London may be the hub of the UK’s economy, but a lot of business takes place outside of the capital. Liverpool and Bristol are hugely important port cities; Leeds and Edinburgh both house financial companies with national profiles; Glasgow and Manchester have large media and cultural sectors while Birmingham and Nottingham are both vital retail centres.
There are occasions when you need to raise the bar a little with important clients and business associates, and local coffee shops (big names or small) just won’t do.
With that in mind, we have picked out five hotels outside London for business use that offer all the facilities you need without breaking the bank.
Days Inn Liverpool
The Days Inn Liverpool is within a minute’s walk from James Street Rail Station, as well as being a short walking distance of Lime Street station, which is ideal for people travelling by train after an overnight stay. All rooms come equipped with free wifi, satellite television, en-suite bathrooms and a desk lamp, which is ideal for getting some late-night work done. Perhaps the best feature for business travellers is the hotel’s Business Centre, which has a PC with the Microsoft Office suite, scanner, USB port for printing and photocopying capabilities.
Ibis Hotel Leeds
Based on the edge of the city, the Ibis Hotel is perfect for people wanting to do business in Yorkshire’s largest city. Facilities in each room include free wifi for your smartphone or laptop and digital TV, while business amenities on site include wifi and internet connectivity in the main café and a fax machine. Rooms cost as little as £34 a night.
George Hotel Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital is a great place to do business, and the George Hotel Edinburgh has special packages available for the business traveller looking for somewhere to hammer out a last-minute deal. While each room includes free 24-hour wifi and broadband access and a spacious desk area for you to rest your laptop, the George Hotel doubles as an impressive conference centre. It has nine fully air-conditioned conference and event suites, including the King’s Hall, which can hold up to 400 delegates.
Grand Central Hotel Glasgow
This hotel is owned by the same company as the George Hotel, and like its eastern counterpart, it is a great hotel to do business in. The Grand Central Hotel Glasgow has 21 conference and event suites to its name, each of them fully equipped with free wifi and air conditioning. To keep you going, free tea and coffee are available. Suites range from the Burrell interview room and the Bells suite, which holds eight people, to the 400-capacity Grand Room.
Hotel Campanile Birmingham
Lying just over half a mile from the city centre, the Hotel Campanile has all the facilities you could ask for. While some chains like Premier Inn offer free wifi for a certain amount of time, here over 80% of rooms get an unlimited supply. Also on site are seminar rooms, which is more than handy to have if you need to arrange a prompt meeting.
