2008 venue ideas

IMPORTANT - 25/06/08 Please note this is an archive page. The venue is now booked and confirmed as The Studio, right in the heart of Birmingham city centre.

If we're going for Birmingham:

http://www.thisisfeed.co.uk/ FEED at Matthew Boulton College, Millennium Point. A fantastic space that's only been open for a few months and has small rooms, lots of Macs, tables, seating areas, near to a bar, cinema, lots of parking, near to the train station. Pete Ashton is going to chat to one of the people behind it to see if anything is possible.

UPDATE 30/04/2008 by Ian Covey - Contacted Matthew Boulton College. FEED, nor the college itself, doesn't have the capacity we're looking for.

http://www.tic.ac.uk Again, at Millennium Point and is a faculty of Birmingham City University. We could look into Millennium Point, and maybe their conference suits, however they close at 8pm and charge through the nose to stay open after this time.

http://www.bandk.co.uk/sectors/commercial/colmore-plaza-birmingham Colmore Plaza. Most of the building is empty. Just a thought from Simon Howes.

http://www.baskervillehouse.com/ Baskerville House on Broad Street Birmingham would be appropriate. Baskerville is Birmingham's most famous typographic export, with the typeface named after John Baskerville, and this building bears his name. Good space, lots of rooms, but no bar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baskerville

http://www.bham.ac.uk University of Birmingham. I'm on the industrial board of the School of Computer Science so could look into using some of their facilities. Perhaps a little on the 'dry' side?

http://www.custardfactory.co.uk The Custard Factory - home to many of Birmingham's smaller creative companies it has some good outdoor space, rooms for hire, bars, cafes and places to eat as well as free wifi. However it's a little out of town and a dedicated 'conferency' space might be difficult.

There's plenty more - I'll keep giving this some thought.

Stef Lewandowski - http://www.steflewandowski.com - http://www.twitter.com/aeioux - stef@3form.net

http://www.bcu.ac.uk Birmingham City University. Paul Bradshaw (that's me typing) is a senior lecturer there, as is blogger Andrew Dubber. New head of website very switched on, and good online profile, may be keen to take it on. Several campuses dotted around the city.

Paul Bradshaw - http://onlinejournalismblog.com - http://twitter.com/paulbradshaw - paul.bradshaw@bcu.ac.uk

Maybe Wolverhampton!!! http://www.light-house.co.uk/facilities.shtml - Light House Media Centre – Home of Flip Animation Festival, Wolverhampton University’s Computer Games Conference 2008, Disability Film Festival, Deaffest (Deaf Film & TV Festival). Linux/Lug Radio Annual Conference 2007 – Supporter of Creative/New/Digital Media and lots more… Contact: Ren Walton

I went and had a chat with the team at E-Office in Central Birmingham, which is located directly next to New Street Station.

http://www.eoffice.net/location/serviced_office_birmingham.htm

I pitched the idea that they could give us the venue for free in return for some kind of brand exposure and sponsorship offer. They liked the idea and need some information from us on what we're looking for and what they would get in return. Interestingly the place is usually closed at weekends (so we would have it to ourselves), has an 80 seater room with project and seating, loads of desk space, break out rooms, free wifi, power sockets everywhere, a kitchen, a reception area for registration and it's really close to bars, eateries, etc. Anyone care to lend a hand on a sponsorship offer please let me know!

Stef Lewandowski - http://www.stef.io - http://www.twitter.com/aeioux - stef@3form.net

Aston University - good central location - http://www.aston.ac.uk

UPDATE 30/04/2008 by Ian Covey - Contacted Aston University. Their Lakeside facility http://www.abs.aston.ac.uk/newweb/conferenceAston/lakeside/ holds up to 200 delegates in suites 2 and 3 http://www.abs.aston.ac.uk/newweb/conferenceaston/lakeside/lanf.asp . £35 per delegate p/d. Includes 2 course meal and unlimited teas and coffee. Room has Wifi and built in screen (which requires data projector @ £125 p/d + VAT). PA and 1 roving mic £40 p/d + VAT (each additional mic £40 p/d + VAT). B&B available @ £65 p/n for single with en suite. Double with en suite £75. Twin rooms with en suite available for £15 supplement. Provisional booking made.

University College Birmingham (aka College of Food & Tourism) - very central - http://www.bcftcs.ac.uk/

Birmingham & Midland Institute - Dickensian surroundings but ticks all the boxes on the venue requirements list. Very central location and VERY cheap: http://www.bmi.org.uk/roomhire.html

UPDATE 30/04/2008 by Ian Covey - Contacted Birmingham & Midland Institute. Not open on Sundays.

The Orange Studio has a great location and facilities. The only problem is that their largest room only holds 120 theatre-style: http://www.orangestudio.co.uk/conferencing.html

The Hippodrome Theatre - could be pricey: http://www.conferencesinbirmingham.co.uk/

How about the Old Library at the Custard Factory? Has WiFi. http://www.theoldlibrary.co.uk/ Found this brochure for Old Library and other Custard Factory venues: http://www.custardfactoryspaces.co.uk/the_custard_factory.pdf Old Library is £39.95 day delegate rate including lunch and refreshments.

The Crescent Theatre? http://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/corporatehire.htm