Location
Have questions about the Brass Band Conference? You’ve come to the right page!
Venue & directions
Where is the Conference taking place?
This year’s Brass Band Conference will be held at the Durham Miners’ Association Hall in Durham city centre. The full address is:
The Miners Hall
Flass Street
Durham
DH1 4BE
How do I get there?
By train:
Durham Railway Station is about a 10-minute walk from the Miners’ Hall and is served by regular train services from across the UK. A taxi rank is located right next to the station.
By bus:
The closest bus stop is Durham Bus Station (North Road), which is about a 6-minute walk from the Miners’ Hall. This stop is served by a range of local and regional services, including longer routes with direct links from Newcastle, Sunderland, South Shields, and other surrounding areas.
By park and ride:
There are three Park and Ride sites on the key routes into Durham city - Belmont (PR1), Sniperley (PR1) and Howlands Farm (PR2), for more information head to the council’s website Durham City Park and Ride - Durham County Council. Please note the last Park and Ride buses running are at 18:30, with car parks closing at 19:00.
By car:
Durham is easily accessible by road via the A1(M) (Junction 62) and the A690, which leads directly into the city centre.
We encourage everyone to use public transport to reach us where possible.
Is there on-site parking?
There is no parking on-site at the Miners’ Hall, but several public car parks are available nearby, including Prince Bishops Place, The Sands MSCP, and Walkergate. Please be aware that charges may apply and parking spaces may not always be available.
Event timings & registration
When should I arrive for the Conference?
The Conference will take place on Saturday 27 September. Registration opens at 9:30am, with complimentary teas and coffees available on arrival. We kindly ask that you do not arrive before this time, as our team will be preparing the venue and welcome desk.
Registration upon arrival will take place at the reception desk near the main entrance.
What is the schedule for the day?
Conference sessions will run throughout the day, with a scheduled lunch break from 12:45pm to 1:30pm. A full programme, including individual session timings, is attached at the bottom of this page or can be found here.
From 4:30pm, delegates are invited to join us for an evening drinks reception and Awards Ceremony, which will run until 6:30pm. Please ensure you have purchased an appropriate ticket if you wish to attend the Awards!
Tickets & pricing
|
Ticket Type |
Conference & Awards Ceremony |
Conference Only |
Awards Ceremony Only |
|
BBE Member |
£25.00 |
£25.00 |
£10.00 |
|
Non-Member |
£50.00 |
£50.00 |
£25.00 |
|
Under 23 |
FREE |
FREE |
FREE |
Under 16s are welcome and encouraged to attend but must be accompanied by an adult who must also have booked a ticket.
Accessibility
We aim to make the Conference welcoming and accessible to everyone. If you have any access needs that we need to be aware of for us to support the event, including any dietary requirements, please email conference@bbe.org.uk prior to the event.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
The conference will be held across the ground and first floors of the Miners' Hall, with both levels fully accessible via lift or ramps.
Are there accessible toilets available?
There will be four unisex toilets available on the ground floor of the venue.
Awards Ceremony
What are the Brass Bands England Awards?
The Awards recognise individuals and organisations that have made an exceptional contribution to brass banding. Be it through inspiring young people, tireless dedication, leading imaginative creative projects and collaborations, or bringing about positive social change. There is plenty to be celebrated!
What categories are there?
The six categories are as follows:
- Band Project of the Year
- Brass Band Conductor, supported by the Brass Band Conductors’ Association
- Green Hero
- (NEW) Rising Star
- Services to Youth
- Young Bandsperson
More information on the individual awards can be found on the Awards page.
How are the winners decided? Can I vote?
With exception to Band Project of the Year, award winners are chosen via judging panels best suited to the category.
Unfortunately the public voting deadline for Band Project of the Year has passed for the 2025 awards. However, you are encouraged to take part in next year’s vote and join us in celebrating this year’s shortlisted projects at the Awards Ceremony.
Can I sponsor an award?
Sponsorships are greatly appreciated and play a valuable role in supporting the Awards Ceremony and showcasing the achievements of our banding community.
If you’re interested in sponsoring an award, please contact Sarah Baumann at events@bbe.org.uk to discuss the available opportunities.
Travel bursaries
To help keep The Brass Band Conference accessible to bands across the country, we are pleased to be able to offer a limited number of travel bursaries for this year’s event.
Who can apply for a travel bursary?
Travel bursaries are available to individuals who either hold an individual BBE Membership or are part of a BBE Member Band based in England. Due to funding restrictions, support is only available this year for bands located in England. Priority will be given to attendees aged under 23.
Not sure if your band is a member? Contact us at info@bbe.org.uk.
What’s available?
Depending on your proximity from Durham, those who meet the above eligibility can apply for:
|
Distance from Durham |
Bursary amount |
|
Within 75 miles |
£50.00 |
|
Within 100 miles |
£75.00 |
|
Over 100 miles |
£100.00 |
What can the travel bursary cover?
Bursary funds are to be put towards rail fare or mileage at a cost of £0.25 per mile. Where rail fare or mileage is less than the bursary given, we will only reimburse up to the cost of the fare. Reimbursement is made after the event upon submission of receipts.
The bursary cannot be used for hotels or taxis. As Durham train station is a ten minute walk from the venue, we ask that delegates travel by train where possible.
How do I apply for a travel bursary?
You can apply for a travel bursary here.
Bursaries are limited and funds are not guaranteed, however, should you apply for a bursary and be unsuccessful we will try to prioritise you or members of your band should support for future events become available. We expect to be able to offer 6 - 10 bursaries for 2025, only available to BBE members. Depending on application numbers, we may choose to limit bursaries to one per band.
A valid Conference ticket will be required to attend the event. A limited number of places will be held for prospective bursary recipients to purchase on confirmation of bursary funding.
When is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is Monday 1 September at 9:00am. Successful applicants will be contacted that week and funds will be granted in October, after the Conference, on submission of relevant travel receipts.
Facilities & extras
Will there be food available on the day?
Food will be available to purchase on-site from Cheese and Pickle Catering, provided by Redhills Durham. There will also be teas and coffees available throughout the day.
If you have any dietary requirements you’d like us to be aware of, please email conference@bbe.org.uk prior to the event.
Still have a question?
For any further questions, please email Chloe at chloe@bbe.org.uk or call 01226 771015.
