The Derby Conference Centre
The Derby Conference Centre is a unique and versatile venue in the prime, central location of Derby. Close to East Midlands Airport, we are easily accessible from the M1 and M42 as well as being just 5 minutes away from both Derby railway stations and the Pride Park Business Park, home of Derby County FC.
Our beautiful Grade II listed building houses a fantastic array of conference rooms, meeting rooms, 50 en-suite hotel bedrooms and our self-catering accommodation available at the India House Hotel.
Once home to the British Rail Training College, our elegant exterior, art deco features and distinctive sunken lounge are the perfect backdrop for a corporate event or place to stay for a weekend away.
The Derby Conference Centre is committed to achieving environmental best practice throughout its business activities wherever practicable. The Derby Conference Centre recognises that economic growth, development and a healthy environment must be closely linked. View our Green Policy here!
We are fully accessible for wheelchair users and can cater for anyone with other specific access requirements. We have 4 disabled car parking spaces at the front of the venue, with a wheelchair ramp to enter the building. There is level access from the main entrance to an accessible toilet, restaurant and bar and 11 out of 12 meeting rooms, with a lift to access the sunken lounge.
We also have baby changing facilities and highchairs available.
Our local team share a passion for providing exceptional customer service and is committed to ensuring that your stay is a comfortable and pleasant one.
We look forward to welcoming you soon. Have a question? Look at our FAQ’s page to see if we can help!
For all enquiries please call our team on 01332 861842.
Meet our team
Reception Manager
Emma Chambers
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Head Chef
Ashley Mitchell
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Head Housekeeper
Nicola Holmes
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Assistant CF&B Manager
Josefa Smith
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Conference & Events Sales Executive
Jessica Fernie
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CF&B Supervisor
Demi-Leigh Brown
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Housekeeping Supervisor
Kelly Higgins
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Reception Supervisor
Lisa Taylor
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Our history
Constructed as the first purpose-built training college for railway staff, the building which now houses The Derby Conference Centre, first opened in 1938. Designed by William H. Hamlyn, who was the London Midland and Scottish Railway’s principal architect, it cost £50,000 to complete and was the first of its kind in the UK.
The School could accommodate up to fifty railway operatives and signallers at once, providing staff with a residential facility in the heart of Derby. For the next 20 years, the building was used to deliver training for the Royal Engineers and The Railway Engineering School.
In 1991, a specialist conference suite was built, extending the capacity of the building and the services that it could offer.
In 2007, the RTC Group, parent company of The Derby Conference Centre, set about transforming the building. The famous sunken lounge, bar, restaurant, conference suites and bedrooms were restored to their former glory, and the building was successfully re-launched as The Derby Conference Centre.
Our vision
Our vision as a hotel, conference and events venue is to charm the customer whilst exceeding their expectation and delivering excellence to a UK-wide audience. Our vision wouldn’t be complete without our mission and customer commitment.
At The Derby Conference Centre, we have a mission to be an organisation that can bring people together by providing a flexible and diverse range of services that offer value for money. We have a commitment to our customers to ensure a high standard and consistency within our services. From the development of our team to the quality of our facilities, we commit to exceeding your needs on every occasion.
Local attractions
There is an abundance of things to do in Derby, from watching football at Pride Park Stadium, shopping at the Intu Centre, to wining, dining at the local bars, restaurants and clubs. There’s also a selection of cinemas, bowling alleys, and more! If you wanted something more outdoorsy, there’s a variety of different parks including Alvaston Park (just a 5 minute walk away!), walks and sporting activities that you can partake in close by!
You can also take a look at the Visit Derby website here, which details the great Arts and Culture we have in Derby for you to visit on your trip.
If you want to know information on the local surroundings during your stay, our team will be happy to point you in the right direction!