Home to the Grand National and all your event needsExhibitions . Trade ShowsConferences . Award CeremoniesGala Dinners . EventsSet in the grounds of a world famous racecourse, with 3,700 square metres of exhibition space, and an additional 1,100 square metres of space for storage or catering, Aintree offers an inspiring location for your event.Plus, with over 1,800 complimentary car parking spaces, quick access to the motorway network (M57, M58, M62 & M6) and excellent public transport links, Aintree is in an ideal location for visitors in Liverpool and the North West.Call 0151 909 5883 Email aintree.conference@thejockeyclub.co.uk or visit aintree.co.uk/exhibitionsand let us show you around.Phone 020 7232 1748 . email info@eventprojection.co.uk www.eventprojection.co.ukBringing audio and visual to some of the best in the business

VENUE WATCHwww.exhibitionnews.co.uk 31STAYING THE COURSE Race courses are looking to diversify out of their equine heritage and extend their exhibition profile and portfolios. Here, we look at five tracks and the key pillars to their events offeringCarlisle Carlisle racecourse's Bell Hall is its main exhibition area, with a floor area of 307sqm.It is located on the ground floor of the grandstand and is used for a variety of events and exhibitions throughout the year as well as being a public bar on racedays. The space is often used alongside the course's outdoor area, in particular as a food hall for the Cumberland Show, which attracts over 10,000 visitors after it moved to the venue in 2010.The Patterson Suite is located on the first floor of the grandstand and is used as both a conference suite and exhibition area. For exhibitions it has a floor area of 382sqm and is often used as an extension for exhibitions taking place on the ground floor. Recently it has been used by the local chamber of commerce for a business exhibition and is transformed into a catwalk area for a wedding show twice a year.The venue is located just off Junction 42 of the M6, has extensive free parking and 250 acres of parkland.Carlisle Racecourse general manager Richard Clements said the venue is looking to diversify following a programme of investment by the Jockey Club."The new grandstand, built in 2002, has increased the level of business on non-racedays at the racecourse," he said."We have also had a lot of other new facilities built in the last 10 years."This has dramatically transformed the facilities at Carlisle and made us into the premier event venue in the area. As with most racecourses, non-raceday events are now a major part of our business and we are constantly seeking to expand in this area."Cheltenham Racecourse has three exhibition venues; Centaur, Gold Cup and Festival, The Hall of Fame. The Centaur facility provides 2,600sqm of space, removable seating, HGV cargo doors, four dressing rooms and the adjoining Istabraq Bar and foyer.Exhibitions from The Home and Garden Show, Rock and Gem Show and Fashion and Gift Show, to Honda and The Classic Car Show have all taken place there.Cheltenham's second biggest space is the adjoining Gold Cup (407sqm) and Festival rooms (261sqm). Gold Cup has recently hosted a wedding show, gift fair and stationery exhibition. Full blackout facilities and free Wi-Fi is also available here.The Hall of Fame has 400sqm of space and an accompanying museum of jump racing history and memorabilia.Conference and event manager at Cheltenham Racecourse Susie Bradshaw said the venue is now able to compete for new exhibitions and shows that have had to downsize recently. "We don't try to compete for The Clothes Show Live, but we are an ideal venue for regional events and national road shows," she said."We have 12 grandstand rooms as well as the Centaur, which offer great workshop and seminar spaces. As many are interconnecting rooms, these prove useful breakout spaces for many exhibitions." She added the venue is part of the Jockey Club, which offers access to 13 other racecourses throughout the UK allowing opportunities national roadshows.Cheltenham