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MANCHESTER CENTRAL : A 2024 LOOK AHEAD
ith a city centre location and a capacity topping 10,000 , Manchester Central is a jewel in the crown of the Northern events sector .
The venue , this year embarking on its 17th year of operation as an international conference , exhibition and events venue , is set to host a varied programme of events for both consumers and businesses over the coming 12 months . And , while the space is often known for its vast main hall , which boasts a beautiful arched former Victorian railway station ceiling , it also has plenty of smaller spaces for events , activations and experiences . Those more intimate spaces , such as the Charter and Exchange rooms , have been utilised for a diverse range of events from boxing weigh-ins to fringe events and traditional conferences / exhibitions such as the Northern Sustainability Summit .
Here the team takes a look at some of the highlights and muses on
Manchester Central some of the trends we could see play out this year in the sector :
The place to be With Manchester named in The New York Times as one of the top places to visit in 2024 , and after the phenomenal success of Chanel ’ s Métiers d ’ Art event in December 2024 shining an international cultural light on the region , it ’ s clear the city is having its moment . This urgency and desire to be ‘ where it ’ s happening ’ is reflected in the venue ’ s pipeline for the months ahead , in addition to the organisers booking for the long term .
World Snooker Tournament ’ s Tour Championship will arrive in Manchester at the end of March , with an anticipated 1,000 fans in attendance each day , putting Manchester once again on the national and international stage .
March will also bring together the region ’ s top hospitality operators as the annually successful Northern Restaurant and Bar show takes place , proven to add a huge amount of value to the sector every year . In addition , the ever-popular tourism exhibition , A Place In the Sun , will return the same month . Featuring hundreds of stands hosted by travel organisations brimming with ideas and advice , it ’ s expected that over 2,500 visitors per day will flock to Manchester for this event alone .
Further cementing Manchester ’ s love of hospitality , consumers looking to enjoy a tipple or two can head to the Virgin Wines wine tasting on Saturday 9 March – a four-hour event with a chance to meet winemakers and get personal recommendations , all while sipping away .
On that same day , there are a couple of trade exhibitions taking place inside the venue , all utilising different spaces simultaneously . Whether it ’ s the buzz of several events or one major event , the dedicated team at Manchester Central are astute at delivering excellence across the board .
Heralding wellness and interests Several large scale events being staged at Manchester Central this year are centred around interests and wellness , and all have their own ‘ wow ’ factor . HYROX , a unique event for fitness fanatics , was a January fixture in the calendar for both 2024 and 2025 , challenging thousands of competitors to a gruelling weight training and cardio workout competition and fully showcasing the versatility of the venue .
Meanwhile , Future Cheer , Bricktastic , Tattoo Tea Party , MegaCon Live and the Manchester Art Fair are just a few examples of the variety of interests catered for under Manchester Central ’ s iconic arches . And there will be more on the horizon soon – bringing together people from across the UK and beyond with a common interest and creating a sense of community and fantastic atmosphere . www . conference-news . co . uk