Finding the right venue for your event is not always easy, especially when you have specific theme in mind and you want the space to create the right ambience.
Recently i held an event at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. This is not the most obvious events space in Manchester especially when you think of museums, the bigger ones such as the Science and Industry Museum (MOSI as it is often referred to in the events game) and the National Football Museum would jump to mind first.
To be very honest until i began planning my event i hadn’t even heard of the People’s History Museum and it was only due to the fact that they were exhibiting artefacts from Peterloo a massacre that happened 200 years ago in the city that it got my attention and lucky for me it did.
The museum’s conference and meeting facilities are within a magnificently restored historic Edwardian Pump House, giving guests the feel of being part of Manchester’s industrial history whilst being in the heart of the Manchester’s city centre Spinningfields
They have three flexible spaces with capacity from 10 to 200 people which can be hired for any event you can think of. Peterloo was the theme of our event so the venue was a perfect an obvious choice.
Conference 
Drinks Reception 
Meeting 
Exhibition
The main event space is bright and airy with natural daylight flooding in making it a great place for an exhibition or larger conference. Due to high ceilings you will need to hire in professional AV as although the venue do provide some, they are just not quite enough.
The smaller spaces next to the engine room are perfect for smaller meetings and breakout sessions should you need them.
The museum has its own on site caterers CH&Co offer who offered innovative and locally sourced seasonal food. They will work with you to create an exciting, bespoke menu depending on your needs. Johnny was great and worked with us to create exactly the right canapes including providing a tasting in advance. On the evening the staff were professional and capable and managed the event right through from start to finish, nothing was too much trouble.
This is a venue that i certainly would use again for certain types of event. It does have its limitations as it is also a working museum first but they do try and accommodate you the best way they can. For that reason we give it a very creditable faulty rating of 3.5.
Happy Planning
