Cambridge has some genuinely outstanding venues for corporate events — from converted barns and lakeside spaces to world-class museums and cutting-edge science park facilities. But with so much choice, picking the right one for your brief can feel overwhelming.
Having recently shared the stage at the Meet Cambridge Venue Showcase at IWM Duxford, here are four things I always tell clients when they're starting their venue search:
1. Start with the experience, not the room. Before you look at capacities and catering menus, ask yourself: what do you want people to feel when they walk in? A venue that surprises and delights your team or clients does half the work for you. Don't default to the hotel meeting room just because it's familiar.
2. Think about the journey, not just the destination. How easy is it to get to? Is there parking? Can delegates arriving by train get there without a 40-minute taxi? Particularly in Cambridge, where parking is tight and public transport is good, access matters more than people realise — especially if you're bringing people in from across the region.
3. Ask the venue what they can't do. Most venues will tell you everything they can do. The useful question is what they can't — whether that's late-evening finish times, AV limitations, catering restrictions, or noise constraints. Better to know upfront than on the day.
4. Get a site visit, even for small events. Photos lie. A 20-minute site visit will tell you more than an hour of brochure reading. If you're working with an event manager, they should be doing this on your behalf — and flagging anything that doesn't match the brief.
If you're planning a corporate event, team-building day, conference, or away day in Cambridge or across the East of England and would like some independent advice, I'd love to help.
Jen Townsend, Managing Director — 12 Degrees [email protected] | 12-degrees.co.uk