Bristol facts: Interesting accolades, unique venues and more

Bristol makes a brilliant setting for any event thanks to its convenient location, unique venues, world-leading industries, fascinating history, and all-round welcoming, forward-thinking vibe.

Don't just take our word for it though. We've rounded up facts that show off all Bristol has to offer event organisers and your delegates.

Bristol venues

Image - Bristol Old Vic

• One of history’s most ground-breaking engineers, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, found his home in this forward-thinking city. Some of his most memorable masterpieces are here in Bristol, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Brunel’s SS Great Britain, which is now a top Harbourside events venue with private dining space on board and extensive purpose built conferencing space surrounding the ship.
• Every British Concorde made their maiden flight from Filton Airfield in Bristol and now you can host events under the wings of Concorde Alpha Foxtrot at Aerospace Bristol. This was the final Concorde built and the last to fly.
• We The Curious is home to the UK’s first 3D planetarium, which can be hired for events and is an exceptional setting for seminars and presentations. Located on the historic Harbourside, the science museum is an imaginative and hands-on attraction offering unique event spaces.
• Bristol is home to the world’s oldest Methodist building, John Wesley’s The New Room. The New Room offers a smart and functional multipurpose space, perfect for small events. 
• The Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world, making it a remarkable venue for a corporate event. The Grade I listed building, Coopers Hall, has been restored to its former glory and can be used an event space, book a live Theatre Tour with an expert guide who will walk you through the theatres 252-year history to make your event truly unique.
• Ashton Gate Stadium is the largest conference and event space in the South West, with an impressive 27,000 capacity. The stadium is one of the seven super vaccination centres across the country and Bristol Sport was awarded the Business Leaders Covid-19 Business Hero Award.

Travel to Bristol

Image - Bristol Temple Meads

• Bristol is located with easy road access to London, Birmingham, and the rest of the UK, with the intersection of the M4 and M5 motorway located just to the north of Bristol and the M32 providing direct access to the centre.
• Bristol has two mainline railway stations, Bristol Temple Meads (city centre) and Bristol Parkway (North Bristol).
• Discounted delegate rail fares are available from GWR for delegates travelling to Bristol for business events.
• Bristol Airport is the fastest growing regional airport in the UK. It flies to over 115 destinations in over 34 countries.

Bristol accolades       

Image - Greta Thunberg mural by Jody for Upfest      

• Bristol was listed number 6 in the top 10 UK cities for meetings and events in the British Meetings and events industry survey 2020.
• Bristol was named as one of The Best European Cities to visit in 2019 by the Independent
• Our food and drink scene is highly praised: Bristol was crowned the Best Culinary Destination in the World Food Travel Association: Food Trekking Awards 2019 as well as World Vegan Capital by foodie website Chef’s Pencil. There's also three Michelin-starred restaurants - Casamia, Paco Tapas and Bulrush. 
• We've got great green credentials too, dubbed the UK’s most environmentally friendly city by GoodMove in 2017 and were the first city to be named the UK’s Greenest City by Compare The Market.
• Bristol was named ‘Rising Star’ destination at the National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards 2018.
• The UK’s leading Smart City 2017.
• A Premier Inn survey revealed Bristol as the most artistic city in the UK, based on the number of museums, theatres, amount of live music gigs and the quantity of street art. It's also host to Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival, Upfest.
• Bristol is a UNESCO City of Film, a credit to the thriving creative industries in and around the city.
• Bristol was the UK’s first cycling city.

Economic sector strengths

Image - We The Curious planetarium, credit Lee Pullen

• Bristol was named the UK’s most productive ‘tech cluster’ in the Tech Nation Report 2018. The city is globally recognised for its innovation and thriving tech industry.
• Aardman Animations is based in Bristol and are the makers of well-loved classics including Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run. Model making experiences with their experts are available to the corporate market – a great team building experience.
• BBC Bristol produces 25% of all the world’s nature documentaries – many of them featuring Sir David Attenborough.
• Bristol has been used as a filming location in many popular TV programmes and films including Only Fools and Horses and Sherlock.
• Bristol is home to Bottle Yard Studios, the largest dedicated film and TV studio facility in the West of England.
• Bristol is a leader in aerospace and engineering and is the centre of the largest aerospace cluster in the UK.
• Bristol Robotics Laboratory is the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK.
• Banksy, a world-famous street artist was in born in Bristol; a lot of his earliest work is hidden around the city. Where The Wall offers street art tours where you can experience some of Banksy’s most famous work.

Even more interesting facts about Bristol

Image - Clifton Suspension Bridge, credit Gary Newman

• Bristol is home to two world-class universities, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England.
• The University of Bristol is one of the top 10 best universities in the country and is at the cutting edge of global research. Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, researchers across the university have united to collaborate on finding ways to overcome the virus.
• The University of the West of England (UWE) is renowned for its aerospace and engineering courses that are linked with leading local employers such as Airbus, Rolls Royce, and the Ministry of Deference. During the Covid-19 pandemic, UWE exhibition and conference centre was transformed into an NHS Nightingale hospital in just three weeks.
• Europe’s largest hot air balloon fiesta takes place annually in Bristol. 
• St Nicholas Market in the Old City was established in 1743 and was named as one of the top ten best markets in the UK. Inside is a maze of quirky stalls, globe-spanning food and historic architecture.

To discuss hosting your event in Bristol or the surrounding areas contact the Meet Bristol team on conference@meetbristol.co.uk or make an enquiry. 

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• Virtual tours: Bristol conference and event venues
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