Harrogate Convention Centre
Convention centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
_003.jpg) Harrogate Convention Centre in February 2020 | |
 | |
| Former names | Harrogate International Centre |
|---|---|
| Location | Harrogate, North Yorkshire |
| Coordinates | 53°59′48.48″N 1°32′29″W |
| Owner | North Yorkshire Council |
| Capacity | 2,000 (Auditorium) 1,600 (Exhibition Halls) 600 (Queens Suite) 1,000 (Royal Hall) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1982 |
| Renovated | 2009–2014 |
| Expanded | 2009–2014 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
_002.jpg)
Previously named Harrogate International Centre it was renamed Harrogate Convention Centre in April 2017.[1] The centre has been described as being a "magnet for business conferences" and generates around £60 million per year into the local economy.[2][3]
While Harrogate had been hosting conferences and exhibitions since the end of the Second World War, the 2,000-seat main auditorium opened in 1982[4] and was the host of the Eurovision Song Contest 1982.[5] The venue has since expanded to include eight exhibition halls offering 180,000 square feet (17,000 m2) of space as well as ancillary facilities including a hotel.[6] Further expansion took place between 2009 and 2014.[7]
The Royal Hall holds 1,000 people, whereas the Queen's Suite holds up to 600. The Royal Hall is grade II* listed building which is a former concert hall designed by Frank Matcham and Robert Beale.[8]
The between April 2013 and December 2018, the director of the conference centre was Simon Kent. Since January 2019, the director is Paula Lorimer.[9]
In April 2020, the centre was converted into an NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber in response to the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020. The centre was furnished with 500 beds.[10]
The Liberal Democrats have held the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference at the centre on six occasions since the party's formation in 1988.[11]
The Green Party held their 2022 Autumn Conference at the centre.
The Eurovision Song Contest was held at the International Centre in 1982.[5]
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
