Open Thread: your views on Liverpool
Written by Alex Foster on 10th March 2008 – 11:29 am
Conference Committee is very keen to hear from delegates what they thought about Liverpool as a conference venue. How was the arena? Were your hotels OK? How would you feel about holding an autumn conference there?
My view is that it’s pretty good already and will all be a lot better when the hotels onsite are completed, and the long walk is reduced. I’d definitely be happy to go back to Liverpool for an autumn conference.
The podcast has views from some conference goers - some of them slightly biassed in favour of Liverpool.
But the thread is open to you… what do you think?
Posted in Conference, Podcasts
10th March 2008 at 11:51 am
I did not attend conference, but I like the idea of conferences in big cities. I am a lobbyist and so attended Labour conference in Manchester recently, and that was a real success as a venue. It also ensures that there are a lot more better quality hotels to stay in and a wider range of restaurants.
10th March 2008 at 12:22 pm
I’m famous! (ish)
Yay!
10th March 2008 at 12:27 pm
I like ‘the student’ from Essex.
10th March 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hmm, Liverpool. I think the city regeneration will be great when it’s finished. I have two main problems with this venue as it is at the moment - 1) The hotels were extremely expensive and far away from the conference center. Admittedly I only booked in early Feb, but the closest I could get was Lime Street which meant taxi fares or walking half an hour in the gales on Sat. When I booked at a similar stage for last spring conf I got a much cheaper hotel in harrogate 10 mins from the CC. 2) No mobile reception in the conference center!! Hooking up with friends was difficult.
That said, maybe things will improve as I understand a number of hotels are planned closer to the ACC in Liverpool which will bring the commute and hopefully the cost down. As for mobile reception, at some point the ACC will have to sort this out as any business conference organizers will not be impressed.
10th March 2008 at 12:42 pm
I think the big problem with Liverpool was the costs of hotels. My parents decided not to come as it was cheaper for them to have a weekend in Venice than to come to conference!
The other problem was actually hooking up with people. The two venues were so far apart and the walk gave people blisters.That meant you missed some of the people you were looking forward to seeing.
As for Bex’s comment - the Three signal in ACC was fine. I even managed a video call!
Having said all that - the staff at both venues were fantastic, the taxi drivers were the most friendly I have come across in years. So thumbs up to the warm welcome!
10th March 2008 at 1:44 pm
I agree with the cmments about distance from hotels - for me the main issue was the size of the venue - we seemed to get a little lost in it. Once there’s a bit more hotel space I think it’ll be great for an autumn conference but it’s a bit big for spring!
10th March 2008 at 1:45 pm
well I am from Liverpool so biased (!) but here goes. I had no probs with mobile reception in the centre - in fact we managed to arrange quite a complicated series of things calling each other by phone.
The hotel will be a lot nearer the centre when those being built are finished (later this year) but its actually not that far to walk and surely wnen we are at Bournemouth we have to walk up an extremely steep hill to get from one building to the other. And as for the trek at Blackpool - don’t get me started on that!!! (Having said that conference organisers need to leave more of a gap between session ends and fringe starts as otherwise you are rather rushing all the time)
My beef would be about chairs. I suspect the venue didn’t realise just how many people would want to be outside the organised bits chatting to each other. We really needed more places to sit down (and to be fair there did seem more chairs available towards the end of the event)
10th March 2008 at 2:58 pm
I thought Liverpool was overall a fantastic venue.
The distance between the main hotel and the conference centre was a little annoying, but no worse.
The cost of the main conference hotel was also fairly high - possibly more expensive than our southern venues - which is a litle surprising.
Otherwise though fantastic - friendly, efficient, a hotel bar that worked, a great conference centre… and I really liked Liverpool.
10th March 2008 at 3:13 pm
Of course everyone knows that I am biased about my home city ! - But a couple of points to note:
The Convention Centre is the bit of the set up not finished yet. This will be the main Conference Hall in future - not the much bigger Arena that was partitioned off for our purposes this weekend. This hall seats 1500 - 2500 and will be better in terms of look/acoustics etc.
