Venue at a glance
Banks Homes Riverside is the home of Durham Cricket and operates year-round as a multi-purpose events venue for conferences, exhibitions, weddings, celebrations, hospitality events, and large outdoor productions. The venue combines contemporary indoor event suites with stadium-scale outdoor capability, including a 4-acre pitch and surrounding concourse suitable for concerts, festivals, and public events.
Its setting on the riverbank at Chester-le-Street, with views towards Lumley Castle and surrounding countryside, gives it a more open and scenic feel than a typical city conference venue. The stadium has a cricket-day capacity of around 15,000, while outdoor event and concert capacity on the pitch ranges from 1,000 to 20,000 or more depending on format.
Positioned between Durham and Newcastle close to the A1(M), the venue is supported by an events team with more than 30 years of event management experience and has previously hosted performers including Elton John, Rod Stewart, and Little Mix.
Why choose this venue
The Geoff Cook Suite runs the length of the pavilion with a 160-foot glass frontage overlooking the cricket ground and riverbank. The Castle View Suite adds direct sightlines towards the 18th-century Lumley Castle, creating a setting that feels more distinctive than a standard hotel ballroom.
The venue can accommodate everything from a small executive meeting through to a 20,000-capacity outdoor concert. Indoor and outdoor spaces can also operate alongside each other, which suits multi-format events with exhibitions, hospitality, and entertainment running side by side. Confirm simultaneous indoor and outdoor operation for your specific event with the venue.
Banks Homes Riverside sits between Durham and Newcastle, close to the A1(M), with rail connections via Chester-le-Street station. For organisations drawing attendees from across the North East corridor, including Sunderland, Gateshead, and Newcastle, it is easier to access than many rural country house venues.
The four Meeting Lounges each have their own private bar and operate as completely separate spaces, making them particularly useful for breakout sessions, VIP hosting, workshops, intimate dinners, or parallel meetings during larger conferences.
The venue publishes clear Day Delegate Rates online, which makes early-stage budgeting easier for organisers comparing venues. Published DDR packages currently start from £29.95 per person.
Planning details
Best for
- Large conferences and awards events
- Corporate away days
- Exhibitions and product showcases
- Outdoor festivals and concerts
- Weddings with scenic views
- Proms and graduation celebrations
- Sports hospitality
- Large Christmas parties
- Public-facing community events
Less suited to
- Small luxury residential retreats requiring on-site accommodation
- Ultra-private countryside exclusives away from public infrastructure
- Events requiring highly detailed in-house production specifications published upfront
- Micro-events seeking boutique townhouse or heritage interiors
Catering
- Model Catering is provided by Thomas Franks, appointed as the venue's catering partner from 1 January 2026, taking over food, beverage, and hospitality services previously managed in-house. Thomas Franks is a UK family-owned contract caterer with a sport and leisure division. Styles include Day Delegate packages, finger buffets, fork buffets, hot buffet lunches, three-course wedding breakfasts, celebration catering, and matchday hospitality catering.
- External Not published online. Confirm external catering policy with venue.
- Bars Card-only bar service is referenced within party packages, and major matchdays operate cashless across the venue. Each Meeting Lounge and the larger suites include a private bar.
- Dietary Dietary and allergen policies are not published online and should be confirmed directly with the venue.
Accessibility
- Features Step-free access to key areas of the venue
- Details Wheelchair-accessible routes throughout, including viewing areas, hospitality and event spaces, toilets, and food and drink outlets
- Dedicated accessible seating with companion seating nearby
- Accessible toilets signposted throughout
- Details Changing Places facility (height-adjustable adult changing bench, ceiling track hoist, accessible toilet, spacious changing area)
- Sensory room with views of the action
- Multi-faith room
- Visually impaired commentary service (volunteer-led, ball-by-ball)
- Hearing loop system in the Club Shop
- Details Accessible parking for Blue Badge holders, within the grounds and nearby, subject to availability
- Lowered access window at the Gate 2 Box Office
- Quiet entrance available via Gate 0 on request
- Caveat Most accessibility provision is described in a matchday context, so organisers booking private events should confirm which provisions apply to their event. The Changing Places room, sensory room, and accessible parking are limited in capacity and should be arranged in advance. Hearing loop provision in event spaces, lift access between floors, and the number of dedicated wheelchair bays were not confirmed in venue material. Accessibility contact: box.office@durhamcricket.co.uk or 0191 387 1717.
Sustainability
- Details The venue references EV charging on site and has run reusable cup schemes at public events. Thomas Franks, the catering partner, is a certified B Corp. A formal venue sustainability policy or accreditation framework is not currently published online and should be requested directly if required for CSR reporting or procurement documentation.
Pricing notes
- Day Delegate Rate
- Standard package (room hire, projector and screen, flip chart, pad and pen, tea and coffee, artisan sandwiches, four finger buffet items) from £29.95 per person
- Upgraded package (as standard with upgraded refreshments, six finger buffet items or a fork buffet) from £34.95 per person
- Premium package (as upgraded with a hot fork lunch, mineral water and juice with lunch) from £39.95 per person
- Hot buffet upgrade from £1.50 per person
- Note Wedding and party package pricing should be confirmed against the venue's current wedding and party material.
