Location

The venue is a 15 minute walk from New Street Station and is within a 4 hour drive of 90% of the UK. Parking is close by. For full details of travel visit here

Accessibility

We are pleased to share that the venue for our conference, The Eastside Rooms, has been designed with full accessibility in mind. Here are some of the key features you can expect:

• Dedicated lifts that are wide enough for wheelchair users and their carers.
• Induction loop facilities available at all reception desks, the main Affinity Suite, and selected meeting rooms.
• Accessible toilets on every floor.
• The venue is proud to host a full Changing Places facility, one of the few in Birmingham.
• Wider corridors and entry points to facilitate easy wheelchair access.
• The venue staff are fully trained and have undertaken disability awareness training.

The adjoining hotel, Aloft Birmingham Eastside, offers 10 accessible bedrooms, with one featuring a full hoist from bed to bathroom for added convenience.

For further details on the venue’s accessibility features, please visit their accessibility page here.

Dietary requirements

If you have any access or dietary requirements, please inform us by emailing comms@wes.org.uk no later than 10 April. It is essential to pre-book all special dietary needs with the venue.

Please note, we cannot guarantee the availability of suitable options if arrangements are not made in advance. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be provided exclusively to those who have notified us beforehand.

Multi-Faith Room and Quiet Room

We are dedicated to ensuring that everyone feels comfortable at this year’s annual conference. To accommodate this, we have arranged for a Multi-faith Room and a separate Quiet Room at the venue. Both rooms will be located on the 1st floor, easily accessible via wheelchair-friendly lifts, and clearly signposted for your convenience.

These rooms will be available throughout the conference for anyone with religious observances or those seeking a tranquil space.

Should you require assistance locating these rooms, please do not hesitate to approach a WES staff member or a venue staff member, who will be more than happy to guide you.

We hope these facilities will enhance your conference experience.

Programme & Proceedings guide

The most up to date programme is here

The Final Proceedings Guide is here