Biosphere Conference

Host city to the ITM conference in March, Edinburgh offers a complete spectrum of meetings and events facilities. Ben Lerwill profiles seven of the best

EVEN the most partisan of Glaswegians would admit to Edinburgh’s aesthetic charms. The Scottish capital does many things well, but its provision of a historic setting is the one that takes most beating. Visitors are seldom unmoved by the centre’s sense of stately drama, and the city’s world-class variety of meeting and conference venues appears even more attractive as a result. Crags and castles aren’t your average urban backdrop.

Of course, there’s more to the place than event facilities and rugged beauty. Its hotel stock has almost doubled in size over the last ten years, and a focus on culture and development has brought with it a more modern, visitor-led image. Scotch tradition and royal heritage are now firmly coupled by funky boutiques and fashionable restaurants, while the Edinburgh International Conference Centre today welcomes 65,000 annual business delegates alone. The city adopted a new city region brand in May (www.edinburgh brand.com), the contemporary approach of which tells its own story.    

Wow Factor
Name: Royal Yacht Britannia
Address: Ocean Terminal, Leith, EH1 6JJ
Tel: 0131 555 5566
Email: events@tryb.co.uk
Web: www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk

Any venue that invites guests to follow in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and the Queen herself knows the meaning of prestige. The yacht put in over a million miles of royal service before docking at its present berth in Leith Harbour, and it remains a venue of high distinction. Evening events are hosted in the lavish State Apartments, which still breathe and sparkle with items from the Royal Collection. Receptions can be held for up to 250 people, while banqueting facilities are available for up to 96 guests. And if regal service and fine food on the head of state’s boat isn’t quite decadent enough, extra touches can include live marine bands and firework displays.   

Quirky Venue
Name: Underground Edinburgh
Address: 12 Blair Street, EH1 1QR
Tel: 0131 225 5440
Email: info@undergroundedinburgh.com
Web: www.undergroundedinburgh.com

Offering a subterranean perspective on one of the UK’s most richly historic cities, Underground Edinburgh is a unique venue for those delegates who have been everywhere and seen it all. The stone vaults of the old town once provided refuge to every dreamer and down-and-out in the city, but after 200 years of lying idle they now attract a far choosier clientele. A complete restoration has created a venue rich in mood, with tapestries and candle-light spicing up evening functions. As many as 100 can currently head down for a reception, while atmospheric theatre-style meetings can be held for 30 – at least you know no one’s going to be distracted by looking out of the window. 

New Kid on the Block
Name: Our Dynamic Earth 
Address: 112 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AS
Tel: 0131 550 7800
Email: enquiries@dynamicearth.co.uk
Web: www.dynamicearth.co.uk

When Our Dynamic Earth’s impressive Futuredome space opened last Easter, it provided another feather in the venue’s eclectic portfolio. Since being unveiled at the turn of the millennium, ODE has won plaudits for both its interactive museum displays and its wide variety of event space. The Planetarium-like Futuredome takes 75, while its largest space – The Stratosphere – can accommodate as many as 1,200. The Biosphere area provides a dedicated conference suite, while the venue as a whole offers all manner of fun eco-centred exhibits to liven up itineraries. Aptly named.  

Money No Object
Name: The Balmoral
Address: 1 Princes Street, EH2 2EQ
Tel: 0131 556 2414
Email: reservations.balmoral@roccofortehotels.com
Web: www.thebalmoralhotel.com

Quite simply one of the most aspirational places to stay in Scotland. Complementing a postcard-perfect location on Princes Street with a warm five-star interior, the original Rocco Forte Hotel is still very much on the money. The 188-room property underwent a £7m refurbishment programme in 2004 and last year launched a new conference and incentive division. Its Sir Walter Scott Suite can take up to 350 guests, while a spa and Michelin-starred restaurant help with any post-meeting headaches. If you’re looking for the full kilts and tartan experience with a modern, high-end twist, this is the place.

On a Shoestring
Name: Ten Hill Place Hotel
Address: 10 Hill Place, EH8 9DS
Tel: 0131 662 2080
Email: reservations@tenhillplace.com
Web: www.tenhillplace.com

The newest addition to Edinburgh’s three-star portfolio, Ten Hill Place Hotel opened in November and provides a stylish, understated base while being kind to event budgets. There are 78 rooms and little else, but the real boon lies in its central location and the fact that it forms part of the extensive Surgeons Hall Complex. A new 350-seat conference theatre is therefore on site, as well as some incredible period rooms, ranging from the Fellows’ Library to the 175-year-old Main Hall.   

Wired Up
Name: Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Address: The Exchange, EH3 8EE
Tel: 0131 300 3000
Email: sales@eicc.co.uk
Web: www.eicc.co.uk

The EICC enjoys a solid reputation in the industry, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s a controlled, professional feel to the airy interior – more business-like than cavernous – and its continued popularity is testament to both the facilities and the city as a whole. A massive £30m expansion plan was given the green light in August, which will see 3,255m2 of new space opened in 2009. For now, its raked Pentland Suite auditorium can hold 1,200 while a plethora of other halls and break-out rooms give multiple alternatives.

Small but Perfectly Formed
Name: The Vaults
Address: 87 Giles Street, EH6 6BZ
Tel: 0131 554 3451
Email: vaults@smws.com
Web: www.smws.co.uk/venues/vaults

As home to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults make for a spirited, cosy event venue. The building is located near the quayside and can be made available for private dining and meetings, with the largest of the Members’ Rooms able to accommodate 60 theatre-style. Naturally, relaxed tasting sessions can also be arranged, with the hosts boasting some of the most select casks available. Where better to take a dram? 

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