48 hours in Glasgow!
Heather recently spent 48 hours in Glasgow catching up with some of our lovely clients – she managed to visit 10 great venues while she was there! Do you know what Glasgow has to offer? Do you need some venue inspiration? Take a look below to gain an insight into these great event options – and if we have inspired you to hold your next event in this great city, then please get in touch with us!
Grand Central Hotel
Grand Central Hotel is a beautiful, iconic 4* hotel that can be accessed directly from Glasgow Central station, without even going outside! This hotel will be going under refurbishment this year, changing to a voco hotel (part of the IHG brand) at the end of March 2020. The largest event space is the Ballroom which has natural daylight and can accommodate up to 400 people for a dinner. The hotel also features a stunning Champagne bar, a restaurant and a snack bar.
SEC
The SEC is Scotland’s largest exhibition centre, located on the north bank of the River Clyde. This venue has huge exhibition space (over 22,000 sqm combined), large auditoriums (up to 3000 seats) and a meeting centre. Also, on the campus is the SSE Hydro (a live music venue), 6 hotels, a train station which takes delegates directly to Central station in 3 minutes, bike and running routes and the campus is within a short walk of multiple museums and city sites.
Crowne Plaza Glasgow Hotel
Crowne Plaza Glasgow is a great, modern 4* business hotel that can be accessed via a tunnel directly from the SEC. This hotel has 8 meeting rooms, including an executive boardroom and a ballroom which can seat up to 500 for a dinner. The hotel also has a swimming pool, leisure facilities, bar and restaurant.
Glasgow Science Centre
The science centre is an interactive venue, open in the day to families to learn about Science in a hands-on way. In the evening, 3 floors of the venue can be used for drinks reception, providing a quirky and fun option that is sure to break the ice with delegates. The venue also has a large atrium which is perfect for dinners for up to 400 delegates. This glass dome provides a great backdrop for events, plus star cloth lighting and use of the big screen outside the venue is included, creating a real wow factor!
Riverside Museum
Riverside Museum is Glasgow’s new transport museum. This venue has the capacity for up to 1000 people for a drink’s reception; however exclusive use can also be offered for numbers as low as 200. The Riverside Museum is full of vehicles and monuments showcasing the history of travel, with unique areas such as ‘the street’ which depicts a Glasgow street from the Victorian era. Moored outside is a 19th-century Tall Ship, which can also be hired for events.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
Kelvingrove Art Gallery is a popular visitor attraction in Glasgow, and one of the most popular art galleries in the UK. In the evenings the spectacular Centre Hall can seat up to 500 guests for a dinner or host up to 1000 guests for a drink’s reception beneath the magnificent vaulted ceiling and ornate chandeliers. The museum’s magnificent collection can also be viewed by guests at evening events, and additional extras such as an organ player can be arranged.
Glasgow City Chambers
Glasgow City Chambers – home to Glasgow City Council – is an impressive venue on George Square, featuring a stunning marble staircase and a large ornate banqueting hall this providing a real spectacle. This venue cannot be hired for meetings or corporate events, however major events which bring people to the city are often offered a civic reception that can take place within this magnificent building.
Radisson Red Hotel
The Radisson Red Glasgow is a quirky, urban 4* hotel with a modern design. The hotel features a rooftop bar with great views over the SEC campus, a snack bar, games room and 3 contemporary and bright meeting spaces. This hotel even has its own resident dog that lives next to the reception desk!
The Studio Glasgow
The Studio is located less than a minute walk from Glasgow Central Station, so is easily accessible for delegates. This conference centre is modern, bright and quirky with great views of the city from most meeting spaces. The venue can host small to medium sized meetings on their 7th floor, plus larger events on the 8th floor which can accommodate approximately 150 delegates cabaret layout. The communal refreshment foyer provides uplifting and spacious areas for networking and the venue can provide multiple different snack and lunch options.
Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel
Kimpton Blythewood Square (previously The Principle Blythswood Square) is a beautiful 5* 19th-century Georgian townhouse hotel with great event facilities. The main room can accommodate 80 delegates in a cabaret layout or can be split into 3 smaller sound-proof rooms for lower numbers. When being used as one large space, this room has access to a terrace that is perfect for a BBQ lunch on a sunny day – it also interconnects with a private bar. This venue also features a cinema style screening room (great for groups of around 40) or for a pre/post dinner movie night. The newly refurbished restaurant is a great place to dine in style; it also has a semi-private area for small groups that require a more private dinner option, while still having the atmosphere of the main hotel restaurant and bar. This hotel also has a spa, 2 relaxation pools and 9 treatment rooms, perfect for an added treat!
Want to book an event in Glasgow? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we would love to help!
