Durham's natural meeting place in every sense of the word

Water, nature and light form part of the Radisson Blu Hotel Durham's appeal as a meetings and event destination and make it the perfect location for your colleagues or delegates. Learn more about why you should consider planning your next important event in Durham below.

A small white foot bridge spans the ‘River Wear' directly in front of the entrance to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Durham and forms the very start of a symbiotic link with the historic city centre. The hotel is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and has become a modern landmark for the city, a place to meet in every sense of the word. The grand façade of the Radisson Blu follows the contour of the Wear's ancient meanderings flowing past the hotel's modern architectural lines, cleverly designed to make the most of the historic views through the floor to ceiling windows on the ground floor.

The Radisson Blu Hotel's largest event space, Auger Room, has played host to some prestigious events, such as the ‘Lumiere Launch Gala Dinner', ahead of the highly acclaimed ‘Lumiere Festival'; the sit-down dinner accommodated 265 guests last year and has hosted the launch event since the festivals beginning. The Auger Room can take up to 400 guests in reception style; ideal for product launches, exhibitions and large conferences.

On the other side of the light-filled Atrium and lobby, various sized boardrooms offer flexible and bright meeting space with river and city views. The hotel's dedicated meeting and events team manage 1,100 sqm of event space, spread across 11 rooms, one of the largest portfolios in Durham. The nearby future development of a new business district called ‘Aykley Heads', makes the Radisson Blu Hotel a point-of-reference for international meeting planners and business people heading to the city. And the neighbouring Milburngate House will bring business and office space just next door, really cementing the hotels location in the heart of Durham's business community.

The 10-minute walk between hotel and buzzing city centre provides a sense of exclusivity and Durham is a place that immediately grabs the attention! First and foremost, the unmistakable silhouette of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Castle and Cathedral set against the skyline, has remained head and shoulders above the city for almost a Millennia; cobbled streets branch away from these grand buildings, courting other narrow alleyways of medieval buildings that are now home to a mix of retro, curio, café and farm shops that pepper the centre.

The city's student fraternity contribute much to Durham's multicultural and energetic feel. Durham University is one of the UK's foremost academic institutions and a well-respected knowledge cluster. Similarly, a number of key business groups, such as the ‘North East England Chamber of Commerce' and ‘Business Durham' have helped define and develop the city's credentials as a meetings, event and business hub for the North East region with the Radisson Blu Hotel as one of the key venue suppliers.

Ashley Carney, events executive, North East England Chamber of Commerce says: “The redevelopment of Durham city is a tremendous boost for the city's economy and looks certain to attract more visitors, for both business and pleasure, from far and wide. The Radisson Blu Hotel Durham is an important part of the riverside regeneration and in a prime location to contribute to this growth. Our events in this hotel have always been excellent and professionally delivered.”

The compact nature of Durham's historic centre gives greater emphasis and requirement for sizeable state-of-the-art venue space, but can also give rise to parking issues. The Radisson Blu has considerable onsite parking, with easy access for delegates to connect with the A1 motorway or a short hop from the train station, accessible on foot, with direct services from London and Scotland. And the reward after your day of business? The short walk to the city, the hotel's Limehouse Spa and Collage Restaurant, allowing time to recharge and reinvigorate ready for day two of your event or the journey back to the office!