Over 1000 more hotel bedrooms will be available in the immediate vicinity later this year. The Liverpool home game added to the pressure on rooms this weekend.
The Conference was a massive boost for the Liverpool Liberal Democrats who got a lot of much needed good media from it. Thanks to all those who helped deliver leaflets.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/03/08/lib-dems-we-ll-bring-party-rallies-to-liverpool-100252-20580002/
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/03/03/echo-arena-in-the-political-spotlight-as-lib-dems-head-to-city-100252-20548818/
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/03/10/clegg-makes-first-major-speech-as-leader-as-storey-warns-party-faces-local-election-test-64375-20594797/
10th March 2008 at 4:13 pm
Speaking as a previous Liverpool-sceptic I really enjoyed being there and would go again. The Crown Plaza’s restaurant though could do with a visit from Gordon Ramsey. Much better places in the city, the Olive Press was world class.
Highlight, from this photographer’s point of view was the sunset over the Mersey on Friday.
10th March 2008 at 4:20 pm
Agree with other comments although I found the mobile reception fine with vodafone.
Only negative thing to add was that the training / fringe rooms in the conference centre weren’t even remotely soundproof (a real problem when people were clapping and laughing in the auditorium - thanks Vince!) and got seriously hot with the lights. If that can be sorted out very happy to go back.
Good also to have a hotel bar that’s a really decent size - even if the prices were a bit southern.
10th March 2008 at 5:21 pm
I would say Liverpool definitely appeals more than, erm, ‘other less fortunate places’ :@)
I think it is likely to attract more younger members to conference if we have an autumn conference in Liverpool rather than Bournemouth! Get ready to dodge the walking sticks!!!
10th March 2008 at 5:41 pm
ACC was great and so was the Crowne Plaza. Didn’t mind the walk too much (were there any actual sightings of these mythical shuttle buses?) What was more annoying was being so far from the shops which made cheap, quick eating in between events very difficult. The only places nearby were on the Albert Dock which were priced for (slow-eating) tourists. Hopefully also something which will follow from the development being finished.
10th March 2008 at 5:45 pm
There is no doubt the Conference was a huge success with record numbers attending. There was also a definite feelgood factor being in a city run by us and people being able to see first hand what a Liberal Democrat Council has delivered. Many people have fed back to me how friendly the people were particularly the taxi drivers and hotel/restaurant staff and that is great to hear. I very much hope the party returns to Liverpool soon for Autumn conference (2009??) as once the Convention Centre is complete and the development opposite it will be an even more impressive venue. Just think it could have been the site of Everton’s stadium if things had gone differently - which reminds me if Everton had been playing at home there would have been more hotel rooms as everyone knows most Liverpool fans are not from the city
10th March 2008 at 6:26 pm
I thought Liverpool as a city was great. Would echo all the remarks about the friendliness. The city was very clean, magnificent buildings, I definitely want to go back not for conference to see more.
We had a fabulous good value meal at the Bar & Grill on Brunswick Street on Saturday night.
The Friday night meal in the Crowne Plaza was disappointing and took an age to arrive, I think they were a bit overwhelmed. But the staff were very pleasant.
I used the shuttle buses between the ACC and the Crowne Plaza a lot (I stayed near the Crowne Plaza so the bus worked well for me). The drivers, both bus and taxi, were really friendly, cheery not patronising, and proud of their city.
The conference centre felt a bit odd, perhaps because unfinished. You could do the whole conference without going into the stalls at all which does not quite feel right for a Lib Dem event. And the layout of the entrances to main hall meant more lurking than usual as you had to cut in front of the stage if you came in or out mid-session which lots of people like to do.
I ended up watching the Friday night rally standing behind the back of the TV screens which was also slightly unnerving, like not really being there.
No problems with mobile phone reception or the loos, but a cashpoint in the conference venue would have been good. The security staff were extremely efficient and minimally intrusive.
Having made those specific criticisms, I thought it was an excellent venue and I would gladly attend conference in Liverpool again. (Even more gladly if someone could get Virgin to fix their train seat reservation system….)
