's multiple breakout rooms support workshop rotation for up to 400 delegates, while the Delta Hotels' refurbished suites with ClickShare enable interactive sessions for 120. The Honest Lawyer's Burnigill Suite handles 50 theatre-style for assessments and interviews at budget-friendly rates. For executive training, Hotel Indigo's Council Room provides an inspiring heritage backdrop.
The Kingslodge Inn sits just 8-10 minutes' walk from Durham rail station, while the Radisson Blu and Delta Hotels both clock in around 10-14 minutes on foot through the city centre. Direct trains from London King's Cross take 2 hours 45 minutes, with Edinburgh connections in 2 hours. Ramside Hall runs a courtesy shuttle from the station during major conferences, though it's primarily accessed via the A1(M). Local buses serve Bowburn Hall and the Honest Lawyer along the A167 corridor. Most venues can arrange taxi transfers, with typical fares £8-15 from the station.