Set within Manchester's iconic Urbis building on the edge of the tranquil Cathedral Gardens, and just steps from Victoria Station and the AO Arena, the National Football Museum is a venue unlike any other in the city. A unique backdrop of world-class objects from the Football Heritage Collection gives every event an inspiring extra dimension, and as a registered charity, every booking directly supports the museum's educational and community programmes that benefit over 200,000 people every single year.
The Pitch Gallery is the museum's largest and most flexible event space. Flooded with natural daylight and equipped with staging, an LED curtain, large format screen and full AV support, it accommodates up to 250 for a seated dinner, 300 in theatre style, 400 for a standing reception, or 800 when the adjoining museum galleries are opened up. From gala dinners and Christmas parties to product launches and trade conferences, its adaptable ground-floor layout suits virtually any event format, with easy access to adjacent breakout spaces for comfort and refreshment breaks throughout the day.
The Box Gallery occupies the top two floors of the building and is a fully self-contained retreat with its own integrated bar, lift access and floor-to-ceiling glass walls framing sweeping panoramic views across Manchester's entire skyline. Catering for up to 120 for a reception, 50 for dinner or theatre-style, it is perfectly suited to meetings, leadership days, intimate dinners and sophisticated evening receptions.
The Dugout is a relaxed, light-filled café space overlooking Cathedral Gardens, accommodating up to 80 for lunch, 60 for networking and 40 in a theatre layout. Perfect as a standalone hire or as a stylish complement to the Pitch and Box Galleries, it also opens onto the gardens during summer months, offering a peaceful al fresco breakout option right in the heart of the city.