Hatherley Manor Hotel leads with the Hatherley Suite accommodating 310 theatre-style, perfect for annual conferences and exhibitions. Delta Hotels by Marriott Cheltenham Chase follows with the Buckholt Suite hosting 300 delegates, whilst Mercure Gloucester's Lakeside Suite manages 180 with views across the water. For mid-sized gatherings, the New County Hotel's Ballroom fits 250 delegates right in the city centre. These larger spaces typically include dedicated registration areas and break-out rooms, with day delegate rates starting from £32 at Mercure during promotional periods.
Holiday Inn Gloucester publishes day delegate rates from £29, including room hire, refreshments and lunch, with their Sheridan Suite handling up to 140 delegates. Holiday Inn Express Gloucester South offers even keener rates around £22 for smaller groups in their Malvern and Severn rooms. Premier Inn Twigworth provides the most budget-conscious option with simple room hire from £60 half-day. For something more characterful, Hatton Court Hotel maintains competitive DDR from £30 whilst offering boutique country-house ambience in Upton St Leonards.
The Station Hotel sits literally opposite Gloucester railway station, just a 1-2 minute walk for rail arrivals. The New County Hotel and New Inn Hotel both lie within 8-12 minutes' walk of the station in the city centre. For larger conferences requiring coach transfers, Hatherley Manor and Mercure Gloucester both operate 15-minute shuttle routes from the station. Most edge-of-city hotels like Holiday Inn Gloucester in Barnwood or Delta Hotels Cheltenham Chase require 10-15 minute taxi rides, though all provide extensive free parking for those driving via the M5.
Mercure Gloucester's lakeside location provides water views and outdoor space for networking between sessions. Hatherley Manor combines 17th-century panelled heritage rooms with modern facilities, plus walled gardens for team-building activities. The New Inn Hotel brings medieval character with its Grade I listed galleried courtyard, ideal for heritage-themed events. For riverside meetings, The Mooring Post in Over offers Severn views with intimate dining spaces. Several hotels including Hatton Court and Royal George Birdlip feature garden marquee options extending capacity to 200 guests during warmer months.
Holiday Inn Gloucester stands out with 8 air-conditioned rooms and an Academy-style setup designed specifically for training delivery, with 7 rooms featuring natural daylight. Delta Hotels by Marriott offers 11 different room configurations allowing concurrent break-out sessions. Mercure Gloucester's Meetings Express programme caters to short-notice training bookings with guaranteed setup within 2 hours. Both Gloucester Robinswood Hotel and Hatton Court provide dedicated syndicate rooms for group work, whilst maintaining leisure facilities for delegate downtime including pools and gyms.
Mercure Gloucester provides approximately 150 free parking spaces, whilst Hatherley Manor and Delta Hotels both offer extensive complimentary parking suitable for large conferences. The Royal George Hotel at Birdlip maintains around 100 spaces with easy A417 access. City centre options vary considerably - New County Hotel has limited parking requiring advance booking, whilst The Station Hotel relies on nearby public car parks. Holiday Inn Express Quedgeley and Premier Inn Twigworth both guarantee free on-site parking as part of their standard offering.
September through November sees peak conference demand, particularly at Hatherley Manor and Delta Hotels, requiring 8-12 weeks advance booking for larger spaces. January to March training season fills Holiday Inn Gloucester's Academy rooms quickly, needing 4-6 weeks notice. Mercure Gloucester's Meetings Express specifically caters to last-minute requests with 2-hour setup guarantees, though this typically applies to smaller rooms only. Summer months offer more flexibility, with venues like Hatton Court and Royal George often available at 2-3 weeks' notice, especially for mid-week dates.
Hatherley Manor offers 56 bedrooms alongside its conference facilities, with 24-hour delegate packages from £159. Delta Hotels by Marriott Cheltenham Chase provides extensive accommodation for multi-day conferences, whilst Mercure Gloucester's 24-hour rates start from £131 including bedroom, dinner and breakfast. For boutique stays, Hatton Court combines intimate meeting spaces with country-house bedrooms from £150 per 24-hour delegate. The centrally-located New County Hotel manages 39 rooms for city-based residential meetings, whilst The Mooring Post offers just 7-8 riverside rooms for exclusive executive retreats.
Most hotels provide standard day delegate packages including arrival refreshments, mid-morning break, lunch and afternoon tea. Hatherley Manor and Delta Hotels offer extensive menu customisation for dietary requirements and themed breaks. The Mooring Post stands apart with its restaurant-with-rooms model, providing elevated dining experiences from £25-45 per person. Holiday Inn Gloucester includes hot and cold buffet options within their £29 DDR, whilst budget options like Premier Inn Twigworth require separate catering arrangements through their adjacent Table Table restaurant.
Hatherley Manor's combination of the vast Hatherley Suite and extensive lawns makes it Gloucester's premier exhibition venue, with the walled garden providing additional display space in good weather. Delta Hotels' Buckholt Suite accommodates 300 theatre-style with adequate space for perimeter exhibitions. Mercure Gloucester's Lakeside Suite offers flexibility for combined conference-exhibition formats with its 180-person capacity and natural light. The New County Hotel's Ballroom in the city centre handles up to 250 delegates with exhibition space, though loading access requires coordination with their events team.