The Best Networking Venues in Leeds

Hosting a networking event in Leeds

Leeds is a fantastic city for hosting a networking event with many beautiful venues and meeting spaces to choose from.

If you’re looking to network in Leeds, we can help you find the perfect networking event venue.

Whether you want to hold a business breakfast, lunch or dinner, or host a drinks reception, there are many options including traditional English country houses, contemporary hotels with state-of-the-art facilities, and elegant restaurants.

What to think about when choosing a networking venue

Leeds is a fantastic city for hosting a networking event and there are many beautiful venues.

When choosing a venue for your networking event there are a number of factors you need to consider, here are the three most important ones:

• Location

The location of the venue will have an impact on who will attend your event. For example, you may want to choose a venue close to the train station or near some large businesses that you know people you want to invite work at.

• Size

We would recommend speaking with the venue about how many people you want to attend your event and what capacity their spaces can hold.

If it is going to be a small event you don’t want to choose somewhere that is too big and vice versa so make sure you speak with them about this beforehand.

• Costs

An important factor is obviously your budget! Make sure you understand what the costs are for using the venue and whether this includes things like AV equipment and staff. 

What to think about when planning a networking event

Planning a networking event is easier than you think. All you need to think about is what food options you're going to offer, what venue you want to book, and who's going to be on the guest list.

• Food

Good food is a must. People love free food and drinks, so make sure you have something they want to munch on. Hors d'oeuvres are always a good call, but if you don't have the budget for them then something simple like olives and cold cuts are usually a hit with most people.

• Venue

This might be the hardest part of planning your networking event. The venue will depend on your budget and how many guests you are expecting. If it's at a bar or coffee shop, some places offer discounts for big groups, so make sure to see if the venue offers any packages for large parties. And remember that there are plenty of venues other than bars and coffee shops. There are lots of great spaces in town that cost much less than the spaces that first spring to mind.

• Guestlist

Your guest list will depend on what type of event you want to throw. It can be open to everyone in your industry or it can be just people from your company or even just your department. Whatever type of event you choose to throw, the guest list is essential to any networking event. People might say they come for the free food and drinks but actually, they're there to make some meaningful connections. 

Our favourite Leeds venues for networking

If you're looking for a new networking venue in Leeds, look no further! Here at VenueScanner, we have our finger on the pulse when it comes to venues and events, so we've created this shortlist of our top three Leeds venues for hosting a networking event.

Roland's – Located in the heart of the city centre, Roland's is a modern cocktail bar and restaurant that can host any type of event. There are multiple options of spaces here depending on the event you're planning, our favourite is the rooftop. 

Dapur Malaysia – If you're looking for something a little different, Dapur Malaysia is an excellent choice. This Malaysian restaurant has been highly rated by critics on TripAdvisor and prides itself on its authentic cuisine. The venue is super flexible with its spaces and can be used for both mingling and sit-down dinners.

Shears Yard – This space boasts skylights that provide plenty of natural daylight, creating a spacious atmosphere. Exposed brick and naked light bulbs make the interior both modern and industrial. It's ideal for networking when you want guests to start their conversations with 'I love this space'.

Booking a venue with VenueScanner

Through us, you’ll be able to book a venue perfect for the occasion you’re planning without it being overly time-consuming. It’s actually so easy you won’t even notice doing it. All you have to do is look at the venues on this page and potentially some other ones like summer party venues in Leeds. Whenever anything catches your eye you just favourite it with the heart icon. This way you’re creating a shortlist from where you can send out all your enquiries at the same time. 

You’ll save time in the process and money when you can compare the offers you get back and see which one suits your budget best. This way you make an informed decision on the very best venue for the event you’re planning. If you need any support along the way we’re always happy to help you at [email protected]. 

If you’re booking a corporate event we have a concierge service that can help you with every aspect of your venue search. They can even help out finding catering or entertainment, all free of charge!