Choosing the right venue is a crucial decision when planning an expo. The venue sets the stage for your event, influencing attendee experience, exhibitor satisfaction, and overall event success.
In this blog post, we'll explore five remarkable venues in Hampshire that are perfect for hosting an expo. From historic buildings to contemporary spaces, each venue offers unique features and amenities that will elevate your expo and leave a lasting impression on your attendees. Whether you're looking for majestic, versatile, or state-of-the-art facilities, Hampshire has the perfect venue to suit your expo requirements.
Let's dive into the possibilities and discover the ideal location to bring your expo vision to life in this stunning county.
Ageas Bowl
Southampton
Capacity: 700-1200
Transport: Free parking, close to Southampton Airport and Southampton Airport Parkway train station.
The Ageas Bowl is the home for Hampshire cricket and hosts major sporting and non-sporting events. Located in Southampton, the Ageas Bowl has over 5,000 square meters of indoor event space, including a main exhibition hall, as well as outdoor space that can be used for exhibitions and other events. The venue has a range of facilities and services, including on-site catering, audio-visual equipment, and a dedicated events team to assist with planning and management.
There is capacity for up to 1,000 attendees across the different event spaces, which can easily be accessed together for larger events or sectioned off for smaller events.
The Ageas Bowl is easily accessible by road, rail, and air, and is located close to Southampton city centre. If needed, there is accommodation on site with the Hilton at The Ageas Bowl which is perfect for any attendees travelling into the event.
Guildhall Winchester
Winchester
Capacity: 200- 1200
Transport: Close to Winchester train station, bus links and city centre parking within walking distance.
Guildhall Winchester gives the extra wow factor for your expo with the historic building exterior and refurbished modern facilities. Located in the heart of Winchester, the main events hall Bapsy Hall has no fixed furniture, apart from seating on the balcony, allowing for a totally flexible space that can be configured to suit your event.
The venue has a variety of other rooms and spaces available for hire, including meeting rooms and a courtyard that can be used for outdoor events. The Guildhall also offers a range of services, including built in audio system, lighting system catering and event management, to help with the planning and execution of events. Additionally, the venue is located right in the city centre, making it easily accessible for guests by car or public transport.
University of Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Capacity: 300-1000
Transport: Within walking distance to Portsmouth & South Sea Train station and bus links. Close by Portsmouth City Council car parks.
The University of Portsmouth offers ample event space for corporate events and exhibitions. They can hold up to 1,000 attendees in their conference venues and up to 2,000 when working with Portsmouth Guildhall.
The 150 plus rooms across the main campus are equipped with audio-visual equipment, a PC, DVD player and visualiser. Moreover, their lecture theatres are equipped with surround sound systems, and you have the option to utilise lectern and lapel microphones for enhanced audio quality during presentations and speeches. With your booking for either a conference or event, you'll benefit from a fully accessible venue, free WiFi and the latest audio-visual facilities as well as full support from their conference and event team.
If your event is being held between June and September, there is access to 3,500 ensuite rooms within easy walking distance from the conference facilities and Portsmouth city centre.
Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre
Farnborough
Capacity: 300- 10,000
Transport: Free parking on site. Close to Farnborough Main, Farnborough North and Aldershot rain stations.
One of the largest expo venues in the south, Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre can hold up to 25,000 attendees in its 20,000+ square meters of 11 event spaces.
Hall 1 can hold up to 10,000 attendees with 8m high ceilings and pillar free space to configure as you wish. Also included is flexible catering options, bespoke rigging and draping, WiFi and IT support as well as free, on-site parking for up to 3,500 cars.
Hall 5 has capacity for up to 3,500 guests and can be split into two halves with an electronic curtain to give zones to your event. If you are looking for a smaller event space, a great option at Farnborough International is Inspire, a versatile conference space to hold up to 950 guests.
With great views of the Farnborough airport and runway, this is a great venue with versatile spaces for all sizes of events and is conveniently located 35 minutes by train from London Waterloo or easy access by car from the M3.
Saint Mary’s Stadium
Southampton
Capacity: 200-1500
Transport: Walking distance to Southampton Central train station and nearby cark parks.
Located in central Southampton, Southampton Football Club offers great event space for the South. Whether you are planning a theatre-style presentation, product launch, seminar or expo event, the range of 15 unique event spaces and 30 meeting rooms at this venue are sure to provide the perfect setting.
The Kingsland Suite is the main exhibition space with a 4m ceiling height that can host up to 100 exhibition stands, with features such as café, bar, 24-hour access and pay-on-entry turnstiles for event entry. For smaller trade shows, the Itchen Suite and Mike Channon Suite can accommodate up to 40 exhibition stands each and are both adjacent to additional event spaces for break-out sessions and seminars. The Mike Channon Suite offers air conditioning, natural daylight and panoramic windows to the football stadium. It also features a ceiling-mounted projector and screen, an in-built PA system, eight plasma screens, and a hearing loop.
The central location is easy to get to from the Southampton central train station however parking is limited for attendees and exhibitors.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to hosting an exceptional expo in Hampshire, you have a range of remarkable venues at your disposal. Each venue offers unique features, state-of-the-art facilities, and a dedicated events team to ensure the success of your event. From the expansive indoor and outdoor spaces of the Ageas Bowl in Southampton to the historic charm of Guildhall Winchester, these venues provide the perfect backdrop for a memorable expo experience.
Choosing the right venue is crucial for creating a successful expo, and Hampshire offers a range of options that cater to various needs and preferences. Whether you're looking for modernity, historic charm, ample space, or convenient amenities, these venues have you covered.
If you are wanting to you want to move away from the traditional expo halls and are looking for a venue further afield than Hampshire, check out our alternative venue blogpost and leave your guests amazed with an alternative and unique setting.
For more helpful tips for event planning, visit ExpoBeacon Insights and news.
