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Venue Type
Conference Centre
City
Haywards Heath
Region
South East
Standing
1250
theatre
1250
dinner
650
bedrooms
0
About
South of England Event Centre
Set within 150 acres of Sussex countryside near Haywards Heath, the South of England Event Centre is a large-scale, multi-purpose venue designed for conferences, exhibitions, training events, team-building programmes and public events. With extensive indoor halls, meeting rooms and expansive outdoor grounds, it offers significant flexibility for organisers requiring space, scale and logistical capacity.
The venue is best suited to high-volume corporate, training and exhibition-led events, prioritising capacity, infrastructure and outdoor flexibility over boutique finishes or city-centre convenience.
Event Spaces
The South of England Event Centre offers a broad selection of indoor conference halls, meeting rooms and adaptable event spaces, supporting programmes ranging from formal plenary sessions and breakout-led conferences to exhibitions and large-scale public events.
With over 6,000 sqm of indoor event space, multiple meeting rooms accommodating up to 400 delegates theatre-style, and extensive outdoor areas, the venue is well equipped for multi-stream agendas, large delegate volumes and operationally complex formats.
Its layout is particularly effective for training days, conferences, exhibitions, corporate away days and team-building programmes, rather than intimate, design-led or luxury social events.
Facilities and Services
Operating as a high-capacity event campus, the venue provides infrastructure designed to support large delegate numbers and complex event logistics, including:
Large-scale indoor event halls and conference rooms
Multiple breakout and training spaces
Expansive outdoor event and activity areas
Extensive on-site parking (up to 6,000 vehicles)
Free WiFi across the venue
Flexible catering options for corporate and public events
Strong road access and logistical capacity
The venue is designed for scale, throughput and operational delivery, rather than premium hospitality or experiential event production.
Ideal For
Located at South of England Showground, Selsfield Road, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL, the South of England Event Centre is set within 150 acres of Sussex countryside in the heart of the South East. Despite its rural setting, the venue enjoys excellent transport connections, sitting just 20 minutes from Gatwick Airport and with convenient access to the M23, M25 and surrounding motorway network.
Haywards Heath Station is approximately 15 minutes away by car or taxi, offering direct rail services to London Victoria, London Bridge, Brighton and Gatwick Airport, making the venue easily accessible for delegates travelling from across the UK. The venue also benefits from free on-site parking for up to 6,000 vehicles, including coach parking, providing excellent accessibility for large-scale conferences, exhibitions and outdoor events.
Key Features
Large-scale indoor conference and exhibition facilities
Multiple meeting rooms for up to 400 delegates
Over 150 acres of outdoor event space
Parking capacity for up to 6,000 vehicles
Strong motorway, rail and airport access
Suitable for conferences, training, exhibitions and team-building
High-capacity infrastructure for public and corporate events
Large-scale indoor conference and exhibition facilities
Multiple meeting rooms for up to 400 delegates
Over 150 acres of outdoor event space
Parking capacity for up to 6,000 vehicles
Strong motorway, rail and airport access
Suitable for conferences, training, exhibitions and team-building
High-capacity infrastructure for public and corporate events
Why Hire
The South of England Event Centre offers scale, flexibility and logistical strength in a countryside setting. It is a pragmatic option for organisers delivering high-volume conferences, exhibitions, training programmes and large outdoor events that require space, accessibility and operational capacity.
For corporate, public and large-scale events in the South East, it provides a robust, adaptable and capacity-driven venue solution.
Capabilities
Venue Features
Venue Tech
Venue Catering
Venue Gallery
Location
Location and Access
Located near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, the venue benefits from convenient access to the M23 and M25, with Gatwick Airport approximately 20 minutes away. Haywards Heath station offers direct rail links to London, Brighton and Gatwick, making it accessible for both regional and national delegates.
Its countryside setting provides space, privacy and flexibility, while remaining within practical reach of London and the South East.
London Gatwick Airport | 7.9 miles
Balcombe Station | 2.1 miles
Haywards Heath Station | 3.4 miles
VENUE INFO
Event spaces
7
meeting rooms
13
bedrooms
0
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