How to Choose a Corporate Event Venue in the East Midlands

The short answer: the right corporate venue fits your audience in the layout you need, is easy to reach by car, has parking for your delegates, provides sound and screens, lets you choose the catering, and gives your suppliers enough time to set up. The Maher Centre in Leicester (15 Ravensbridge Drive, LE4 0BZ) holds up to 1,500 theatre-style, 1,000 for a banquet and 1,200 for a sporting dinner in one pillarless 1,100m² hall, is 5 to 10 minutes from M1 Junction 21, and has a 350+ space free, private floodlit car park.

Rather than ranking venues (facilities and policies change, so always check them directly) this guide gives event organisers a repeatable way to compare options across Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and the wider East Midlands.

Step 1: define the brief before you search

Venues can only quote accurately if they know what you need. Write down:

• Event type: conference, AGM, awards dinner, exhibition, product launch, training day, Christmas party, charity gala.
• Attendance: expected and maximum, including staff, speakers and exhibitors.
• Layouts: theatre, cabaret, banquet, classroom, exhibition stands, and whether the layout changes during the day.
• Timings: access for set-up, registration, sessions, breaks, finish and pack-down.
• Technical needs: PA, microphones, screens, stage, lighting, live streaming.
• Catering: refreshments, lunch, dinner, dietary needs.
• Travel: where delegates are coming from, and how.

Step 2: check capacity by layout, not headline numbers

A venue that holds 1,500 standing may seat far fewer for a dinner. Ask for capacities in each layout you need, and ask to see floor plans. At the Maher Centre: 1,500 theatre-style, 1,500 standing, 1,200 for a boxing or sporting dinner, 1,000 for a seated banquet, and 800 with a dance floor. For cabaret, classroom and exhibition layouts, the team will plan numbers around your format: see capacity and layouts.

Pillars matter more than people expect. In a pillarless hall every delegate can see the stage and the screens, and exhibitors do not end up with a stand hidden behind a column.

Step 3: travel, access and parking

The East Midlands is well connected by the M1, M69 and A46, but the last mile matters. Ask:

• How far is the venue from the motorway?
• How many parking spaces are on site? Are they private and exclusive to our event?
• Is there space for exhibitor and supplier vans to unload?
• Is the car park lit for evening events?

Free-flowing arrivals set the tone for the day. The Maher Centre's privately-owned car park has 350+ spaces and is floodlit, with car park attendants on duty. It sits 5 to 10 minutes from M1 Junction 21, with easy reach from Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Northampton.

Step 4: AV, staging and lighting

Hidden AV costs are one of the most common budget surprises. Ask exactly what is included, and what is an extra. At the Maher Centre, a full PA system and ambient LED lighting are part of the hall. Optional upgrades include LED side screens and a large 7m-wide LED screen: ideal for keynote presentations, awards and sponsor content. Staging is included with hire, and delegates get free Wi-Fi. Talk to your event manager about any specialist AV partner you want to bring in.

Step 5: catering flexibility

Some venues require you to use their in-house catering; others let you choose. The Maher Centre does not provide catering. You choose a caterer from our partner network, teams who know the venue inside out, or bring your own corporate caterer, and other suppliers are welcomed through our Partner Programme. Beef and pork are not served on the grounds. Your caterer has an industrial kitchen with four burners, a free gas supply and refrigeration. For evening events, corkage and bar hire are optional, with tiers that include bar staff and glassware.

Step 6: time and staffing

Ask how long the booking lasts and whether set-up and pack-down are included. Every Maher Centre booking covers a full 12 hours including supplier set-up and pack-down, so exhibition stands, staging and AV can be built without paying for an extra day. Your hire includes an event manager and caretaker on duty, three car park and WC attendants, and full venue clean-up.

Example: a one-day conference within a 12-hour booking

1. Early morning: AV, staging, exhibitor stands and caterer set up (typically around two hours).
2. Registration: delegates park on site and collect badges; refreshments served.
3. Morning sessions: keynote and panels theatre-style, with LED screens for slides.
4. Lunch and networking: served by your caterer, with time to visit exhibitor stands.
5. Afternoon sessions or breakouts, then closing remarks.
6. Optional evening reception or awards dinner, if you are combining formats.
7. Pack-down: suppliers clear within the booking; full venue clean-up is included.

Changing the layout mid-day, say from theatre rows to banquet rounds for an evening dinner, takes time and people. Ask the venue how long a turnaround takes and who does it, and build that into the running order.

Step 7: comfort, accessibility and practicalities

• Is the venue air-conditioned? (The Maher Centre is, throughout.)
• Is it on one level, with step-free access? (The Maher Centre is single-storey and step-free throughout.)
• Are there accessible toilets? (The Maher Centre has accessible toilets.)
• Is there Wi-Fi for delegates? (The Maher Centre has free guest Wi-Fi.)
• Are there private rooms for speakers, VIPs or performers? (The Maher Centre has two private en-suite dressing rooms.)
• What is the venue's policy on pyrotechnics, confetti cannons or sparklers for awards? (At the Maher Centre, pyrotechnics are allowed, subject to written approval.)

The corporate venue checklist

1. Capacity in each layout we need
2. One room, with or without pillars
3. On-site parking: number, privacy, lighting
4. Distance from the motorway
5. What AV is included and what costs extra
6. Catering policy and kitchen facilities
7. Booking length, including set-up and pack-down
8. Latest finish time
9. Staff on duty and what is included
10. Itemised written quote and any price-match promise

Which events suit a large East Midlands venue?

• Conferences and large conferences of up to 1,500 delegates theatre-style.
• Awards dinners of up to 1,000 seated, with stage, screens and lighting.
• AGMs and member meetings with full PA.
• Exhibitions and trade shows in a pillarless hall.
• Christmas parties with a dance floor and optional bar.
• Charity galas and fundraising dinners.

How to get an accurate quote

Send every venue the same brief, ask for itemised written quotes, and compare what is included. Maher Centre quotes are individual to your event, and our price-match promise covers all packages and optional extras. Enquiries are answered within one working day, and tours are by appointment, about 30 minutes. As a registered charity running events since 1996, we have built our reputation on word of mouth, with a 4.5 Google rating from 569 reviews.

Explore our corporate events and corporate events venue pages, or browse more planning guides.

Frequently asked questions