Kettering Conference Centre

The Kettering Conference Centre was a multi-functional sports and conference centre located in Kettering, Northamptonshire. It was also the location of Volleyball England's National Volleyball Centre, and the 560 seat Lighthouse Theatr until it all closed in 2023 and is set to be demolished.

History

The Kettering Conference Centre is a part-government, part council, part privately funded multi-functional business, sports and arts venue and facility, run and managed by Balance Health Clubs on behalf of itself and Kettering Borough Council.

As such, parts of the centre are privately operated, and parts are funded or subsidised by the council.[1]

Conference facilities

The conference venue can accommodate meetings from 5 to 1,500 attendees in fully serviced rooms, supplied by associated catering facilities, plus a lakeside terrace and bar.

A licensed civil wedding facility, the wedding and reception venue can accommodate up to 200 people.

Arena Sports

The Arena Sports and Leisure Centre is a council-funded sports facility for local people, run and operated by Balance Health Clubs. It provides:[1]

  • 12 badminton courts
  • 4 glass-backed squash courts
  • Dance/martial arts studio
  • 3 syndicate or meeting rooms

Kids Kingdom

An integrated 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) fully air-conditioned children's activity centre, with activities across four levels that include: rides, slides, climbing wall, and trampolines. It is accessible via a one-price ticket for up to two hours, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily.[1]

National Volleyball Centre

Made possible with a grants from Kettering Borough Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, the East Midlands Development Agency and the Kettering Conference Centre, the four-year agreement came into place in November 2010.[2]

The 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) facility houses both National Volleyball Centre - as well as home of Volleyball England's national men's, women's, junior men's and women's, as well as cadet boys' and girls' volleyball squads, and several national competitions.[2]

Lighthouse theatre

The Lighthouse Theatre was a £2 million extension to the existing facility, with a £250,000 subsidy from Kettering's Council Tax payers.[1]

The theatre provided a 562-tiered-seat auditorium and balcony (400 tiered seats at ground-floor level; 138 tiered in the balcony; six private boxes each with four seats and a fridge), complemented by modern lighting and sound equipment. With a larger than normal designed stage, the theatre was designed as a flexible space for use either as a theatre or to accommodate conferences, presentations, award ceremonies and product launches.[1]

The Lighthouse Theatre opened on 6 March 2008 and closed in 2023. Now due to be demolished. [1]

Transport

Situated alongside the A14 road at Junction 8, which links the A1, M1 and M6, the centre has over 600 car parking places.

Rail services operated by East Midlands Railway depart every 30 minutes from Kettering to St Pancras International railway station, with an average journey time on the Midland Main Line of 59 minutes.[3] St Pancras also provides an interchange with the Eurostar service to France and Belgium. Kettering is linked to Corby, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield to the north and Wellingborough, Bedford, Luton to the south.[4]

References
  1. "Kettering Conference Centre". Kettering Borough Council. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  2. "National Volleyball Centre". Volleyball England. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  3. "East Midlands Trains: Midland Main Line (London services) Timetable" (PDF). East Midlands Trains - Stagecoach Group plc. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
  4. "East Midlands Trains: Network Map". East Midlands Trains - Stagecoach Group plc. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.

52°23′14.78″N 0°44′8.36″W

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