Space combinations
- Geoff Cook Suite + Meeting Lounges Conferences with breakout sessions
- Castle View Suite + Executive Boxes Weddings and VIP hospitality
- Pitch + Concourse + Indoor Suites Festivals, concerts, and large-scale public events
- Geoff Cook Suite + Executive Boxes Corporate conferences with executive hosting
Wedding notes
- Ceremonies Whether the venue holds a civil ceremony licence, and whether outdoor ceremonies on the pitch or concourse are licensed, should be confirmed directly with the venue.
- Scale The Castle View Suite is particularly well suited to weddings, with a banquet capacity of 120 and views towards Lumley Castle.
- Notes Banks Homes Riverside markets weddings and wedding receptions with all-inclusive packages and reception options. The Castle View Suite is particularly well suited due to its views towards Lumley Castle and softer interior styling. Packages typically include event coordination, catering, and styling options depending on tier.
Compare event spaces
Geoff Cook Suite
The venue's flagship conference and gala suite with panoramic stadium views The Geoff Cook Suite stretches along the pavilion with a continuous 160-foot glass frontage overlooking the cricket…
Pairs well with Meeting Lounges (x4), Executive Boxes (x15)
Castle View Suite
A contemporary event suite overlooking Lumley Castle The Castle View Suite has a more boutique feel than the Geoff Cook Suite, recently refurbished with new carpeting, fresh paint,…
Pairs well with Meeting Lounges (x4), Executive Boxes (x15)
Meeting Lounges (x4)
Self-contained pitch-facing lounges with private bars The venue includes four separate Meeting Lounges, each operating as its own private event space with a private bar, completely separate from…
Pairs well with Geoff Cook Suite
Executive Boxes (x15)
Private pitch-facing boxes for VIP meetings and hospitality The venue has 15 Executive Boxes overlooking the cricket pitch, each with access to an outdoor balcony. They are serviced…
Pairs well with Geoff Cook Suite, Castle View Suite
4-Acre Cricket Pitch
Stadium-scale outdoor space for concerts and public events The cricket pitch and surrounding stadium infrastructure support major outdoor productions including concerts, festivals, fireworks displays, and large-scale corporate events.…
Pairs well with Concourse and Car Parks
Concourse and Car Parks
Flexible hard-standing space for exhibitions and operational support The venue's concourse and parking areas can support exhibitions, vehicle showcases, catering villages, production compounds, and filming activity. The combination…
Pairs well with 4-Acre Cricket Pitch
Capacity matrix
| Space | Theatre | Boardroom | Dining | Cabaret | U-shape | Dinner Dance | Open Square | Exhibition Stands | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geoff Cook Suite | 300 | - | 220 | 200 | - | 200 | 50 | 50 | Ask |
| Castle View Suite | 100 | 40 | 120 | 80 | 40 | 100 | - | 14 | Ask |
| Meeting Lounges (x4) | 60 | 24 | 50 | 40 | 15 | 40 | - | 6 | Ask |
| Executive Boxes (x15) | - | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Ask |
Facilities and services
Facilities & Amenities
Getting there
Banks Homes Riverside is located in Chester-le-Street between Durham and Newcastle, close to the A1(M).
AddressChester-le-Street, Durham
PostcodeDH3 3QR
AreaChester-le-Street, North East England
Nearest stationChester-le-Street Station — ~15-20 min walk
Good forAwards and galas, Christmas parties, Conferences, Corporate events, Exhibitions, Meeting rooms
- Chester-le-Street Station ~15-20 min walk — services via Northern Rail, CrossCountry, and TransPennine Express (confirm current operators)
- On-site parking for up to 500 vehicles, including EV charging points, with overflow and nearby public parking available
- Close to the A1(M), between Durham and Newcastle
- Local bus services stop near the venue; matchday shuttle and park-and-ride services run for men's internationals
Frequently asked questions
Is Banks Homes Riverside good for conferences?
Yes. The venue is particularly strong for medium to large conferences, awards evenings, and corporate events. The Geoff Cook Suite accommodates up to 300 theatre-style delegates, while additional lounges and executive boxes support breakout sessions and smaller meetings.
Which space has the best views?
The Geoff Cook Suite has panoramic views across the cricket pitch and countryside through its full-length 160-foot glass frontage. The Castle View Suite is known for direct views towards Lumley Castle.
Can the whole venue be hired exclusively?
The venue supports large-scale takeovers across indoor and outdoor areas, including concerts and festivals. Confirm exact exclusive-use arrangements and minimum spends directly with the venue.
Is there outdoor event space?
Yes. The 4-acre cricket pitch and surrounding concourse can accommodate concerts, festivals, family fun days, food events, and public gatherings for between 1,000 and 20,000 or more attendees.
Does the venue include AV and WiFi?
Free WiFi is available throughout the venue. Projector, screen, flip chart, and pad and pen are included within published Day Delegate Rate packages. Additional AV capability should be confirmed with the venue.
How accessible is the venue?
The venue offers step-free access to key areas, wheelchair-accessible routes throughout, dedicated accessible seating with companion seating, accessible toilets, a Changing Places facility, a sensory room, a multi-faith room, a visually impaired commentary service, and accessible parking for Blue Badge holders. Most of this provision is described in a matchday context, so confirm what applies to private event hire.