Search for all the suppliers needed for your event
Try our three methods of map searching
From Stadiums to skyscrapers, find your unusual venue
Search venues for the perfect Christmas event
Search within the finest wedding venues
The county of Dorset offers meeting planners a region of breathtaking beauty and great contrasts which comprises many world-class meeting and event venues that regularly attract both national and international conference delegates.
Steeped in heritage dating from Roman times including several notable archaeological finds, Dorset, situated on the glorious South Coast, offers conference organisers Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty including miles of stunning Jurassic Coast and idyllic countryside, making the county an ideal choice for outdoor pursuit teambuilding events and corporate activities on both land and water.
Dorset as a conference destination offers Dorchester, Poole, Bournemouth, Shaftesbury, Sherbourne and Weymouth as major locations in which to host successful meetings, staff training, corporate hospitality events andexhibitions in spectacular settings sure to inspire and impress delegates, as well as wonderful secluded venues perfect for conference retreats and intimate weddings.
The county is extremely accessible by road linking with several motorways and A roads including the M3, M27 and A31, via excellent rail links including direct routes into London Waterloo, by regular ferry services and via flights into Bournemouth, Southampton, Exeter, London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports for international conference delegates.
Meeting planners are undoubtedly spoilt for choice as Dorset provides a diverse selection of conference venues of varying capacity to choose from. One of the most renowned, having hosted several political party conferences in recent years and being featured on the International Convention Centre Shortlist, is the Bournemouth International Centre. A superbly equipped and versatile conference andexhibition centre, the BIC offers several meeting spaces incorporating 2,500sqm of exhibition space alongside meeting rooms, halls and a banqueting suite, boasting maximum capacity for 4,000 delegates. Nearby is The Pavilion Theatre,sister venue to the BIC, offering a traditional 1920’s theatre able to accommodate up to 1,458 delegates. Sporting venues within the region include Bournemouth AFC offering conference rooms and suites for up to 400 delegates,Bridport Leisure Centre, PGL Osmington, which is ideal for teambuilding events, andCanford Magna Golf Club which is suited to corporate golf events, weddings and functions. First class academic venues offering outstanding conferencing facilities include Bournemouth University, The Gryphon School and Sherborne School, whilst there are also numerous cultural venues providing exhibition, event and conference spaces such as Shaftesbury Arts Centre and Poole Lighthouse. Meeting planners seeking an unusual venue will appreciate options such as Monkey World and The Kingcombe Centre, whilst those looking for a grand, historic venue will be drawn to Portland Castle, Sherborne Castle, and the incomparable Lulworth Castle and Park, each providing impressive conference and banqueting suites for all corporate occasions. Dorset hotels also provide an extensive range of fully equipped meeting and conference rooms alongside elegant banqueting suites set in both historic and modern venues. The De Vere Royal Bath, for instance, is a well-known historic landmark whilst country house hotels include Chaffeymoor Grange and the Grange at Oborne. Boutique hotels such as The Chocolate Boutique Hotel and The Green House, an award winning, ethical luxury venue, also offer unique experiences for seasoned conference delegates. Major hotel groups represented in Dorset are De VereHotels and Venues, VillageHotels, Marriot Hotels, Best Western Hotels, Old English Inns and Thistle Hotels.
Dorset is therefore well placed to cater for any conference, meeting or event, and promises diverse venues able to achieve excellent standards and levels of service for corporate guests.
venuedirectory.com lists venues in order of those most recently updated with full entries listed first and including a thumbnail picture. Click on the venue name or image to view detailed information and check the boxes next to each property you would like to add to your enquiry list.
Poole is a friendly, easy-going town, with its traditional Quay still very much at its heart. And that’s where you’ll find Thistle Poole, offering superb views over one of the world’s largest natural harbours, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck hills beyond. Thistle Poole is one of our area’s prime locations for conferences and business meet...
This classic hotel, nestling in its own secluded grounds, provides the very best in comfort, service and hospitality. Unwind in the well-equipped Leisure Club, which can offer you everything you need for a relaxing break, from a leisurely swim, to an E'Spa facial or body massage.
The RNLI College is an award-winning conference and training venue situated in a stunning waterside setting in Poole, Dorset. It is the home of RNLI training.
The VILLAGE Bournemouth is perfect for any UK business traveller looking for somewhere convenient to stay and is an ideal venue for your meeting and conference needs
The Norfolk Royale Hotel is located in the centre of town, with Bournemouth International Centre nearby, and was the nineteenth century summer home of the Duke of Norfolk. Today, this grand 4-star Edwardian-style hotel features 95 bedrooms, 11 meeting rooms, a restaurant and a leisure club. Free Wi-Fi and ample on-site parking.
The Italian Villa is a supberb location for corporate events. If you are looking for the perfect venue hire for a conference, AGM, exhibition, product launch or any special occassion, the Villa provides elegant and stylish setting.
Days Hotel Bournemouth has 87 newly refurbished bedrooms/bathrooms and 8 meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 230 theatre style. Business facilities are available for use by delegates. The venue boasts 1 restaurant and bar with banqueting facilities and private bars. 100 free on-site parking spaces. Free Wifi. Outdoor heated swimming.
This traditional country hotel is perfectly located on the edge of the New Forest and within easy reach of Bournemouth and Poole.The hotel boasts 35 comfortable en-suite bedrooms, as well as a four poster bedroom and a feature room.St Leonards Hotel has excellent function facilities, with four varying sizes of rooms.
The Kings Head Wimborne has 1 conference room up to a maximum of 50 people Theatre Style FREE WiFi throughout the hotel. With 27 bedrooms in the heart of the Dorset town of Wimborne Minster with easy access to Bournemouth via the A31
If you are looking for a meetings and conference venue in Bournemouth, the Riviera has excellent facilities, free secure WiFi throughout the hotel and conference suites, free parking and is only a 20 minute bracing stroll along the prom from the Bournemouth International Centre (the BIC)
Re-designed & refurbished with weddings, family holidays & events specifically in mind, The Ocean View Hotel is tailor-made for your special occasion. Metres from the clifftop on Bournemouth’s leafy Eastcliff, with outside swimming pool & elegant gardens, this 53 bedroom hotel is ideally situated to take full advantage of its breathtaking...
The Commodore Southbourne near Bournemouth offers 1 Conference room up to a maximum of 30 people Theatre Style FREE WiFi throughout the whole hotel. With 12 Bedrooms in the Commodore has stunning views over the Dorset Cliff Tops via the A31 and A338
The Christchurch Harbour hotel is an ideal conference venue. Conveniently located just a short drive from Bournemouth and Southampton, and easily accessible from London. The Hotel is two hours from central London by car and one hour 30 minutes by train from London Waterloo.
We're proud to be able to offer meeting room facilities at our premises in Poole, suitable for internal or external meetings, training sessions or interviews. There are two rooms available, the Auto Union Boardroom and the Quattro Training Room. Free parking, wi-fi, tea and coffee plus buffets and refreshment available if required.