Friday, April 07, 2006

Manchester Serves the Tories Well - Next Stop Cardiff?

Running a conference at a new venue is always a risk. But Manchester has proved an inspired choice for the Conservative Spring Forum. The venue is excellent, commfortable and even has spotlessly clean loos - unlike the disgustingly filthy toilets at Bournemouth's BIC or the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The staff here couldn't be more helpful and friendly. The hotels are also reasonably priced and clustered around the conference centre. My only previous trip to the city was to see West Ham beat Man U 1-0 at Old Trafford and I thought no return trip could live up to that, so until now I haven't been back. So well done to those at CCO who had the balls to take a flyer on Manchester - it's paid off. A tip for next year - try Cardiff!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

How does Manchester compare to Tunbridge Wells? The beer is better, the football is better (apart from Man City of course), the accents are nicer and best of all - it is pretty much a Tory MP free city.

By the way Iain, I believe your lot now refer to it as CCHQ and not CCO.

Donal Blaney said...

Will you be checking out the Cardiff hotels when West Ham get to the FA Cup Final, Iain?

Bob Piper said...

Well.... I don't want to be sectarian here Iain, as you well know, but isn't it true that the Tories don't have ANY councillors in Manchester? Of course the place is well run. Perhaps next year you will visit Birmingham and see what a shambles Mike Whitby's Tories (propped up by their little yellow friends) have made of the City over the last two years. Barely a single positive move in two wasted years.

David Morton said...

I attended the 2002 lib dem conference here.

I think you are playing catch up.

Anonymous said...

Next year's Spring Forum is supposed to be in Nottingham - in the City Centre.

Manchester was very welcoming and a good venue - that's mighty praise from a scouser turned southerner.