Freight Island hosts private events of 30 to 1,000 guests in seven separate spaces, from a 30-person gallery to an open-air area for up to 1,000 standing. The venue sits in Depot Mayfield, directly behind Manchester Piccadilly station. It accepts conferences, exclusive hire, team building days and product launches.
Seminars and company events
The venue lists conferences, team building and product launches among its event types, and its private hire page also mentions away days, networking events, brand activations and informal conferences. Several rooms have their own bar, and the Sports Bar has large-format screens and a private entrance, which suits presentations in a relaxed setting. Each private hire space requires a booking fee. Groups of 20 or more are handled through the enquiry form, and so are enquiries for 8 or more guests who only want drinks and food from the on-site vendors.
Rooms and capacities
The Platform sits above the main concourse. It holds 350 seated or 900 standing and has a private bar and an open-plan layout. The Plant Room holds 300, has natural light and its own bar, and is described for workshops, brand activations, networking and private dining. The Sports Bar takes up to 700 and has its own entrance and exclusive bar. The Outside is an open-air area for up to 1,000 standing, with a bar, a stage and a DJ box. The Terrace holds 100 and works for smaller receptions or as a breakout space next to a larger event. The Viewing Gallery holds 30 for private dining. Casa Pomelo holds 40 and has its own bar.
These figures let an organiser combine spaces: a plenary in the Platform, workshops in the Plant Room, and a drinks reception on the Terrace. Virtual tours are available on the official site for each space.
Catering
Freight Island is a multi-vendor food and drink venue, with barbecue, Brazilian open-fire cooking, West African dishes, pizza slices, Venezuelan arepas and desserts among the current vendors. The official page says that private hire menus can be discussed through the enquiry form, so confirm with the team how food is organised for your group.
History and setting
The site is a former industrial complex in Depot Mayfield, surrounded by historic industrial architecture according to the venue. Today it runs as a cultural hub for food, drink and entertainment, with DJs, live sport and a Christmas programme.
Getting there
The venue is a short walk behind Manchester Piccadilly station, which makes it simple for guests arriving by train from across the UK. Guests from other parts of Greater Manchester can use the same station.
