Today's update
Lol, I was looking around Manchester on Google Maps (trying to figure out where the Fallowfield Campus is) when I noticed a large campus belonging to the Univeristy of Salford.
They have a 500 seat LT for only £750+VAT/day (the Chapman Building), which is very reasonable, together with a 200 seat LT and plenty of smaller rooms. They also have a low day rate at £21+VAT. However they can only accommodate 248 people on site :-(. I've rung them and they are putting together a quote for us, and will e-mail me it.
I also managed to get through to Brum (eventually), only to be told one organiser was on holiday and the other was in a meeting for the rest of the day. Will try *again* tomorrow...
Finally, Reading got back to me by e-mail (*still* no phone number, lol!). They can offer a newly-refurbished building including 400 and 150 seat LTs, lots of computer rooms and class rooms, coffee bar, full AV gear, WiFi etc *in the same building* + all the accommodation we want right next door. No prices for room hire in the e-mail though, so I've asked for a quote. But as they offer the cheapest accommodation they are looking strong at the moment.
Dan