Exhibition Stand Contractors Manchester
We’re the perfect exhibition stand builders for your event in Manchester
Here’s what we know about exhibiting in Manchester
Despite being a relatively compact city, Manchester offers a variety of great venues to exhibit at and attracts some of the country’s best trade shows.
With several world-renowned venues across the city centre or within a short walk, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to events to choose from when planning your annual exhibition calendar.
David Hennessy, Motive Exhibitions Managing Director, says, “As exhibition stand builders, we get to see a lot of venues across the UK. Manchester is pretty unique, as it has several venues that are of historical and sporting interest, as well as great hybrid event spaces in which to exhibit.
“Manchester often hosts very specialist exhibitions, which is great if you want to attract a specific audience. For a lot of our clients, these smaller, niche events have been just as effective as huge exhibitions, as there are fewer competitors and more engaged visitors”.
Keep reading for our expert insights and all you need to know about exhibiting at Manchester’s top trade show venues.
Looking for insider exhibition secrets?
As exhibition stand builders, we get to see a lot of venues across the UK. Manchester is pretty unique, as it has several venues that are of historical and sporting interest, as well as great hybrid event spaces in which to exhibit.
“Manchester often hosts very specialist exhibitions, which is great if you want to attract a specific audience. For a lot of our clients, these smaller, niche events have been just as effective as huge exhibitions, as there are fewer competitors and more engaged visitors”.
Ed Marshall, Motive Exhibitions Creative Director
Popular Manchester trade show venues
From transformed exhibition venues with historical roots to modern, purpose-built facilities wrapped around sports, Manchester is home to an array of iconic exhibition spaces and some of the region’s most well-attended events..
Zeo Heat Networks, Modular Exhibition Stand Hire, Manchester Central
Manchester Central Convention Complex, Manchester
Set in a former train station in the heart of Manchester’s lively city centre, Manchester Central provides a bright, contemporary exhibition space underneath a striking vaulted arch. With a capacity of 10,000, it welcomes nearly half a million visitors across 150+ events annually.
Popular trade shows at this venue include Lunch! North, Northern Restaurant & Bar (NRB), The BIBA Conference, Housing Show, UKONS and Cyber Security Expo, all of which we’ve either built stands at in the past or will be doing next year.
Testo UK, Modular Exhibition Stand, Old Trafford
Manchester United Football Stadium, Old Trafford, Manchester
Although Old Trafford isn’t a dedicated exhibition space like Manchester Central, it’s a popular conference and event location within a much-loved venue. The popular PHEX North (which we’ve built stands for!) is based here among many others.
The ground typically hosts smaller one-day events within the 1,390m² available. Because it is a sporting venue, this often means a tight installation and dismantling time slot on either side of the exhibition.
It has excellent travel links, with its own station and the famous Hotel Football just a few steps away from the ground.
Plenty of car parking and low-level access for event construction make set-up and breakdown quick and easy for contractors and exhibitors.
Debrichem, Exhibition Stand Hire, Manchester
Manchester City Football Club, Ethiad Stadium, Manchester
While it might not be the first place that pops into your head when thinking about exhibition spaces in Manchester, the Etihad Campus has exhibition spaces, function suites and meeting rooms galore, with a total exhibition space of 2,086m² available. In particular, the Commonwealth Suite is ideal for an event or exhibition: it’s on the ground floor, is modern, and lets in the perfect amount of natural light.
From our perspective, as exhibition stand contractors, the ground floor entrance and exit are ideal, particularly if you need to install and dismantle a stand on the same day when the timings are tight!
The site has plenty of free parking and its own tram stop with easy access to the city centre, but the nearest hotel is over a mile away.
Popular events here include the MarketingSHOWCASE series.
Essential Cuisine, Outdoor Exhibition Stand, Emirates Old Trafford
Emirates Old Trafford, Lancashire Cricket Club, Manchester
Emirates Old Trafford has a dedicated exhibition and conference space which can accommodate 1,200 people.
Popular exhibitions that take place here include Wellocks Annual Conference the UK Events Summit.
The complex includes the 250-room Hilton Garden Inn, so you have event space, accommodation, and hospitality areas in one spot, meaning exhibitors can easily mingle with clients and prospects without stepping outside.
Free parking and a dedicated tram stop make trips to the city centre a breeze, and with the airport only a 12-minute drive away (with international flights), it’s an ideal location for hosting international visitors. Plus, all exhibition visitors and hotel guests are treated to stunning panoramic views of the world-famous cricket pitch!
Despite being smaller shows, events here are extremely well-attended. At a popular venue like this, the success of your exhibition really comes down to the design of your stand – so we’ll be on hand to guide you through every step to help distinguish you from the crowd.
Shell Scheme Exhibition Stand Hire, AO Arena Manchester
AO Arena, Manchester
The AO Arena is most well known for hosting music events, but it also offers 3,120m² of exhibition space and can accommodate 21,000 guests and delegates.
The venue is within Manchester Victoria mainline station and also has frequent tram connections to take you around the city; good parking and a large hotel opposite make this an easy location to exhibit at.
