The Sands Centre

One of the leading entertainment, conference, sports and music venues in the North West, The Sands Centre offers a great variety of settings and quality facilities unrivalled in the region. From large-scale corporate events and national music and comedy tours, to traditional community events and thrilling live sport, The Sands Centre welcomes over 735,000 visitors every year - and is the perfect home for your next event.

We’re proud that The Sands plays a central role in community events in Carlisle and Cumbria. From regional sporting events and jubilee concerts, to Christmas light switch-ons and the annual seasonal pantomime, we’re delighted to be a hub of activity and entertainment for the people of a unique, historic city and the region beyond. Our relationships with businesses in the city mean we can provide great deals on additional services when required, including accommodation.

The Sands Centre is located on the banks of the River Eden, within easy reach of Carlisle city centre, with its many shops, pubs, restaurants and galleries, as well as its historic castle and cathedral.

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Main Hall

The Main Hall is the core setting at the heart of The Sands Centre. Regularly playing host to a variety of corporate functions, festivals and performances, the room is equipped to welcome an eclectic mix of event formats. Standing, the Main Hall has capacity for nearly 1,800 people, whilst seating can be provided for up to 1,400 guests.

The Hall has a wide variety of structural options that allow great flexibility for your event. Our team are experts in providing the perfect layouts for a range of events, including:

  • Cabaret
  • Fashion show
  • Conference
  • Christmas party
  • Dinner and dance

 

We will work with you to provide a shape and structure that suits your event - and most importantly, your guests - down to the ground.

We regularly host meetings and seminars, as well as staff away days, for a range of business clients. Our onsite catering team offer their wide-ranging experience in catering for large events, making them perfectly equipped to work with you and your team to provide the finest locally-sourced refreshment for your guests.

Spaces are available with simple ‘dry hire’ options, or our in-house team can provide both technical and practical assistance, with a range of lighting, sound and projection technology for hire.

The Centre also has a range of broadcast equipment ready to support your event, if you’re looking to share your work with the world. We also have backstage spaces, including dressing rooms and wardrobe facilities, ready to use and malleable to your specifications.

Essential information

Venue details and contact information

Address- Newmarket Road, CA1 1JQ

Phone- 01228 633766

Accessability- This venue is accessible and is adapted for wheelchairs as well as having access to disabled toilets and changing facilities. 

How to get here

By public transport- Located just five minutes drive and fifteen minutes walk from Carlisle railway station, The Sands Centre has direct rail links to London Euston (3 - 4 hours), Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester Airport.

By car- the M6 links Carlisle to both the Scottish borders and the cities of the North West, including Manchester and Liverpool, with the A69 skirting the North of the Pennines to Newcastle, Sunderland and Durham. This opens up the Sands Centre to national and international flights through Newcastle International Airport, just an hour’s drive away.