The festival is held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, consisting of a theatre, conference centre and arena. There has been a theatre at the site since 1894.  Originally named the Victoria Palace, it was only intended to be a temporary building but became a landmark on the promenade for over 100 years.

In 1915 the theatre was bought by Wil Caitlin and renamed the Arcadia.  The Arcadia hosted 1147 seats and was the only one of Llandudno’s six theatres to stand the test of time.

In 1982 the Aberconwy Centre opened next door to the Arcadia theatre. It hosted conference space for over 1000 delegates as well as a squash centre, sun beds and badminton facilities!

In 1994 the curtain dropped on the Arcadia, the Aberconwy Centre was redeveloped and re-named, and the North Wales Theatre and Conference Centre was born.  It consisted of a 1500 seat auditorium. The adjoining centre provided a host of conference facilities including the 700 square meter hall.

The original Arcadia theatre was forgotten and lay derelict until July 2005 when workmen broke ground on a £10.7 million project to enhance and re-develop the facilities at the centre.  Where the Arcadia once stood, a new conference atrium was built.

To the west of the existing building another new extension was added providing a café bar, restaurant, office space and improved box office facility.  The enhancement was funded by Conwy County Borough Council and its partners.

The centre demanded a new, shorter and bilingual name.  In 2005 a competition was launched to rename the complex. Venue Cymru was officially opened in 2007 and has been described as the beginning of a new era for entertainment, conferencing and events in Llandudno.

For more information visit www.venuecymru.co.uk