Academic Venue Solutions is delighted to welcome the team from Conferences and Events at the University of Winchester to feature in our new Q&A spotlight. From modern conference rooms to historic buildings, combining expert event planning, in-house catering and on-site accommodation – all on one campus, Winchester is a fantastic part of the AVS family.
We caught up with the team to learn more about their event spaces, what makes them and their venue unique, and why being part of AVS is so important to them.
- What are the best things about being a part of AVS family for you and the team?
Being part of the AVS family means we are never working in isolation in a fast-moving industry. This friendly network of like-minded venues provides opportunities, to share ideas, challenges and best practice. We learn from each other, stay on top of what is happening across the industry, and feel reassured that others are navigating the same busy, ever-changing world of events.
- For those who haven’t visited before, how would you describe Winchester as an events destination?
That we are not a one-trick pony 😊 Across our two campuses, we offer the best of both worlds, a historic city setting with a modern, flexible event offer. Everything is within easy reach, creating a seamless experience for organisers and delegates. Our spaces are shaped around the event brief, not the other way around.
- What types of events work particularly well at Winchester?
Our facilities are often seen as a natural fit for larger events such as residential conferences, lectures and away days.
But that is just one side of it. The versatility of our spaces means smaller meetings, banquet dinners, exhibitions, and even full production events like fashion shows can shine just as well.
- Universities don’t just have fantastic facilities they have access to academics too, how have Winchester been able to capitalise on this for a specific event?
It is not something we force into every event. But when it fits, it works really well, particularly for profile-raising research events. That might be through guest speakers, panel discussions or more informal sessions. It adds credibility and changes the feel of the event, making it more engaging and thought-provoking for delegates.
- What are some of the standout spaces available for event organisers at Winchester?
For us, the two standout spaces are the West Downs Centre and The Stripe. They are our flagship venues and each offer something quite different.
West Downs Centre is our more modern, vibrant, purpose-built space. It is award-winning, sustainable and highly flexible, working particularly well for conferences that need strong exhibition and networking areas alongside the main event.
The Stripe, on the other hand, has a completely different energy. It is ideal for larger conferences and events, making the most of the convenience of having other great spaces within the King Alfred Centre right on its doorstep
- What do you think makes university venues such a powerful option for event organisers?
For us, it is all about the service and that one-stop shop approach.
We are a small, friendly team, which means we are with you from your first enquiry and showround, right through to the contract stage, the event itself and afterwards. There is no handover, you are always speaking to someone who knows your event inside out.
Introduce us to the team at Winchester University.
Within the Conference team, we have two Sarahs and a Georgina, so there is always someone on hand, even if you might need to double check which Sarah you are speaking to. We used to be known as “the two Gemma’s”, so the tradition has clearly continued.
One Sarah brings a wealth of experience, while Sarah and Georgina are coming up to their first full year with us, bringing fresh energy into the team.
I lead both the Conference and Reception teams, and we work closely together across every stage of the event, so clients feel supported from start to finish.
Tell us something we wouldn’t know about Winchester.
One thing people might not expect is how much they end up learning about Winchester itself. You might come for the conference, but you will probably leave knowing who King Alfred is.
Alongside that, we often hear how beautiful the campus is, which really adds to the overall feel of an event. We share plenty of it across our social media, so feel free to follow along and see more, or even better come and say hello…