Birmingham conference and events venue The Eastside Rooms is celebrating five years since taking its first booking, having hosted 4,400 events since opening during the COVID pandemic in 2021.
The purpose-built venue has released figures illustrating the scale of activity over the period, including 600 conferences attended by 111,400 people and 2,804 meetings involving 83,653 attendees.
A further 553 banqueting events have welcomed 112,750 guests, while the venue has hosted 120 association events, 313 training events and 30 exhibitions. It has also staged 30 weddings and 150 Christmas events.
Across those bookings, its catering teams have served 654,000 teas and coffees and prepared 218,123 delegate lunches.
The five-year milestone comes after The Eastside Rooms opened during a particularly challenging period for the events industry, when COVID restrictions and uncertainty around the return of face-to-face meetings continued to affect organisers and venues.
Ross Hogarth, Director of Revenue at The Eastside Rooms, said the subsequent recovery demonstrated the continuing appetite for in-person events, while expectations among organisers had evolved.
“They want flexibility, reliable technology, clear value, thoughtful food, stronger support for wellbeing and inclusion, and a venue team that understands why their event matters,” he said.
Located in Birmingham’s Knowledge Quarter, The Eastside Rooms offers 23 flexible event spaces. Its largest, the 880 sq m Affinity Suite, can accommodate up to 1,200 delegates theatre-style, while an adjoining 195-bedroom Aloft by Marriott hotel provides on-site accommodation.
The venue has also secured events expected to generate wider benefits for Birmingham, including the 12th International Ceramics Congress. More than 600 international delegates are expected to attend in 2028, with the event projected to contribute over £1 million to the regional economy.
General Manager Tim Sparrow said the venue’s next phase would build on its first five years while responding to changing organiser requirements.
Its areas of focus include neuroinclusive event planning, smaller meetings, training and association events, alongside supporting Birmingham’s wider business, academic and sporting ambitions.
