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Former names | Harrogate International Centre |
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Location | Harrogate, North Yorkshire |
Coordinates | 53°59′48.48″N 1°32′29″W / 53.9968000°N 1.54139°W |
Owner | North Yorkshire Council |
Capacity | 2,000 (Auditorium) 1,600 (Exhibition Halls) 600 (Queens Suite) 1,000 (Royal Hall) |
Construction | |
Opened | 1982 |
Renovated | 2009–2014 |
Expanded | 2009–2014 |
Website | |
Official website |
Harrogate Convention Centre is a convention and exhibition centre in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England.
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]
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]
Media related to Harrogate Convention Centre at Wikimedia Commons