The University of Leeds has approved a multi-million pound investment to expand Cloth Hall Court, its dedicated conferences and events venue in the heart of Leeds city centre.
Cloth Hall Court already offers conference and event spaces, boardrooms, modern presentation facilities and exceptional catering, with support for organisers from enquiry through to the event itself. The expansion will add new facilities and flexible spaces as well as increasing its overall capacity.
The investment will make fuller use of Cloth Hall Court by bringing the currently unused third and fourth floors into productive use, increasing the variety of spaces available within the venue. Sustainability is central to the expansion, which is forecast to reduce annual carbon emissions by 54%. Alongside this focus on the building’s future, the design is being developed to include subtle references to the University and the city’s cloth heritage.
The investment builds on Cloth Hall Court’s success since reopening under University of Leeds operation in 2023. Recent years have seen the venue host prestigious events such as Fintech North, Yorkshire Sustainability Week and the Child Health Outcomes Research at Leeds (CHORAL) launch. Research with existing and prospective customers has informed the development, identifying demand for more flexible event spaces and additional catering, networking and exhibition areas.
Sam Glenister-Batey, Deputy Director of Commercial and Business Development at the University of Leeds, said:
“Cloth Hall Court has already shown what a strong venue it can be, and this investment gives us the chance to take that much further. We’ll be able to welcome more people, host a much wider range of events and give organisers far more flexibility in how they use the building.
What is particularly exciting is what this means beyond the venue itself. Cloth Hall Court gives the University a fantastic presence in the heart of Leeds, bringing together businesses, partners and communities in one place. This expansion is a real statement of confidence in the venue, in the city and in the role the University can play within it.”
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, said:
“We welcome the investment into Cloth Hall Court and are excited for its impact on the city’s conference and events offer. Adding more space and greater flexibility will allow the excellent team there to build on their successes and give businesses more reasons to choose Leeds for their next event. This work will further drive us towards our ambition to be a growing city where innovation, productivity and inward investment combine to create a strong economy that benefits everyone who calls Leeds home.”
