Bristol’s harbourside is an exciting and vibrant area of the city, full of restaurants, bars, attractions and hotels. It's best explored by strolling around the water’s edge or taking a boat and cruising around the harbour, while you're treated to some of Bristol’s best views. 

The harbourside has an excellent selection of state-of-the-art and historic venues perfect for a wide range of events from conferences to outdoor summer parties. Whatever style of event you're looking to host, there’s a venue near the water for you. 

Brunel’s SS Great Britain 

Best for: Celebrating Bristol’s pioneering spirit and engineering excellence. 

Brunel's SS Great Britain has been restored to her former glory, offering only the best in quality, atmosphere and service. The world's first luxury liner is a multi-award-winning venue for non-residential conferences, corporate and private functions, weddings and civil partnerships. 

Steeped in history, the ship makes an instantly memorable setting at the heart of Bristol’s harbour. The neighbouring conference space, The Brunel Institute, has stunning views of the historic steamship and has flexible, modern facilities, with easy access, excellent transport links and good car and coach parking. Clients are supported with excellent, award-winning event management and customer service.

Exterior of the SS Great Britain at the Great Western Dockyard in Bristol - credit Brunel's SS Great Britain

Image - Brunel's SS Great Britain

Watershed 

Best for: Hosting creative events in a landmark Bristol arts venue. 

Set in a Grade II* listed, accessible building on Bristol’s historic Harbourside, arts venue Watershed offer three cinemas, a suite of flexible conference spaces and a light and airy Café/Bar. The venue is a favourite for delivering distinctive and imaginative events, launches, film rushes and conferences for local, regional, national and international organisations. 

Host your conference, meeting or event in inspirational surroundings complete with a vibrant atmosphere, backdropped by harbour views. The friendly and experienced team have a personal approach, bringing a passion for innovation, independence and creativity to their tailored 360° service. 

Watershed on Bristol harbourside
Image - Watershed

We The Curious 

Best for: Adding awe and wonder to corporate events.   

Situated close to Bristol’s Harbourside on Millennium Square, We The Curious is the city’s interactive and forward-thinking science museum, where visitors explore big ideas through playful, hands-on exhibits. With events taking place among the award-winning exhibitions, it’s become one of the most prestigious and inspiring corporate event venues in the South West. 

As well as air-conditioned rooms flooded with natural daylight, guests can enjoy views over Bristol from the private outdoor terrace, which is perfect for events like summer parties. Kick back in deckchairs with drinks from the private bar and tuck into food from a summer buffet. You can even take a trip into the far reaches of the universe via an exclusive screening in the 3D planetarium. 

We The Curious Terrace
Image - We The Curious

The Bristol Hotel 

Best for: Residential events with exciting Harbourside experiences on the doorstep. 

A firm favourite with Bristolians and visitors alike, The Bristol Hotel has an enviable waterfront location on the Harbourside. Floor-to-ceiling windows in its River Grille restaurant offer dinner with a view across the water. 

Part of the Doyle Collection, a family-owned collection of luxury and urban hotels, The Bristol has a boutique feel. Its 187 bedrooms with harbour or city views provide the perfect city centre haven, while the dedicated Meetings & Events Centre has a separate entrance and its own lobby, lounge area, and nine versatile meeting rooms, including the Ballroom with windows facing the harbourside for meetings of up to 400 theatre and 200 cabaret.

The River Grille restaurant interior with large glass windows - credit The Bristol - Doyle collection
Image - The River Grille restaurant at The Bristol Hotel

M Shed 

Best for: Meetings and events with an unbeatable Harbourside view.  

M Shed is based in a 1950s transit shed from the days when Bristol’s working docks dominated the Harbourside. Today, it’s an innovative museum that tells the city’s story through thought-provoking and fun exhibits. It’s also a sought-after event space, with a fabulous rooftop terrace overlooking the harbour that’s ideal for networking and summer parties. 

Exterior of the M Shed local history museum on Bristol Harbourside - credit Credit Bristol Museums

Create Centre

Best for: Inspiring green thinking in a pioneering sustainable space. 

Create Centre is a vibrant environmental centre. The building is one of the remaining red brick 'bonded' warehouses that were originally part of the tobacco industry in the city. Today, it’s a busy non-residential conference and meeting venue, as well as hosting a varied programme of public events with a focus on environmental issues and sustainability. It’s home to numerous organisations and small businesses and the city council's Green Capital and Sustainability teams. 

The demonstration Ecohome is a showcase for sustainable design and living. Create offers a range of flexible spaces for everything from informal gatherings to larger scale conferences, at value-for-money prices. There are also informal spaces with sofas to take a break from meetings as well as an eco-reference library to browse. It benefits from the network of riverside walks and cycle ways on its doorstep too. 

Create Centre in Bristol
Image - Create Centre

To discuss hosting an event on Bristol Harbourside or elsewhere in the region, contact the Visit West Convention Bureau team on events@visitwest.co.uk or make an enquiry.