The Derby Conference Centre
We have hired the whole building for the duration of the EQC and have asked them to lay on some of the finest real ale available, so we're all in for a fantastic weekend!
The Derby Conference Centre a Grade II listed building, offers an elegant façade, sweeping staircase, famous sunken lounge and period features, which transport visitors back to the 1930s. While combining its heritage with modern conference facilities the venue caters for a broad range of business and leisure guests.
It includes an original Art Deco lecture theatre, 50, AA 3 Star en-suite bedrooms, free Wi-Fi throughout the building, and beautiful gardens.
Originally the British Rail Training College, The Derby Conference Centre is a landmark in the city and has been deeply entwined with the national history of railways for more than 70 years.
The magnificent building now known as The Derby Conference Centre was constructed 1937 as the first purpose-built training college for railway staff, and opened its doors to students in 1938.
The first of its kind in the United Kingdom, it was designed by William H. Hamlyn, the principal architect to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMSR) at a cost of £50,000.
Built as a residential facility to train railway operatives and signallers, the School was designed to accommodate fifty members of the company's staff at a time and officially opened on Friday 22nd July 1938 by Mr Leslie Burgin, the Minister of Transport.
The following 20 years saw the building being used as the railway training college for the Royal Engineers, and The Railway Engineering School delivering signalling and telecommunications training.
The 1980’s saw the development of accommodation for the teaching staff being added to the site and in 1991 a new, prestigious, specialist conferencing suite was built.
In 2007 the RTC Group, parent company of the Derby Conference Centre, invested heavily in the site. Renovating the famous sunken lounge, bar, restaurant, conference suites and bedrooms to their former glory, and re-launching the site as The Derby Conference Centre.
