Kettering Conference Centre


The Kettering Conference Centre is a multi-functional sports and conference centre located in Kettering, Northamptonshire. It is also the location of Volleyball England's National Volleyball Centre, and the 560 seat Lighthouse Theatre.

History

The Kettering Conference Centre is a part-government, part council, part privately funded multi-functional business, sports and arts venue and facility, run and managed by Balance Health Clubs on behalf of itself and Kettering Borough Council.
As such, parts of the centre are privately operated, and parts are funded or subsidised by the council.

Conference facilities

The conference venue can accommodate meetings from 5 to 1,500 attendees in fully serviced rooms, supplied by associated catering facilities, plus a lakeside terrace and bar.
A licensed civil wedding facility, the wedding and reception venue can accommodate up to 200 people.

Arena Sports

The Arena Sports and Leisure Centre is a council-funded sports facility for local people, run and operated by Balance Health Clubs. It provides:
An integrated fully air-conditioned children's activity centre, with activities across four levels that include: rides, slides, climbing wall, and trampolines. It is accessible via a one-price ticket for up to two hours, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.

National Volleyball Centre

Made possible with a grants from Kettering Borough Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, the East Midlands Development Agency and the Kettering Conference Centre, the four-year agreement came into place in November 2010.
The facility houses both National Volleyball Centre, as well as home of Volleyball England's national men's and women's volleyball squads, and several national competitions.

Lighthouse theatre

The Lighthouse Theatre was a £2 million extension to the existing facility, with a £250,000 subsidy from Kettering's Council Tax payers.
The theatre provides a 562-tiered-seat auditorium and balcony, complemented by modern lighting and sound equipment. With a larger than normal designed stage, the theatre is designed as a flexible space for use either as a theatre or to accommodate conferences, presentations, award ceremonies and product launches.
The Lighthouse Theatre opened on 6 March 2008.

Transport

Situated alongside the A14 road at Junction 8, which links the A1, M1 and M6, the centre has over 600 car parking places.
Rail services operated by East Midlands Railway depart every 30 minutes from to St Pancras International railway station, with an average journey time on the Midland Main Line of 59 minutes. St Pancras also provides an interchange with the Eurostar service to France and Belgium. Kettering is linked to Corby, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield to the north and Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton to the south.