Harrogate Convention Centre

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Harrogate Convention Centre
Harrogate Convention Centre (15th February 2020) 003.jpg
Harrogate Convention Centre in February 2020
Harrogate Convention Centre
Former namesHarrogate International Centre
Location Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Coordinates 53°59′48.48″N1°32′29″W / 53.9968000°N 1.54139°W / 53.9968000; -1.54139
Owner North Yorkshire Council
Capacity 2,000 (Auditorium)
1,600 (Exhibition Halls)
600 (Queens Suite)
1,000 (Royal Hall)
Construction
Opened1982
Renovated2009–2014
Expanded2009–2014
Website
Official website

Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.

Contents

History

Crowne Plaza Hotel in 2020 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Harrogate Convention Centre (15th February 2020) 002.jpg
Crowne Plaza Hotel in 2020

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]

Notable events

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 1982</span> International song competition

The Eurovision Song Contest 1982 was the 27th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Harrogate, United Kingdom, following the country's victory at the 1981 contest with the song "Making Your Mind Up" by Bucks Fizz. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the contest was held at the Harrogate International Centre on 24 April 1982 and was hosted by English TV presenter and newsreader Jan Leeming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurovision Song Contest 1972</span> International song competition

The Eurovision Song Contest 1972 was the 17th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Edinburgh, United Kingdom and was organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), who agreed to stage the event after Monaco, who won in 1971, were unable to meet the demands of hosting the event and could not find a suitable venue. The contest was held at the Usher Hall on 25 March 1972 and was hosted by Scottish ballet dancer Moira Shearer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrogate</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

Harrogate is a spa town in the district and county of North Yorkshire, England. Historically in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters and RHS Harlow Carr gardens. 13 miles (21 km) away from the town centre is the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Nidderdale AONB.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Exhibition Centre</span> Exhibition and conference centre in Solihull near Birmingham, England

The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is an exhibition centre located in Marston Green, Solihull, West Midlands, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976.

The United Kingdom was represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 by Bardo with the song "One Step Further". It was chosen as the British entry through the A Song for Europe national selection process and placed seventh at Eurovision, receiving 76 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manchester Central Convention Complex</span> Exhibition and conference centre in Manchester, England

Manchester Central Convention Complex is an exhibition and conference centre converted from the former Manchester Central railway station in Manchester, England. The building has a distinctive arched roof with a span of 64 metres (210 ft) – the second-largest railway station roof span in the United Kingdom, and was granted Grade II* listed building status in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEC Centre</span> Exhibition centre in Glasgow, Scotland

The SEC Centre is Scotland's largest exhibition centre, located in Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of the three main venues within the Scottish Event Campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ExCeL London</span> Exhibitions and international convention centre in the London Borough of Newham

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre</span> Convention centre in Queensland, Australia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rotterdam Ahoy</span> Event arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wembley Conference Centre</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Hall, Harrogate</span> Theatre and performance hall in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England

The Royal Hall is a Grade II* listed performance hall and theatre, located in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber</span> Temporary NHS COVID-19 hospital set up in Harrogate Convention Centre

The NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospitals set up by NHS England in 2020 to help to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The hospital was constructed inside the Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, and from 4 June 2020 was repurposed as a radiology diagnostic clinic.

References

  1. Braithwaite, Ruby (7 January 2019). "New plans unveiled to spruce up Harrogate Convention Centre with night lights and plaza". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  2. Blackwood, Lorna (24 August 2007). "Focus on ...Harrogate". The Times. ProQuest   319771889.
  3. Murphy, Lizzie (18 January 2018). "Council appoints adviser to create masterplan for Harrogate Convention Centre". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  4. Fulcher, Merlin (17 October 2017). "Competition: Harrogate Convention Centre". architectsjournal.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  5. 1 2 "BBC One - Eurovision Song Contest, 1982, Grand Final: 1982". BBC. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  6. Thompson, Vicky (17 January 2018). "Grand plans in the pipeline for major venue". York Press. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. "Sandown and Harrogate shows expanded". Exhibition News. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. Historic England. "Royal Hall (Grade II*) (1315842)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  9. Leeming, Lachlan (11 January 2019). "New director of Harrogate Convention Centre announced". Harrogate Advertiser. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  10. "Two more Nightingale hospitals announced". BBC News. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  11. Mortimore, Roger; Blick, Andrew (2018). Butler's British Political Facts. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 274 & 275.

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Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest
Venue

1982
Succeeded by