Meeting planners and delegates often choose Bolton as a destination for conferences, meetings and events give its location on the route known as the ‘business highway of the north west’. Ideal for delegates wanting to avoid the larger commercial hub of nearby Manchester, Bolton offers a destination rich in heritage and culture with the added bonus of the nearby Pennine countryside for outdoor corporate activities and teambuilding events. With venues able to cater for both large and small conferences and events, delegates will find Bolton has much to offer.

Bolton is easy to reach via the M61 motorway route, via good rail links and via flights into Manchester Airport for international delegates. Ease of accessibility is a strong contributing factor to why many meeting planners choose Bolton as a strong alternative meeting destination.

Large conferences and events are extremely well catered for in Bolton. Bolton Arena’s main hall provides over 5,000sqm of flexible floor and exhibition space with standing capacity for 9,000, whilst the sports theatre accommodates 450 delegates. With 5 further purpose-built meeting rooms conferences, meetings or training events can all easily be catered for. Alternatively, Reebok Stadium is home to Bolton Wanderers football team and a four star hotel encompassing a meeting and exhibition centre catering for all business needs. Facilities in the stadium include a 2,000sqm suite perfect for exhibitions and large conferences plus a choice of further meeting spaces for small or large delegates groups, providing a memorable setting for any event. Academic venues include the University of Bolton and the Bolton School, which provides a high spec arts and conference centre ready to accommodate up to 200 delegates with a variety of halls, conference rooms and a banqueting suite perfect for exhibitions, meetings and teambuilding or training events. The Albert Halls is situated within the historic Town Hall and is a versatile venue equipped with the latest technology for conferences, exhibitions, training events and banquets with capacity for up to 670 delegates. Smithills Hall is a unique venue for weddings and conferences being one of Bolton’s most historic venues with charming Medieval meeting rooms and a 2,000 acres estate. Bolton hotels also offer outstanding conference facilities. For example, the Mercure Bolton Last Drop Village Hotel and Spa boasts 14 conference and banqueting suites for up to 700 delegates plus grounds perfect for teambuilding events and corporate activities. Egerton House Hotel is a picturesque Victorian textile house able to host up to 150 delegates whilst the stylish Ramada Bolton has 10 meeting rooms able to accommodate up to 300 delegates and the Holiday Inn Bolton Centre has a banqueting suite plus conference rooms for up to 300 delegates.