Month: February 2025

Why you should choose Newcastle for your next event

Posted on by Cat_Admin

We’re based in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, which means we can keep the carbon cost of our events low by delivering events in the North, for people in the North, using suppliers, contractors, and speakers from the North. This year we will deliver 80% of our events across the North of England and that’s in no small part because our region offers an incredible welcome to delegates from across the UK, as well as our international guests.

We deliver events all across the UK, but we always hold a sweet spot for the North East. Venues and suppliers are often more cost-effective than other destinations and accommodating to delivering ‘events with a difference’, such as getting on board with tailoring menus, training hospitality teams in the intricacies of the event, and offering local tourism information to delegates. And you can’t argue that the genuine warmth of true Geordie hospitality is a USP in itself!

Compared to cities like London, Newcastle as a destination is still a little unknown and that gives us the opportunity to exceed expectations by presenting delegates with digestible itineraries so they can see more of what the city has to offer outside of the conference building. With this in mind, we work with local experts and the convention bureau to offer a taste of Newcastle and the North East that always leaves a lasting impression on delegates.

Here are some of our top reasons to choose Newcastle as the strategic location for your next event…

  1. Location, location, location

The North East is so well connected by road, rail, and air that we can link events to longer stays for delegates and sponsors coming from further afield. Being so easy to get to from other UK cities and internationally makes Newcastle a hassle-free choice when it comes to travel arrangements. Newcastle International Airport offers direct flights to many major cities and Newcastle is also served by train, Metro, and bus routes, making it easy for attendees to travel and move around the city during their stay.

  1. Venue choices

Newcastle has such a wide choice of beautiful spaces, that whether you are looking for a corporate dinner venue, a location to get the team together, or the perfect stage to spotlight your expertise, we will have the solution for you. The city pairs modern venues with historical architecture that your delegates won’t be able to stop talking about. Venues like the Helix site provide world-class facilities, while historical spaces like Newcastle Castle offer a unique setting for more specialised experiences.

  1. Plenty of things to do

Newcastle has an energy all of its own, and outside of the event, there are plenty of things for delegates to discover when they explore the city. Newcastle is known for its vibrant nightlife but plenty is going on besides the bustling bar and restaurant scene. The city is packed with museums and galleries, including BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and the Laing, and is only a stone’s throw away from a stroll by the sea at Tynemouth. Those looking to soak up a bit of history can find out more about Hadrian’s Wall (parts of which can still be found at Segedunum Roman Fort) and the region’s industrial heritage too.  Look up as you explore the city centre and you’ll see original Georgian architecture, especially on Grey Street, which is often voted one of the most picturesque streets in the UK.

  1. World-class accommodation

Newcastle has a wide range of accommodation options, from luxury hotels to boutique offerings, ensuring your guests are well-catered for during their stay. We have a great relationship with a lot of the hotels in the area and can make sure your chosen venue ticks all the boxes for your event purpose. We strategically recommend where to stay to ensure that travel to the venue is as easy and sustainable as possible and to make sure you get a good night’s sleep pre or post-event.

  1. Sustainability commitment

Sustainability is at the heart of everything that we do and Newcastle has committed to sustainability at the city level too. We have created a supply chain of venues, suppliers, AV experts, caterers, and photographers who are all committed to making the events sector, and the region, a good place to do business. That means you can be confident that every detail of your event has been considered in alignment with your ESG commitments as a business.

  1. The famous Geordie welcome

Did you know that the Geordie accent has not only been voted the friendliest but the most trustworthy too? Newcastle is known for its friendly, welcoming residents and this warmth creates a positive and inclusive atmosphere that will make your delegates feel at home and enhance the overall event experience.

  1. Cost-effective

Compared to other major UK cities like London or Manchester, Newcastle offers more affordable rates for venues, accommodation, and services making it an excellent choice for event planners looking to provide a high-quality experience, without the eye-watering costs associated with other areas of the UK. We have been building positive relationships with our supply chain for over 10 years, and that means we can pair you with the right people to bring your event to life, on budget.

  1. Creative and tech hub

With a growing reputation for innovation, particularly in digital and creative industries, Newcastle has become a hub for technology-driven events. If you’re looking to host a tech and innovation-focused experience, or a creative workshop, the city offers some fantastic options for spaces that lend themselves to big conversations and complex problem-solving.

