Manchester Central hosts party conferences, medical congresses and large association events under a Victorian train-shed roof. We deliver the full production package — staging, AV, set, content, breakouts and the attached exhibition floor — as one contract with one production manager.
Manchester Central at a glance
- Location
- Windmill Street, Manchester M2
- Spaces
- Central Hall, Exchange Hall, Charter Foyer, Exchange Auditorium
- Capacity
- Up to 10,000 across the site
- Typical production cost
- £45,000–£180,000 per conference day
- Stand build
- £450–£850 per sqm single-storey
Halls and layout
The Central Hall's arched roof gives an unusually dramatic plenary space with strong rigging capacity. Exchange Hall handles the exhibition floor and catering, and the Charter Foyer works as a sponsor and registration concourse.
Venue rules that shape the design
- Rigging and power are ordered through the venue's appointed contractors
- City-centre get-in requires timed vehicle slots and out-of-hours delivery for large loads
- Clean Air Zone rules apply to some vehicle classes
- Plenary set builds usually need the full pre-day tenancy
How we build here
We run plenary rehearsal on the pre-day with the full speaker set, so content, comfort monitors, presentation flow and timings are locked before delegates arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- What does conference production at Manchester Central cost?
- A single-day conference with full staging, AV, set and content support typically runs £45,000–£180,000 depending on plenary scale, number of breakouts and the level of set build. Multi-day congresses spread the set cost across days and improve the per-day rate.
- Do you handle delegate registration and badging?
- Yes. Registration platform, badging, on-site check-in desks and staffing are all part of the delivery package, along with the reporting the organiser needs afterwards.
- Can you build exhibition stands on the Manchester Central floor?
- Yes. We handle both sides — the conference production and the exhibitor stands on the attached exhibition floor — which usually removes a supplier interface and a chunk of coordination risk.
Minimum project £30,000. Send the brief and we return a budget band, format recommendation and outline timeline within 24 hours. Call +44 207 183 3436 or email info@pearllemongroup.com.