Luckily, whether you chose a custom, shell or modular exhibition system, we’ve got plenty of experience designing and building showstopping spaces for venues of this size.
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester
The Lowry is a creative venue accommodating up to 1,730 delegates across 470m² of space. It’s ideal for hosting conferences with space for big displays and demos, and separate breakout areas.
Conveniently located two miles from Manchester City Centre, The Lowry is in the heart of MediaCity UK, a hub for TV, tech, and creative industries.
Whilst there are great transport links and three hotels less than half a mile from the venue, there is no parking; visitors have to use the multi-story at Quayside MediaCity. A service road is available to contractors loading and picking up exhibition stands.
Why choose Motive for your exhibition in Manchester?
We have tons of experience designing, building, and dismantling stands for companies from across the UK and overseas. And, whether you’re based just down the road, or travelling from abroad to showcase your wares in Manchester, we’ll support you through every step of the process.
With our headquarters conveniently located right off the A1, we have direct routes to Manchester for quick and easy setup.
When you partner with us, you’ll benefit from:
- Our extensive experience building every type of exhibition stand imaginable.
- Our expertise in designing, building, and managing multiple stands at a single event.
- Our ability to deliver both complex, custom stands and impressive shell schemes for smaller shows.
- Our guidance, support, and honest, unbiased advice – just like what you’ll find on our blog!
Ready to make a start on your Manchester exhibition?
FAQs
What types of exhibition stands do you offer?
Modular Exhibition Systems
The appeal of modular exhibition systems lies in their incredible adaptability.
Perfect for businesses that aren’t ready to invest in a permanent stand or don’t have storage space between events, these stands can be created by combining purchased, rented, recycled, and reused components, making them both versatile and eco-friendly.
They’re also pretty lightweight, making them easy to transport.
Custom Exhibition Stands
A custom exhibition stand offers complete brand personalisation, meaning it can tick every box – including fitting perfectly into your budget.
Custom designs maximise creative freedom, especially when combined with rented elements.
Plus, you can go double-decker: we’ve seen some brands put bars and hospitality areas on the second floor. Downstairs for work; upstairs for party!
Shell Scheme Exhibition Booths
Shell scheme stands are ideal if you’re new to large-scale events or want to exhibit in multiple sections of a venue.
But don’t be worried about their typically smaller size; you can still pack a punch with these. Shell schemes are highly flexible and, with some clever design, can be visually impactful and effective for generating leads without a large budget.
Exhibition Stand Hire Prices
Renting a booth is a cost-effective choice if you exhibit infrequently, are exploring a new look after a rebrand, or are just starting with exhibitions and want to test the waters before investing in your own stand.
Several factors will affect the cost of hiring a stand, such as:
- The space you’ve reserved
- The location of your exhibition
- Your goals for the event
- The products or services you’re showcasing
Our approachable team has plenty of experience guiding clients through the process. We’ll work closely with you to create a stand that reflects your brand and attracts your target audience, all while providing the look and feel of a custom display.
If we work with you, can you take our supplies to the Manchester venue?
Yes! We’ll tell you when we need your kit to arrive with us, then safely pack it all up with the rest of your stand for transportation.
Do I need an exhibition builder for a day-long event?
It’s best that you do.
Short conferences often mean you can only get in the morning of the event. You then have to be set up and ready to go from 0900. Then, at the end of the day, you have to dismantle your stand, pack your equipment, and be on your way quickly (exhibitors often get less than an hour to do all of this).
We recommend partnering with a stand builder like us, as we know how to do everything quickly and safely without damaging your stand.
Plus, we can take it back with us to store in our warehouse until you need it next.
Can I rent a modular exhibition stand system?
Renting a modular exhibition system is a great choice if you’re looking for flexibility without the potential additional storage costs.
These systems are highly customisable, adaptable, and perfect if you need to modify graphics for different audiences or departments within your company.
We’ll collaborate with you to design an impactful modular stand incorporating whatever hired assets you like, without requiring a new build each time.
Plus, you’ll get a preview of your fully assembled stand well in advance, so you can be completely confident it meets your expectations.
How can I see what my custom exhibition stand will look like?
Concerned that your booth might differ from the approved visuals? Don’t worry; our team will assemble your stand in our workshop before the exhibition, allowing you to see it exactly as it will appear at the event.
What are the key elements of a successful custom exhibition stand?
A successful custom exhibition stand captures your brand’s values and aligns with your goals for each specific event. We work closely with you to achieve this, relying on a detailed exhibition booth brief outlining your vision and objectives.
Can you build a stand for our company if we’re based outside the UK?
Definitely! We’ve designed and built custom exhibition stands for numerous companies from across Europe who have attended events in Manchester.
We’re also equipped to assist with the logistics of transporting your show materials in and out of the country if you’re bringing additional items.
we’d love to hear from you
Simply fill in the below, and we will be in touch
For a stress-free exhibition, get our best tips direct to your inbox
Motive Exhibitions, 3 Orion Court, Ambuscade Road, Colmworth Business Park, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, PE19 8YX