10th March 2008 at 6:28 pm
I thought Liverpool was great overall. As others have noted, the hotel staff especially were very friendly. The shuttle buses did exist but seemed not to have been told what the main movements would be and so not tied into them (eg-they were all at the conference centre at the end of the lunchtime fringe session when people wanted to get back from the hotel. The major problem as far as I see it is the accommodation. If Liverpool are playing at home (50-50 chance) then there will always be an accommodation nightmare for anyone who doesn’t book a long way in advance. It’s fair enough to urge people to book early, but… Oh, and a couple of corner shops somewhere near the ACC would be a good idea!
10th March 2008 at 6:32 pm
I would love to go back to Liverpool. I had never been to Liverpool properly before and was very impressed by the place. I will definitely be coming back as a visitor too.
I think the criticisms that I had have already been mentioned by other people, and most of it is down to all the building work and so shouldn’t be so much of an issue in the future.
Chris Rennard’s point on how much extra accommodation there will be in the future is useful. But I hope some of this is going to be affordable. I stayed in what is called budget accommodation but it would still be pricey for many people.
10th March 2008 at 7:06 pm
Yes, I enjoyed Liverpool very much and agree with comments about friendliness of people. The only gripe I have was how expensive drinks (eps water was). Water at the ACC was £2 a bottle and in the hotel £3.25 for a small glass in the hotel. It was my first time at Lib Dem conference but certainly not my first time at a conference. Bottled water as well especially after the hue and cry about MP’s having bottled water in their offices!
All other conferences that I have been to have had jugs of water in workshop (read: fringe) rooms and, in main mingling spaces, water bowsers like those you find in offices are freely available. With the prices I am sure we paid for hiring either venue I am sure the Crowne Plaza and ACC would not begrugde us at least tap water next time.
Can the conference team push hard for better value next time. Now, we have proved we may return it will be easy to negotiate with either the hotel or ACC’s marketing depts.
I just think if I were a young member or student I would feel priced out of going again. As it is I am on a very low income!
Otherwise a great time!!!
10th March 2008 at 8:53 pm
Overall I thought Liverpool performed well as a venue. Only downside for me was the distance between venue and fringe hotel - too great a distance between them. Also not enough info on shuttle bus - times etc. Still prefer Bournemouth and Harrogate.
10th March 2008 at 10:16 pm
Thanks for all these comments, keep them coming as they will be of real use to FCC at our ‘debrief’ on 3rd April and later in the year when we decide if we should go back to Liverpool in 2010.
As Chris R said if we do go back we will not be in the Arena but the purpose built conference centre which will mean we will not rattle around so much.
Mobile phone reception was a major issue, the venue are aware of it and are looking at what they can do. In some parts there is no reception at all - something to do with the steel structure!
The cost of hotels is always an issue in city centres compared with seaside resorts. It was made worse this time by a number of hotels not being completed and Liverpool FC being at home.
Andrew
Vice-Chair FCC
10th March 2008 at 11:37 pm
I agree with Anders about Liverpool being a place I want to go back to as a tourist, and it was noticeable how full the Albert Dock was of people speaking foreign languages.
In terms of budget hotels, they were building a Jurys Inn - the one in Nottingham is around £65 a night - and there were a Formule1 (normally around £30) and an Ibis (normally around £50) quite close to the Arena. Might not be quite down to fleapit B&B rates, but still a significant improvement on the £100+ for places like the Adelphi, Radisson, Crowne Plaza etc.
10th March 2008 at 11:49 pm
Hmm - everyone seems so positive I rather hate to say anything. I’ve only got experience of Harrogate to go by and I have to say I didn’t like it as much. How much of that is down to incompleteness though may be a big factor. And I say all that as one with family on the Wirral who goes to Liverpool reasonably often - not that I have ever found Liverpool easy to navigate.
When the Jurys and the place with all the suites are finished and there are places to eat right at the convention centre things will be better.
