With its enviable location in the heart of Oxford, modern facilities and unique setting Keble College is an ideal destination for conferences and events. As one of the University of Oxford’s largest colleges, Keble can cater for almost any event from small meetings to large scale conferences with hundreds of delegates. Across its two sites the College offers over 350 ensuite rooms, giving guests the option of convenient, on-site accommodation to round off a truly memorable experience.
The main site boasts more than 150 years of history and is one of Oxford’s most interesting, historical and architectural landmarks. Visitors can admire the distinctive, red brick buildings designed by architect William Butterfield, wander the beautiful quads or discover Keble’s historical wonders such as the breath-taking Chapel and magnificent Dining Hall, the longest in Oxford, seating up to 300 guests.
The H B Allen Centre
The latest addition to Keble, located just 300 metres and a 5-minute walk north of the main site is the H B Allen Centre. A new and vibrant venue, it expands the conference offering with unique, multi-purpose buildings, modern facilities and flexible space. Named for Heather Barbara “Mickie” Allen, the founder of the H B Allen Charitable Trust, this exciting project was designed by award-winning architect, the late Rick Mather. Successfully honouring the past whilst celebrating the future, Mather’s design includes elements from the main College site, as well as a subtle nod to William Butterfield’s famous patterned brickwork.
Creative architecture and ingenious landscaping create a large foundation that hugs the perimeter, creating a sixth quad for the College. The quad not only provides a charming outdoor space for special events and marquees during the summer, but the beautiful landscaping and effective use of sunken gardens allows even lower-level rooms to be filled with natural light.
Conference Facilities
With an investment of £60 million, the 0.68-hectare site was the flagship of the College’s 150th Anniversary. Opened in 2019 by HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge it’s already an established venue. Known for its high-quality accommodation, spacious lecture theatre, multiple seminar rooms and a large exhibition/performance space, it’s guaranteed to enhance any event.
The Lecture Theatre offers Harvard style seating that can accommodate up to 100 people with state-of-the-art conference facilities including projectors, cameras and microphones. Each room provides hybrid functionality to allow video/audio recording for live streaming or for delegates to be involved remotely. The thoughtfully designed building also features two large common rooms and a range of seminar rooms, all in close proximity.
Catering to a variety of needs, the Glen Callater Room can be opened into a larger space or separated into individual seminar rooms alongside Mille’s and Minnie’s Rooms. Providing the perfect space for small meetings, breakouts and workshops, all rooms feature AV and WIFI accessibility, built in projection and sound facilities with mobile TV connectivity.
Location
The addition of the H B Allen Centre to Keble’s already impressive conference and events offering means that the College is ideally placed to accommodate all nature of events. Its location on the northern edge of Oxford city centre, provides easy access for delegates travelling from any area of England via bus, train or car, although it’s recommended that drivers utilise one of Oxford’s many Park & Ride hubs.
Aside from its convenient travel links, the H B Allen Centre offers on-site accommodation with over 100 commercially available ensuite bedrooms. Guests have the choice of double or studio rooms which include tea and coffee making facilities, towels, free WIFI and a generous selection of toiletries. All rooms are wheelchair accessible.
Catering
The H B Allen Centre also provides exceptional catering for events from simple refreshments at the Robin Geffen Cafeteria, to larger outdoor celebrations. With over 50 years of experience, Keble’s expert team pride themselves on their high standards of service and quality of food. Menus are tailored made, catering for all tastes and preferences to ensure that each experience exceeds expectations. To add that extra bit of magic, events at the H B Allen Centre can include lunch or dinner in Keble’s awe-inspiring Dining Hall, to ensure that Keble College will leave a lasting impression on delegates.
Whatever the requirements, Keble’s conference team draw from years of experience to ensure that your event is exactly as imagined. Their commitment to each and every booking is what makes the College so highly recommended. For more details on how to host your next event at the H B Allen Centre click here to enquire and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
