United Kingdom Steampunk Convention?

[Gazongola]

Spoof? What spoof?

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

That is the cover story and I am sticking to it.

[Erasmus Hinkle]

OK, so avoiding the *intense* temptation to continue with the 'buggering around with chronology' jokes, I have to ask (with a somewhat selfish intention), has anybody considered a suffolk based venue for some steampunky social fun?

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

The challenge is to find an unspoilt Victorian/ Edwardian City Centre Hotel with 75-100 bedrooms, a ballrom or other late function space able to take 300+ people in a theatre style,and at least two subsidiary function rooms in the 80-100+ catergory and a number of smaller boardrooms. It should preferably be within a reasonable walking distance of something of steampunk interest. It should have good transport infrastructure links to the rest of the country.

is there anything of that nature in Suffolk ?

[Matt_Splicer]

why just one hotel.

why not look at an area of steampunk interest.

Ironbridge for example has a fully working victorian town, where you can use old style currency, as well as 8 other museums, some with function rooms.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Ironbridge does not have a suitable hotel, the nearest reasonably large hotel (from memory s Holiday Inn)is about 15 minutes away by car outside Telford New Town and is of modern design. There are three or so small hotels and Guest Houses at Ironbridge itself, none very big at all and with no integral function space. It is not therefore suitable force weekend residential convention. Suitable for a day out, yes convention no, mores the pity.

When looking for a convention venue practicality is important, you expect to provide a full programme within the principal hotel on a single site.

[Doctor When]

I seem to remember the Black Country Living Museum were building a large conference centre on the site when we visited a while ago (must be about two years now) - perhaps it's worth seeing if they have the facilities now?

http://www.bclm.co.uk/corporate.htm

However, I'm certain there isn't any accomodation onsite (and they probably won't let us sleep in the coal mine boiler room).

[AndiiV]

If it's the same place I went to many moons ago, they do have that original period cinema on the site, can't remember what it was called though.

[Gazongola]

If it's the same place I went to many moons ago, they do have that original period cinema on the site, can't remember what it was called though.

It's called the limeight cinema.

[Prof.S.Corvidae]

May I suggest glastonbury as a venue? it has many good venues , such as the pheonex project , abby ruins and assembly rooms most of which fit the steampunk theme very nicely and a quite cheap aswell. theres also the tor (free but windy).
On the subject of accomadation glastonbry has a frankly insane number of both hotels and bed and breakfasts for a town its size , which are also cheap (the back packers does a good 15 a night + free wifi internet deal). bus and train links are good as long as you dont mind changing to a diffrent bus in Taunton or bristol.

On the subject of other larger possible venue locations in somerset both Bristol and Bath would do well , as they both contain a large amount of steampunky victorean buildings.

Taunton also has a lovely victorean park , as well as two hotels built inside of actuall castles which would work well.

yours faithfully
Prof.S.Corvidae

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Convention designates a residential hotel with sufficient conference facilities, lasting several days as opposed to a non-residential event. Living Museums generally do not have hotels of a modern conference size are unlikely to allow us sole run of the place, so that means the public would be interacting with the Convention and that has never worked well with the Convention banned from the facility.

In looking at Hotels you should be looking for something like the Royal Victoria in Sheffield, or the Midland in Bradford, or the Queens in Leeds, for size, location and décor. Try searching on Google "Victorian ballroom" and hotel and the area you are interested in or searching on Conference UK. Check it out on Google Earth and Maps to see it in relation to other facilities, I have done this in relation to all of yorkhire and there are only about half a dozen in total with at least three being too expensive.

Follow it up with a site visit and ask for a Conference pack.

[lady sakara]

May I suggest glastonbury as a venue? it has many good venues , such as the pheonex project , abby ruins and assembly rooms most of which fit the steampunk theme very nicely and a quite cheap aswell. theres also the tor (free but windy).
On the subject of accomadation glastonbry has a frankly insane number of both hotels and bed and breakfasts for a town its size , which are also cheap (the back packers does a good 15 a night + free wifi internet deal). bus and train links are good as long as you dont mind changing to a diffrent bus in Taunton or bristol.

On the subject of other larger possible venue locations in somerset both Bristol and Bath would do well , as they both contain a large amount of steampunky victorean buildings.

Taunton also has a lovely victorean park , as well as two hotels built inside of actuall castles which would work well.

yours faithfully
Prof.S.Corvidae

last time i was in Glastonbury town i found it to be an overpriced tourist trap. The Tor is stunning as are the ruins though i woukdnt say either of these are anywhere near Steampunk.

[Herr Döktor]

Inclined to agree with the above statement.

[Gazongola]

And Glasto has its big event anyway.

[Danbury Shakes]

There's Beamish Open Air Museum near Durham with a town, working railway, a mine, a colliery villiage, trams etc

http://www.beamish.org.uk/Home.aspx

Nearby is the Beamish Hall Hotel

http://www.beamish-hall.co.uk/default.asp

[TimeTinker]

Very nice but the hotel just isn't big enough at 36 rooms. It needs to be 100 room +

Thank you for the suggestion though.

[Danbury Shakes]

Very nice but the hotel just isn't big enough at 36 rooms. It needs to be 100 room +

Thank you for the suggestion though.

Ah well, I suppose  Lumley Castle which is about 70 rooms would be too small aswell
http://www.lumleycastle.com/aboutus/history.htm

Mind you it's nice place to go if you fancy a UK break.

