Meet Bristol & Bath joined forces with the Alliance of Independent Event Agencies (AIEA), to showcase the possibilities that Bristol, Bath and the surrounding region have to offer event planners. Anna Mead from the Meet Bristol & Bath team has put together an account of the highlights here.
Day one
Only a 5-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads rail station, The Doubletree by Hilton Bristol City Centre served as a base for the agents. The hotel is a modern and contemporary property located near Bristol’s Harbourside and boasts 12 meeting rooms and 206 bedrooms.
The trip began by exploring We The Curious with exclusive access, after hours. The interactive science museum is an ideal venue for drinks receptions and gives guests the opportunity to have fun with the exhibits outside of public opening hours. The top floor is a dedicated meetings and events space with a balcony offering fantastic views of the city, a popular choice for conferences. Their new exhibit ‘Project What If’ is clustered around seven questions asked by the public and we were all quickly absorbed.
Image - Klosterhaus
Afterwards, we enjoyed a delightful meal at Klosterhaus (now closed).
Day two
Day two started with Rob from Where The Wall guiding us from the hotel lobby around the streets of Bristol to see some of the city’s renowned street art. Rob has a wealth of knowledge and you quickly get the impression he could start the tour anywhere in Bristol and be equally as knowledgeable about his surroundings. His in-depth explanations of the various painting techniques and tools used were fascinating and there were no questions left unanswered.
Image - Where The Wall
It is understandable why Where The Wall have received numerous awards including ‘Guided Tour of The Year’ two years running. Not only is the content engaging, the delivery is well thought out. Every attendee is presented with a portable headpiece tuned into Rob's mic, so whatever your walking pace, you don’t miss out.
Rob delivered us to the grand entrance of the oldest hotel in Bristol, the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel. We enjoyed refreshments in the Drawing Room which has been recently renovated, filled with natural light, it is the ideal location for a quick meeting. After a tour of their six event rooms (300 capacity largest space) and Miller & Carter restaurant, we took a short walk down to the river where we were met by Bristol Packet Boats.
Image - Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel and Bristol Packet Boat
The Bagheera, a beautiful glass and aluminium all-weather sight-seeing boat has a large sun-roof and heating with a capacity of 50. It is just one of a fleet of boats which can be exclusively hired to cruise along the River Avon. Every boat features a bar and catering can be provided. We enjoyed a City Dock Tour, learning about our surroundings
On arrival at Brunel’s SS Great Britain, we explored their 11 versatile event spaces, situated on and off the ship (250 largest capacity). Steeped in history, the ship makes a stunning and memorable setting at the heart of Bristol’s harbour. Their showstopper, the First-Class Dining Saloon, is elegant and opulent, providing the perfect setting for evening dining. The neighbouring conference space, The Brunel Institute, offers up-to-date, flexible and modern facilities.
Image - Brunel's SS Great Britain
From the harbour we travelled to the Harbour Kitchen, the Harbour Hotel’s in-house seafood bar and grill in time for an afternoon tea of decadent sweet treats and savoury snacks. The hotel offers a stylish event space for 400 guests plus a speakeasy-inspired bar, spa and luxurious bedrooms and suites.
Only a short walk around the corner, we finished the first part of the day at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel. The hotel is a popular choice for large conferences with event space for up to 500 delegates, plus breakout rooms. The hotel’s style reflects Bristol’s artistic culture with custom artwork scattered throughout.
Image - Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel
We reconvened in the evening and set off to the Apex City of Bath Hotel where we were treated to cocktails and canapes. Accommodating up to 400 delegates theatre style, it is Bath’s largest conference hotel and even features a dedicated conference floor for breakout rooms, refreshments, and a private entrance along with 177 bedrooms.
Image - Apex City of Bath Hotel
A short walk down some of Bath’s cobbled streets brought us to The Roman Baths and Pump Room, which are both available for private hire after hours and catered by Searcy’s. For the Romans this was a popular bathing complex, built around Britain's only hot spring. As the sun set, it made for a memorable experience sipping champagne whilst admiring the Romans’ technology and architecture.
