Harrogate Convention Centre to boost conference offering with one of the largest breakout capacities in the UK

Harrogate Convention Centre unveils plans for new flexible conference breakout facilities designed to accommodate an additional 1,200 delegates, with completion scheduled for January 2027.

The new purpose-built breakout space will be created in the existing Studio 2 space, bringing the Yorkshire venue’s total breakout capacity to 2,600—one of the largest in the UK—complementing the venue’s purpose-built 1,977-seat conference auditorium, the largest in Northern England.

The Studio 2 reconfiguration will enable the Convention Centre to host larger conferences that require more parallel sessions, workshops, networking, and wellness spaces. This presents a brand-new option for professional conference organisers seeking a unique destination experience that is distinct from busy cities, yet still requires large, flexible event spaces.

The idyllic Yorkshire spa town remains a popular destination among business delegates. According to Visit Britain’s Business Events Research, Harrogate is recommended by 96% of delegates and was voted the first choice for return leisure visits.

Additional breakout rooms for 1,200 with improved access

Thanks to a £7 million investment from the North Yorkshire Council, Studio 2 will be reconfigured with soundproof demountable walls that divide the space into up to eight breakout rooms that can accommodate up to 1,200 delegates. An escalator will be installed to enhance the accessibility between Studio 1 and 2. Studio 2 is also accessible via a private entrance from Springfield Avenue. Procurement for the project is in progress, with construction expected to commence next spring and complete in January 2027.

A new option for larger conferences in the North

With the additional breakout capacity, Harrogate Convention Centre is looking to upgrade its conference offer. Organisers will soon be able to bring larger conferences to Harrogate for a ‘bleisure’ experience distinct from that of big cities.

Being a charming holiday destination that has been popular among the rich and famous for centuries, Harrogate is renowned for its unique spa heritage and is easily accessible from all major cities in the UK. Six direct LNER trains run daily between Harrogate and London Kings Cross with a travel time of under three hours. Leeds Bradford Airport is only 12 miles away, with regular flights from locations across the UK and Europe.

In the year ending March 2025, the number of medical conferences held at Harrogate Convention Centre had topped the past decade and more than doubled that of the previous year, testifying to the Yorkshire spa town’s growing popularity as a unique conference destination.

Paula Lorimer, Director of Harrogate Convention Centre, says: “I am very excited about our game-changing new conference offering and so are our clients. Once the Studio 2 reconfiguration is completed, Harrogate will not only have a large purpose-built auditorium, but also a conference breakout capacity that rivals any other conference facility in the UK. The new breakout facilities present a new opportunity for organisers to bring larger conferences to a destination they were never able to due to limited breakout capacity. Harrogate is a beautiful, clean and safe Victorian spa town that offers a charming and relaxing delegate experience distinct from bigger cities. We look forward to welcoming new clients and larger events to Harrogate.”

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