[TimeTinker]

I am afraid at £280 for a weekend stay for two people (and that is their special offer rate) it may well be out of most people's price range.  It looks nice though.  Would they want us making the place look untidy?

[Matt_Splicer]

Not sure if anygood, but Shrewsbury is a victorian town used in several productions. it has large amounts of guest rooms, including a wetherlodge for those with little funds, and there are plenty of large venues for presentations.

A brass band i used to play for had regular use of an old church

Lots to sight see, and probably a big hotel for the majority somewhere.

[TimeTinker]

The comments and suggestions are very welcome chaps.  Just to save confusion.

We need a large hotel, preferably victorian in decor or appearance.

It needs to have 100+ rooms and have space for features, exhibitions, seminars etc.

Ideally it is in a location near some Victorian location of interest.

Preferably it is centrally located in the UK.

The hotel is the important piece. Once that one slots into place we have a convention.

Off hunting now....

[Matt_Splicer]

ah, i believe i was off on a tangent.

will keep my eyes peeled.

matt

[lady sakara]

The comments and suggestions are very welcome chaps.  Just to save confusion.

We need a large hotel, preferably victorian in decor or appearance.

It needs to have 100+ rooms and have space for features, exhibitions, seminars etc.

Ideally it is in a location near some Victorian location of interest.

Preferably it is centrally located in the UK.

The hotel is the important piece. Once that one slots into place we have a convention.

Off hunting now....

*cough*Brighton *cough*

ooh i do seem to be having a coughing fit *cough* Cardiff!*cough*
 

[TimeTinker]

Can I offer you some cough linctus madam?  Or perhaps a Fishermans Friend? It is that time of the year when pneuomania has been known to strike so may I suggest tucking yourself up in bed with a tot of whisky, warm water and honey?

The point I was trying to make (and Peter too) is that we don't need someone to offer a town, country park, museum or pavillion. What we need is a hotel.

Can anyone suggest a suitable venue as in the hotel to act as the focus for the event.

The hotel needs to be big enough, amenable, not too pricey and available.

Brighton has already been mentioned but can you please say "XXX Hotel" is suitable and willing to listen. We can then move.  Is there a hotel in Cardiff ready to play?  I regularly work in Cardiff and have had a good look around but have so far drawn a blank.

I am willing to offer a reward of one of our fine new hats (toppers, dressage, derby's or bowlers) to anyone who can put a hotel in touch with me which has:

Suitable space for a convention.
Is available for a weekend this year.
Has 100+ rooms.
Is prepared to play host to a convention.
Can offer rooms for no more than £60 per night.
Is not looking for extortionate space hire charges. Ordinarily if a con is going to fill a hotel you expect some concessions.

The bonuses are:
Victorian or Edwardian in theme and decor.
Suitable attractions in the immediate area.
Preferably not "out on a limb" geographically.

Note they are bonuses and are not necessarily essential.

Before people start jumping on me about the "out on a limb" comment.  Brighton for example is 5 hours away from the midlands and 8 hours from the north.  Cheap train fairs in advance can be as low as £50-£80  whilst standard return tickets are £230-£290 from the midlands and north.  If you look at an area from say Oxford to Leeds this is more readily accessible by a larger number of people. The journey time is shorter on average so Friday night is not wholly taken up with travel and the mean saving on travel means more money for the bar. It is therefore preferable for those reasons.

I can find everything we are looking for in Scarborough which equally is a Victorian seaside playground.  The hotel meets all the criteria but geographically it is out on a limb. How would folks feel about there?

Got a hotel willing to play? Please pm me.

We are scattered across the country surely one of us has the right contacts or is in the right spot to find us a venue.  We have lots of people who want to go. We have lopts of people willing to help with the organising and running. We just need the right place.

One last note. Colleges and universities may also be suitable and if you are a student you might investigate your place for us.  One point though - an awful lot of us are couples.  We usually prefer to be able to snuggle in a double bed. Singles can be a bit of a pain. (MInd you we managed in a tiny bunk aboard a ship one time but that's another story....)

Thank you.

[Doctor When]

Redemption '09 is being held at the Brittania in Coventry, which is just round the corner from the cathedral (and therefore some of Cov's best city centre pubs), and the motor museum, and according to the glowing reports from my chums on the Redemption commitee, they're helpful, accommodating, have all the facilities required for a convention and are reasonably priced.

However, on the downside, it is a gloomy concrete monstrosity... and it's in Coventry, which had most of it's lovely buildings levelled in 1940.

[lady sakara]

There have been conventions held at the Angel hotel in Cardiff for years. It has a completly seperate convention/meeting rooms which to my knowledge are rather spacious.
It is victorian in design (the hotel itself) with a grand front set of stairs...ive stayed in the rooms and they vary from tiny to huge.
this is the website to contact them
http://www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk/hotels/wales/barcelo-cardiff-angel-hotel/
details of the hotel
http://www.barcelo-hotels.co.uk/meetings-and-events/barcelo-cardiff-angel-hotel

its opposite Cardiff Castle which is well the most grand example of Victorian money spending!

Thats Cardiff's option id say for all inclusive hotel/conferance place.

Brighton...ill look into it, but seeing as SO many hotels there offer convention/conferance facilities im not seeing such a problem