In short, we call this amazing city a home for a reason. Newcastle combines a top-tier event infrastructure with a dynamic, welcoming atmosphere and excellent accessibility which makes it an ideal environment for your next event. To speak to the team about creating an experience that your delegates won’t forget contact info@beaconhouse-events.co.uk or call 0191 691 3456.

BeaconHouse recognised as one of UK’s most sustainable agencies

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‘The Power 30 Most Sustainable Agencies UK’ list identifies and recognises event agencies from across the UK that prioritise sustainability across all aspects of their business and their ability to deliver measurable and impactful sustainable outcomes for client events.

We are the only agency on the list headquartered in the North of England and this achievement recognises our team’s unwavering commitment to changing the way that the event industry views sustainability and the impact that events have on our planet. Our strategy is led by our co-founder and director Sarah Thackray, whose passion for the topic started when she began working with client Planet Mark, a national organisation that provides sustainability accreditations.

The award recognised that instead of traditional carbon offsetting, we have devised new and innovative ways to focus on tangible regional impact rather than bold, unachievable statements. This includes the launch of a local donation fund to support environmental causes across the North East, where we donate 10% of event emissions carbon credit equivalent to charity Groundwork NE & Cumbria, championing greener by default catering at events, carbon tracking of events using TRACE, and partnering with local suppliers. In 2025 the agency is focusing on food waste, with plans to partner with organisations like Olio to redistribute excess event food locally and testing Klimato for carbon labelling on menus to improve awareness of food sustainability. Accessibility, and inclusive approaches to delivering events is also front of mind with the introduction and roll out of new access and inclusion audits for events.

The 30 agencies that made the list are all at different stages of their sustainability journey, but all have made a commitment to embedding sustainability into their internal and external business practices. Agencies completed a rigorous and wide-ranging questionnaire, requesting data on both agency strategy, tactics and accreditation, followed by an analysis of real event case-studies to enter the ‘Most Sustainable Agencies’. Submissions were scored, then benchmarked to provide the clearest view of event agency sustainability available.

Inclusion on the Power 30 Most Sustainable Agencies list is a real honour, and a celebration to the whole team’s commitment to not only measuring our own carbon impact but engaging our colleagues, supply chain and networks with what it means to do sustainable business. We no longer offer sustainability as an ‘optional extra’ when we design experiences for our clients – it’s simply how we do business. We make sustainable choices at every part of the planning, delivery, and evaluation process as it is our responsibility to lead the way in what is possible. I would like to say thank you to the partners and experts who continue to navigate the sustainability journey with us, including Katrina Appleyard who has supported us to shape our vision for the next four years.

In 2024 we launched an ‘Event Sustainability Supply Chain Roundtable’ initiative, which brings together local suppliers, venues, and partners to drive collective change in the event sector, alongside a Supplier Code of Conduct which encourages fair wages, ethical practices, and environmental responsibility which already has 15 suppliers signed up.

To create real change we need to work together and share our challenges as well as our successes. We believe in creating a supportive, inclusive, and progressive eco-system, rather than penalising organisations for not doing sustainability perfectly and we are in a position to support our suppliers as they go on this journey with us. Rather than demanding accreditations that some organisations can’t afford, we’re invested in supporting them to improve, which benefits everyone in the long run.

Clients have praised our  approach to sustainability, including Rob Charlton, CEO of Space Group who we work with to create the _shift event series. Rob said, “What I like is that they push back on every idea to find the most sustainable solution and are very innovative in their approach. We re-use everything year after year so we limit the amount of waste, we have moved away from printed material in favour of digital information and most recently our catering has been fully vegetarian. The team is always challenging what can be done but it never feels like a gimmick – it’s just a core part of how they operate as a business.”

Shelley Johnson, head of market insights for NewcastleGateshead Initiative said, “BeaconHouse Events are a force for sustainability change within the North East events industry – guiding clients and suppliers in best practice through sharing knowledge and providing examples for us to learn from. They have a wealth of knowledge and a passion for sustainability which we are keen to pass on to people hosting events in the region.”

Thinking about doing events differently in 2025? We would love to discuss your ideas in more detail. To speak to our team contact info@beaconhouse-events.co.uk or call 0191 691 3456.