Conference venue
About the venue
The Crowne Plaza Newcastle hotel is based in the Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle upon Tyne. The venue has a range of amenities onsite, including meeting rooms, bars, restaurants, and a spa. It also offers services to guests, including luggage storage, wifi, and 24-hour faxing and copying.
Directions and parking
The Crowne Plaza is a five-minute walk away from Newcastle train station. Leave the station and head towards the taxi rank. Turn left, and then turn right onto Neville Street. Turn right onto Orchard Street and walk under the bridge. Turn right onto Forth Street and the venue will be approximately 150 metres up the road on the left-hand-side.
If you are driving, you can park in the Stephenson Quarter Car Park and access the hotel from level 10. The parking tarrifs are:
- £4.60 for up to 4 hours
- £6.00 for up to 12 hours
- £12.00 for up to 24 hours
There is disabled parking on floor 10 of the Stephenson Quarter Car Park.
We would suggest contacting the hotel directly if you have any other questions about directions or parking:
- Address: Crowne Plaza Newcastle, Forth Street, Newcastle, NE1 3SA
- Telephone: +44 (0) 191 562 33
- Email: sales@cpnewcastlehotel.co
Accessibility and special requirements
The two-day conference will be staffed by SSA helpers (wearing white, labelled t-shirts) who will be on hand to give you directions, answer questions, or offer any other kind of support you need. The hotel have also provided floorplans to help you navigate: ground floor and mezzanine floor.
For your information, all bedrooms and meeting rooms are step-free, and there is lift access to all floors. There are accessible toilets by reception and on the mezzanine floor. The Stephenson Suite has a hearing loop, and there are three portable hearing loops that can be used upstairs.
The hotel can offer a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) to anyone who may have difficulty evacuating the building in the event of an emergency.
Refreshments
On both days of the conference, the SSA will provide complimentary morning and afternoon refreshments and a buffet lunch. When you book your tickets, you will be asked to share any allergies or dietary requirements. If you have any questions, contact the SSA team via the enquiry form.
At the end of day one, the SSA will host an alcohol-free drinks reception, followed by a two-course, buffet-style evening meal. To learn more about the SSA’s decision to go ‘alcohol-free’, read a blog by four members of the conference organising committee.
Quiet spaces
To support everyone’s comfort and wellbeing, the Victory room on the mezzanine (see floorplan) will be available throughout the conference as a dedicated quiet space. Please use this if you need to take a break from the busy conference setting.
If you would like somewhere to work, you are welcome to use the Planet room when it is not being used for workshops.
