National Motorcycle Museum plans special events to mark 30th anniversary
THE National Motorcycle Museum is to mark its 30th anniversary with a series of special events, including a pop-up gallery celebrating the history of the motorcycle.
Other events include screenings of key British races, such as the GB MotoGP, while the pop-up gallery will feature work from artists, art students and local schoolchildren.
A venue showcase event will also be held, targeting corporate event bookers, agents and wedding planners. Visitors will have the chance to see and hear the Mighty Wurlitzer organ, which rises out of the stage floor in the museum’s Imperial Suite.
The 30th anniversary celebrations will continue throughout 2014, ending the year with 80s-themed parties over the Christmas season.
Over the last 30 years, the museum has grown from a private collection of 200 motorbikes into the largest motorcycle museum in the world, with a collection of 950 machines and over 250,000 visitors each year. Alongside this, the business has also grown into a successful conference centre holding approximately 1,200 events with over 200,000 delegates per year, with clients including Coca Cola, Santander and BP.
As the museum, which employs 200 people, has grown, the family-owned and operated company has kept its business values at the fore. As much as 85% of its business comes from repeat custom.
The directors also try to keep staff morale high, and this it said this was reflected both in the staff turnover rate, which has been less than 1% in the last year, and key team members, including the museum’s executive chef, Steve Price, remaining with the organisation for more than 25 years.
One of the major successes of the last three decades was the museum’s recovery after a fire devastated 75% of the building in September 2003. Around 400 machines were damaged but it re-opened its doors in just over a year. The conference and banqueting facilities were also rebuilt during this period.
Nick Hartland, director of the National Motorcycle Museum, said: “The motorcycle industry is one of Britain’s great engineering achievements and at the museum we strive to give visitors a comprehensive history, and keep our stunning collection of machines in top condition. We work hard to ensure our visitors have a fantastic experience.”
