About Leeds
Leeds, located in West Yorkshire, is home to almost 800,000 people. The city is known for its excellent shopping districts, fascinating museums, peaceful green spaces and its universities.
Leeds is a great place to host a meeting. There are dozens of suitable meeting spaces available with all the amenities you'll need, and the city is well-connected to other major UK cities by reliable train and road networks. This handy guide will help you plan and execute a successful meeting in lively Leeds.
Meeting Space Options in Leeds
Planning a meeting in Leeds doesn't have to be a stressful experience. With the help of several reputable vendors, such as caterers, furniture hire specialists and caterers, you can host a hassle-free meeting that meets all its objectives.
- Transport
If you're looking to impress those you are meeting with, why not enlist the help of a chauffeur company? You can organise it so that the meeting attendees are collected from their accommodation and brought to the meeting venue without having the hassle of booking and waiting for taxis to arrive.
- Furniture Hire
If you find a venue that mostly fits your requirements, but they do not provide all the furniture you need for the meeting, don't worry. You can hire furniture from a local furniture hire company for the duration of the meeting and have the items collected when the meeting ends.
- Catering
If your meeting is expected to last more than a couple of hours, you should provide meeting attendees with refreshments. If the meeting is due to run longer, it would be wise to provide food. You don't have to put on a large buffet spread—a selection of sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks would suffice. The good news is that there are several reputable catering companies in Leeds that specialise in providing food for meetings, so you shouldn't struggle to locate a suitable catering company.
Meeting Vendors in Leeds
- Leeds Chauffeurs
Leeds Chauffeurs are available to ensure attendees reach the meeting on time and in style. The company's fleet of top-of-the-range vehicles are immaculately presented, containing full leather interiors, air conditioning, phone chargers, Wi-Fi, and complimentary bottled mineral water to ensure meeting attendees are comfortable on the journey to the meeting venue. Choose from a range of vehicles, including but not limited to Mercedes E Class Saloons and Estates, Range Rover Vogue 4x4, Bentley Flying Spur, Rolls Royce Silver Spirit and many more.
- Furniture Hire UK
Furniture Hire UK is a nationwide company that offers furniture hire services in the Leeds area. The company has a large range of stock, including but not limited to chairs, tables, desks, conference furniture, office furniture, display plinths and light boxes, so you're bound to find the items you need for your upcoming meeting. Furniture can be delivered to your chosen meeting space as soon as the next day, depending on availability. So if you're searching for a reliable furniture hire provider in Leeds, look no further.
- Salt's Catering
Salt's Catering provides delicious and convenient business lunches in West Yorkshire and can cater for 5 to 500 people! So if you're looking for a standard catering option that includes sandwiches, crisps, nibbles, cakes, fruit and canned drinks, Salt's Catering is ideal. Sandwich options include roast chicken salad, dry-cured ham, Yorkshire beef, caramelised red onion, horseradish and rocket, egg mayonnaise and watercress, and matured cheddar with homemade chutney. Alternatively, if you're hoping to provide meeting attendees with something a little more special, Salt's can create a cold buffet selection.
Pros and Cons of Meeting Spaces in Leeds
Advantages
- Choice
The beauty of hosting the meeting in Leeds is that there are many suitable venues available to hire. You can choose among event spaces, boardrooms, restaurants or studios that can be fitted with your own furniture. You're spoiled for choice!
- Green spaces
After the meeting comes to an end, why not go for a relaxing stroll in one of Leeds' beautiful parks to blow off some steam and mull over the content of the meeting? Popular green spaces in Leeds include Roundhay Park, Temple Newsam, Golden Acre Park, York Gate Garden and Yeadon Tarn.
Disadvantages
- Traffic
Leeds, like all major cities in the UK, has a bit of a problem with traffic congestion. If possible, organise your meeting for a time when attendees won't get stuck in traffic on their way to the venue.
- Expensive
Hiring a meeting space can be expensive, especially if you don't do your research to find a good deal. For example, city centre meeting venues in swanky hotels could cost you close to £100 per hour! But don't worry, there are several excellent meeting spaces available for as little as £20 per hour.
Famous Locations in Leeds
- Thwaite Watermill
Located a short distance from Leeds city centre, you'll find Thwaite Watermill. Nestled on a small island, the Thwaite Watermill is one of the last examples of a water-powered mill in Britain. Inside the spectacular building, you will learn how the mill workers lived on the island self-sufficiently, and you can also explore the engineer's workshop to learn more about the equipment used on site. Once you've explored the inside of the water mill, why not venture out onto the nature trail alongside the canal for a relaxing stroll? On your stroll, you're likely to see bumblebees, a variety of beautiful birds and stunning butterflies.
- Tropical World
If you want to get closer to nature, you must take a trip to the Tropical World. Located in Roundhay Park, Tropical World is one of Leeds' most popular attractions, which gives visitors the opportunity to explore the habitats of far-off places on the other side of the globe. Inside, you'll experience desert, jungles, aquatic and nocturnal habitats, and come across a variety of animal species, including butterflies, bats, lemurs, snakes, crocodiles and meerkats! After a few hours of intense exploration, why not head over to the cafe to get a drink or a bite to eat? You're bound to need refreshments after such a busy day of learning and discovery!