Choosing a UK Exhibition Venue | 5 Top Considerations

Choosing the right exhibition venue is one of the most important steps to planning your own event; it can directly affect your delegates engagement levels and your overall success.

But don’t worry - we’ve put together a helpful guide, listing the top 5 considerations you should make, before choosing your venue:

1.  Size (and equipment) matters

• Ensure your chosen venue is big enough to comfortably fit your event, without being too large to come across as impersonal or poorly planned.

• If you’re hosting an exhibition or trade show, make sure there is enough space for all your exhibits or stands, plus some additional allocated space to create a seated rest, break-out, or networking area.

• If you’re planning on hosting presentations, seminars, or guest speakers during your event, always check the quality of the venue’s audio-visual equipment. Good quality microphones, and display monitors are essential, and without these, your audience may not engage fully.

2.  Accessibility and location

• Ensure your attendees can move safely around the venue. Check there are adequate wheelchair access points, lifts, ramps, and handrails, to make getting around your event easy and enjoyable for everyone.

• Always make sure you chose an easy to get to, convenient location with good road, and rail travel links. This helps maximise attendee numbers and helps keep engagement levels high across your event. People are less likely to be tired and disengaged if they have not had a difficult journey.

• Also consider your venue’s parking for those travelling to your event by car – look for a venue with plenty of spaces, including electric vehicle charge points. You want your attendees to arrive refreshed, not stressed from driving around looking for a car parking space.

3.  Event zoning

When considering venues for your exhibition or event, always make sure the space is flexible enough to accommodate All your needs. While it may be obvious to check if the space is big enough for your event, also consider:

• Breakout spaces: Providing a dedicated breakout room or area gives your attendees space to separate themselves from the main event – they will relish the opportunity to reset and refocus, boosting moral and engagement.

• Networking spaces: Offering your visitors a separate space dedicated to networking will help elevate your event and increase business and community connection. Look out for venues that offer warm and friendly hospitality spaces that encourage informal, relaxed, and more natural networking.

• Seminar spaces: For trade shows, industry expos, or corporate events, you may want to invite keynote speakers or expert panellists to lead a programme of presentations, seminars, or workshops to create an additional wow-factor. Make sure the space you choose to hire can accommodate an audience layout, or that the venue has a separate room for dedicated talks.

4.  Catering and hospitality

• Aside from the event spaces being suitable for your event, you should also check what catering and hospitality services the venue offers. Consider the type of food and drinks you want to offer your attendees; for some events a seated dining option is relevant, for others a simpler grab and go menu will be the right choice.

• Don’t forget to check that all dietary requirements will be met by your chosen venue to ensure all attendees can keep fuelled throughout the day.

• Also ask yourself if the catering is affordable for your visitors, does it represent good value for money?

• For corporate events and trade shows, you may want a hospitality space away from your main event space for delegates to grab a bite.

• If you’re hosting expert speakers, make sure you provide them with regular refreshments.

5.  Venue support

• Organising an event of any size can be stressful and time consuming.

• Keep an eye out for venues that offer inhouse expertise or dedicated Event Managers who can support you with planning & logistics, creative & theming ideas, registration & event marketing, health & safety, and onsite services.

• A dedicated event planning team will be able to help your event reach its full potential.

Located in the heart of the UK, Cranmore Park is a multi-purpose exhibition and event venue created by experts to deliver memorable, value-driven and always unmissable events.

From corporate meetings and conferencing for up to 700 delegates, to trade shows, exhibitions, networking events, training sessions, gala dinners, and social occasions, Cranmore Park has a range of flexible spaces and a team of event experts who can make your budget work.

Planning your next event? Talk to us today.