Adjacent to The Roman Baths is the Pump Room where we sat down to a delicious three-course meal whilst listening to a live pianist.
Image - The Roman Baths and Pump Room
Day three
On the final day of the trip we started at Aerospace Bristol, home to the last Concorde to ever fly, which was built in Bristol. The interactive museum is a unique location for gala dinners of up to 600 guests, under the wings of Concorde. The Concorde Hangar features a dedicated conference suite to suit a range of events, from 10 to 70 attendees. The conference spaces also include a lecture theatre with raked seating for up to 146 attendees, including four wheelchair users, but it can be extended to accommodate 200.
Image - Aerospace Bristol
After a taxi ride to Bath, we were met by Jules from In & Beyond Bath for a bespoke tour of the city. They specialise in personalised, immersive journeys which vary depending on the time of year. Their tours aren’t limited to the city centre and their wealth of knowledge extends out into the countryside of the Cotswolds, Somerset and Wiltshire.
Image - In and Beyond Bath
Our tour ended at the Assembly Rooms, originally built for entertaining, they offer a unique corporate hospitality experience. We explored the interlinking rooms and admired the Whitefriars crystal chandeliers. The Ball Room can accommodate up to 500 conference delegates or 310 people for dinner. The elegant Tea Room is well suited to smaller events, with the Great Octagon and Card Room being ideal for exhibition and catering space.
Image - Assembly Rooms
Bringing our trip to a close, we ended the day at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. The award-winning, five-star hotel offers 45 luxurious bedrooms and suites, the Dower House restaurant, meeting facilities and a high-end spa with the possibility of exclusive use for groups. We were treated to an indulgent afternoon tea, accompanied by champagne in the Dower House restaurant. A personal favourite was local delicacy the Bath bun, a sweet roll made from a milk-based yeast dough with crushed sugar sprinkled on top and a lump of sugar enclosed inside.
Image - The Royal Crescent Hotel
Trip testimonial
“I visited Bristol and Bath on an educational trip, and I was “wowed” by the opportunities on offer in both locations. Bristol had so much more than I ever imagined, and I was blown away by its culture and diversity.
Bath has always been one of my favourite places to visit. The people are lovely, the buildings have so much history and the whole city is just stunning.
I am looking forward to taking groups back in the not-so-distant future.”
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Pauline Caldaralo - Events Director , Conference Organisers
To find out more about hosting your event in Bristol, Bath or the surrounding region contact us directly on events@meetbristolbath.co.uk.
Related
Situated in the heart of Bristol, the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol City Centre is a contemporary 4-star hotel with modern conference space to accommodate up to 350.
Set on Bristol’s historic Harbourside, We The Curious is one of the most prestigious corporate event venues in the South West.
Explore the latest street art where the walls change weekly, and celebrate Bristol's unique creative culture.
Hold your next business meeting or special event at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, offering 7,500 square feet of dedicated venue space supported by a team of meeting experts and professional catering services.
A multi award-winning venue for non-residential conferences, corporate and private events and weddings.
Offering the ultimate urban escape, the Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa, fuses two iconic former bank properties to offer contemporary luxurious accommodation with impeccable design and a spectacular events space.
An elegant and spacious hotel in the heart of the city.
Apex City of Bath Hotel is home to Bath's largest purpose-build conference facility with the main conference room catering up to 400 delegates for large events and exhibitions.
With a history spanning over 2,000 years, this atmospheric location sets the stage for enchanting events, whether intimate or grand, accommodating up to 320 guests.
Aerospace Bristol tells the amazing story of the region's world-class aerospace industry - past, present and future. The show-stopping centrepiece is the British icon, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot. Designed, built and tested in Bristol, she was the final Concorde to be built and the last to fly.
The Royal Crescent Hotel offers a unique and exclusive experience for your occasion.
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