EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
CHECK-IN INFORMATION
Festival reception will be in the entrance to the conference suite and opens from 9am on the first day. Please book in to collect your programme and lanyards and you are all set.
ACCOMMODATION
Rooms at the Venue can be booked at a special reduced rate.
After booking your event tickets you will receive a welcome email with a special event booking code for accommodation and further information.
Accessible rooms are available on the ground floor as there is no lift to the upper level. Please request these if needed at the time of booking.
There is FREE parking at the venue but please check with the Hotel Reception to see if you need to register your car on arrival.
There is a multi-gender/disabled toilet in the reception area and regular toilets up the stairs near the disabled toilet from the conference suite.
There are also toilets in the hotel reception – opposite the entrance to the conference suite.
TRAVEL
The nearest rail station is DONCASTER (mainline from London) and taxis from Doncaster are frequent and easy with a taxi rank office at the station. Via car, the hotel is situated on Junction 36 of the A1. There is plenty of free parking. Postcode is: DN4 9UX
FOOD AND DRINK AT THE VENUE
Snacks and meals are available in the hotel restaurant and bar. We also have a dedicated bar in the conference suite reception for your convenience.
EXTRAS
Buffet Dinner is available on the Saturday evening. Come and join us in the main restaurant and take advantage of this excellent offer. MUST be booked and paid for prior to the event to secure a place.
THE GALA DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY
This is on the SUNDAY evening.
6pm - Red carpet photos followed by networking drinks
7pm – Take your seats.
7.15pm – dinner service begins
Live Music/Entertainment during dinner
8.45pm – Awards begin after dinner
12pm – Carriages
DRESS CODE
Black Tie/Dress to Impress.
HAVING ANY ISSUES OR QUERIES?
Speak to the Event team who will be happy to answer your queries. The Organisers are also on hand during the whole event to answer questions.
First Aid is available at the Hotel Reception desk. Please speak to a member of the Hotel Team
OUR GREEN AGENDA
The choice of Venue was considered carefully. Holiday Inn (part of IHG) is committed to doing business responsibly. They are working towards reducing their carbon footprint with a goal of net zero by 2050. In addition to this they have a firm commitment to the reduction of their emissions by 46% by 2030. The hotels use the Green engage system to manage waste, energy and water and monitor carbon intensity. They have also introduced LED lighting and renewable energy sources. Hotel patrons are also encouraged to recycle in the hotel rooms and to reuse towels wherever possible. This fitted in well with the ethos and values of our event.
No disposable cups or plates are used during the event.
We aim to minimise waste, but any waste accumulated with be recycled responsibly wherever possible.
The event is virtually paper free with the use of digital media throughout.
Plastic name badges and lanyards are used for the event, however these are collected at the end and re-used for the next year.
The management team has a waste champion appointed who leads our green initiative. They have assessed the venue, organised recycling and waste and will oversee this process during the event
HARASSMENT POLICY
All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at Sykehouse Film and Writers’ Festival are required to agree with the following policy. Organisers will enforce this policy throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
HARASSMENT POLICY
All attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at Sykehouse Film and Writers’ Festival are required to agree with the following policy. Organisers will enforce this policy throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Harassment includes offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention.
If anyone engages in harassing behaviour, the organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of Sykehouse Festival staff immediately.
Sykehouse Festival staff will be happy to help anyone contact venue security or local police, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.
We expect everyone (including guests, organisers, venue staff, and attendees) at this event to follow this policy at all times.
FAQs
1. Can I record any sessions?
Professional recording equipment is not permitted in any of the rooms. No talks or discussion panels may be recorded at all. Any on-stage footage captured over the weekend is not authorised for public use and must not be loaded to YouTube or Social Media accounts. This is to comply with legal requirements around the appearance of the guests and entertainers.
2. Where can I get a Drink?
Alcohol and soft drinks are served in bar in the conference suite and the main hotel bar and restaurant.
3.Where can I get some food?
The main restaurant and the main bar at the hotel have meals and snacks at a reasonable price. Please be aware you may need to book a table at busier times. We are also having a lovely buffet evening on Saturday and of course the fabulous Gala Dinner and Awards ceremony on the Sunday Night.
4. Are there any dress codes?
Only for the Gala Dinner where we expect our guests to Dress to Impress at our black-tie event.
5. Can I smoke at the venue?
No smoking inside the venue but there are designated outside seating areas for your use.
6. Can I get internet access?
Free public access Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
7. What do I do if there is a fire alarm?
Keep calm and leave the building through one of the many fire exits, and go directly to the designated evacuation area.
Please note that everything announced at Sykehouse Festival is on a best endeavours basis. We reserve the right to change the schedule, timings, events and activities depending on circumstances as they arise. All guests appear subject to other commitments. We will do our best to keep attendees informed as to what is happening, and of course regret if anyone is disappointed if they miss their favourite actor or find that an activity they were looking forward to is not taking place.