Did anyone notice at the bottom of the vast skateoard ramp leading down from the entrances to the quaysides there was a “rail” across the pavement? Is that for a future “ring of steel” around the conference centre and the two hotels?
I only ask as I was lugging around a not too heavy bag with laptop and so on in and every time I wanted to go anywhere (or have a cigarette - we are soon going to be complaining about venues and facilities for smokers I reckon!) I had to go in and out through the bag check and so on. If there’s a ring of steel will we be okay to walk about without so much security - it seems to me that one of the advantages of Harrogate for example is that you are in the hotel and the conference centre at the same time - one security check and you are okay all day. Maybe when finished the quayside terrace will be secure and one can get outside for a fag without going through all that rigmarole all the time.
Needed more seats. Main foyer was, frankly, bleak. They’ve clearly put flexibility first - huge mobile walls and no fixed cafe/canteen/facilities other than what was wheeled into the exhibitors area - not enough.
Was told we could get onto wireless network but nobody could tell me the username/password to log on. I presume there will be some outdoor seating/public art or something to distract from the hectare of sloping concrete outside at some point soon? But nothing will be able to do anything about the wind funnelled nicely (entirely predictable at architects design stage I’d have thought) up the concrete ocean and through the entrances and back down the other side again.
Never went to the Crowne Plaza. Might as well have not been there for all I knew until the last time I left ACC and headed for James Street station. Never saw a shuttle bus, else I might have tried one out as the prepondrance of cobbles around the Albert Dock development were excruciating by the end (why do developers/planner think that road surfaces need to be part of the pastiche “conservation” of historic built environment - we need surfaces for modern uses).
Someone please tell me that they’re not going to end up with a motorway you have to cross on foot between the city and the docks?
11th March 2008 at 12:05 am
INcidentally, not a criticism of Liverpool per se…but as an individualist anarchist type that does not do the hierarchical stuff well I wish more people would dress down a bit for conferences. We’re away from work/Westminster for goodness’ sake!
No need to adopt the William Hague style Giles Brandreth sweaters and baseball caps but all the suits give a distinct air of “them and us” which I find particularly inappropriate in a Liberal Democrat context.
11th March 2008 at 12:43 am
1. Liverpool could well be a Labour city by Autumn.
2. I am amazed that the cost of hotels is such an issue when Brighton especially and Bournemouth are actually pretty expensive, even for half arsed hotels.
3. Using the arena was a mistake in terms of distances. The Philharmonic say, plus Unity, LIPA, Hope, Hardman, Cathedrals, Irish, LU etc would have been far more convenient.
4. Where was the Fringe venue?
11th March 2008 at 1:39 am
In addition to Alex Foster’s price list. I add £14.50/night B & B at the YHA Liverpool which was only 5mins walk from the ACC and 20 mins from the Crowne Plaza. Was clean and had very friendly and helpful staff.
11th March 2008 at 8:14 am
Andrew Wiseman said ‘The cost of hotels is always an issue in city centres compared with seaside resorts. It was made worse this time by a number of hotels not being completed and Liverpool FC being at home.’
I wasn’t at conference but I used to know the city quite well, having been at the University very many years ago. I always had doubts about a city without a lot of B&B facilities being suitable for a conference venue - that is what makes more touristy places such as seaside resorts or Harrogate better.
I was also doubtful about holding a conference in Liverpool while the city is European Capital of Culture - which is presumably causing further pressure on hotel accomodation.
And if Liverpool had not been at home Everton would have been.
11th March 2008 at 4:24 pm
The Crowne Plaza was the best HQ hotel I’ve been to (and I’ve been to a lot!). Apart from the Friday afternoon I used the shuttle bus between the venue and the hotel, which was a great service.
My only beef is with the venue itself, but it’ll be better when its finished. I’m pleased to see from comments above that we were in the larger Arena and a future conference would be in a more appropriately sized space in the Convention Centre.
I’ll certainly give Liverpool a try for an Autumn Conference - it’ll make a great change from having to troop off to the South Coast every year - and it’s a zillion times better than Blackpool.