Southampton Venues

With a location at the mouth of one if the largest natural harbours in the world, Southampton will always be defined by its maritime activities and the history and significance of them. Among its most memorable episodes in history, the city provided the departure point for the Mayflower carrying the Pilgrim Fathers to the new world in 1620 and for the ill fated maiden voyage of the Titanic almost 300 years later. The harbour today sees regular visits from the largest cruise ships in the world and the city sees a great number of visitors besides, many of them looking to host and attend events in some superb Southampton venues.

The mediaeval fortress walls of the city, largely still intact including the Bargate, a Grade I listed structure, give an insight into the strategic importance of Southampton throughout history. In Victorian times the city grew in stature to the extent it was regarded as the gateway to the British Empire and has retained its strong industrial base to this day, and not just in shipping and seafaring.

Hero of the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire was designed and built here but this and significant other contributions to the war effort had a heavy price to pay on the historic buildings of the city, few of which remain.

The city is no stranger to hosting major exhibitions. The most famous of these is the Southampton Boat Show, held each year in September in Mayflower Park, just one of the many Southampton venues on the waterfront.

The Boat Show is the finale of Sea City; a festival which starts in April and features a range of attractions in celebration and recognition of the city's incredible maritime heritage. Growing in popularity with young people who come to live and work in the city, there are plenty of opportunities for social interaction and some very fine galleries, museums and performance venues.

With business and industry booming, Southampton venues for corporate meetings, exhibitions and conferences are enjoying brisk trade and are more than capable of meeting the demand for contemporary, well-equipped event spaces. Many of these are associated with hotels; which are very much designed and run with corporate guests in mind. Stylish, modern guest rooms will have work desks with internet connectivity, satellite televisions with business and news channels, and telephones with direct dial and speakerphone capability.

Many such hotels will have dedicated business centres or areas in which internet-ready computers will be available, with and a range of business services on hand such as printing, copying and faxing. They will often also have a boardroom which may be booked by the hour and meeting spaces which can be adapted to suit a variety of meetings and conferences, backed by technical support and equipment for conducting presentations and video-conferencing. Package deals are generally offered for meetings, and will include catering and other hospitality provision.

There are some great Southampton venues for weddings and other celebrations too, either within hotels or function suites provided by pubs clubs, galleries and other public buildings. There is a thriving music scene in the city and many great performance venues which feature local and bigger acts. These too may be hired for private functions and have the added benefit of well stocked bars and in-house sound systems. Catering may also be provided. The attraction of the city for young people may be partly down to the flourishing music and arts scene, and the great pubs, clubs and restaurants and partly due to the universities and the learning and training opportunities in the city, all of which make for first class Southampton venues.