Manchester Central, Manchester

As its name suggests, Manchester Central Convention Complex is geographically and historically at the heart of the city. Situated off Deansgate in Manchester city centre, Manchester Central’s name harks back to its first incarnation, as a popular railway terminus in the city. Cross country trains ran from the station, which opened in 1880, to London Saint Pancras station. The station building has a similar design to Saint Pancras station, with a large, single span, wrought iron arched roof second only in size to its London based counterpart.

Manchester Central station closed in 1969, and was reinvented as a conference centre and concert venue. Known as the GMEX, or Greater Manchester Exhibition Centre, the building reopened in 1986, and has since played host to many members of Manchester’s rich musical history, including The Smiths, New Order and Oasis. The centre was rebranded as Manchester Central in 1997. Faced with competition from the larger Manchester Arena in a compact city centre, the venue has hosted fewer concerts in recent years.

The former station building has an extensive conference complex attached – built in 2001 and formerly known as the Manchester International Convention Centre. The building has played host to hundreds of conferences, most notably attracting political parties to hold their annual conferences there. The ruling Conservative Party held their autumn party conference at the venue in 2011.