Students tour top Manchester venues

Second Year Event and Hospitality students visited Gorton Monastery and Manchester City Football Club during Our UCLan week as part of their International Corporate Hospitality and Business Events module.

Elaine Griffiths MBE, CEO of Gorton Monastery, welcomed the group and gave an interesting overview of the history of the building, its restoration and its strategy for engaging with the local community.

This was followed by an entertaining presentation by the Monastery Operations Manager, who explained the logistics behind organising a wedding, reception and evening event in this beautiful and iconic venue.

After lunch the group moved on to Manchester City FC where they enjoyed a stadium tour taking in the trophy room, press room, dressing rooms (where the kit was set out ready for the following night's UEFA Champion’s League match against CSKA Moscow), the tunnel and the pitch.

The Manchester United supporters amongst the group had to endure some gentle ribbing from our guide, especially as City had beaten them the previous day. A look at the kitchens and two of the executive dining rooms and a short presentation about the hospitality operation completed the trip.

Rod Train, Events Course Leader, said: "The visits gave students the opportunity to experience two very contrasting venues and to hear first hand from industry professionals about the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis."