Didn't get into SIBS

FullCircle

FullCircle

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Didn\'t get into SIBS

We laid too long in bed, and suffered the traffic down to Southampton yesterday, arriving around 12:40. We then tried to get a parking spot for nearly 2 hours, avoiding the 10 quid a day lot. Found a Corporation Multi Storey miles up in to the town who wanted £7.80 for 6 hours parking. You needed coinage. No notes like you would find anywhere in Europe.
At that point I went Grumpy and have henceforth sworn off any further involvement with Southampton or its temporary attractions. Especially as I learn that my mates went to a Tits and Tyres show at Excel, and the parking was free.
To save the day, we went and had fun looking round the used boat show up at Bursledon, and were amazed to find that they all had been sprayed inside with either Eau de Diesel, Eau de Heads or some unrecognisable mixture including both. Also liked the preponderance of 70s mock tartan brown and beige upholstery. Found a Trapper 501 for a mate, so all was not lost on the day.
Roll on January.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Two hours trying to find parking probably cost as much in fuel as the difference in parking costs. If you do go again park in the big car park down Neptune Road (or is it Neptune Way?) near to Ocean Village. It only cost me £5 all day last Monday and was only £3.50 if you arrived before 9.30 AM.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Could have been worse. You could have spent hours trying to get to that dump in the docklands only to be surrounded by hordes of loud mouthed yuppies.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

[ QUOTE ]
Why not use the park & ride?

[/ QUOTE ]

Saved us a lot of bother - we found the family ticket (2 adults + 2 childeren + P&R) good value... considering.
Why we actually pay to visit companies who want to sell us stuff is still beyond me. Still, tried to get value for money (3 G&T's at the MOBO stand - revenge was sweet).
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Weekdays before 10am the car parks are half empty and cost a fraction of the Park and Ride.

I used to always go P&R as I assumed it must be a lot cheaper than the car parks. After three years of humping stuff on and off the buses I was less than impressed to find I could park a 100yds away for a fiver!
 
Re: Wow You didn\'t have to pay to get into SIBS

Reasons to be cheerful part one :
-Just imagine:You might have got inside and been guided by 'the force'' to go for the chequebook... then there's the post-purchase Guinness recovery programme available at a mere £3 a pop..(motto:'one is not quite enough')..
Reckon you got off lightly,maybe,all things considered...
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Park and Ride a long way and no advantage. The entire place was gridlock. Aged Mother called me to witter on about her computer packing up after her septuagenarian technicians had moved it for her. I got hungry and very very bored travelling at 0.6MPH around and past Sothamptons finest vistas.
Stuff the bloody lot of em.
For those who know, I was there last year and bagged a fine catch in the shape of my now delivered Jeanneau 35, so I was not alien to the concept prior to arrival.
I feel a deep soorrow for those who frequent the area, and more for those who live there..
Why do they have to restrict street parking bays to 1 hour?

The Ship at Burseldon replenished my faim with a nice chilli jacket and a pint of Cornish something or other.

The nay sayers have it correct when they prosite the negative in asking why I would travel 190 miles each way to pay for something that ought to be offered free, i.e. a collection of retail and manufacturers exhorting us to purchase their wares.

Now, if Excel increase the customer seating this coming years event, they will have my vote forever.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Couldn't agree more, having run retail operations its a retail show, but is run more like a family day out or theme park attraction. You pay loads for every thing from parking to beer.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Glad SWMBO and I went by train ...
a pleasant enough day out, but TBH we found it pretty much like last year's.
Mike
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Free would be nice but if it was then the place would be jam packed with all the sightseers who have no intention of buying anything.

Perhaps entrance could be by way of a book of vouchers for say £20, which could be used at all stands.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Only an Essex dweller would consider that Excel was a good venue for a Boat Show, or any other kind of show for that matter. As a Hampshire resident Southampton is by far a superior place. The move to Excel for the LBS was the biggest cock up going. From where I live I can get to the NEC Birmingham quicker than Excel & the NEC is a better venue. If you've ever exhibited at Excel its a pain in the A**e to set up too.

Martin
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

I live 30 miles from the centre of London and I can get to SIBS and back in the time it takes to get to the Excel centre.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

SIBS parking £3 all day, free after 13.30 - huge car park within 400 yards of show entrance
I posted this info twice before - shame you missed it
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

[ QUOTE ]
Why we actually pay to visit companies who want to sell us stuff is still beyond me. Still, tried to get value for money (3 G&T's at the MOBO stand - revenge was sweet).

[/ QUOTE ]

I've got an old show guide from 1976. Admission then was 50p for adults (free for OAPs like me), and the show guide cost 30p. I wonder what that comes to after allowing for inflation?
 
Weekdays much better...

Being tediously encumbered by employment my previous SIBS visits have been at the weekend and the combination of rugby-scrum crowds and stressed out exhibitors made it a less than pleasant experience - in fact I'd not been for a few years.

This year, I was able to go during the week and it was like a different event. Fewer people meant that you could get to look at pretty much everything and the 'boat people' were happy to chat for the pleasure of company! No doubt for me now that if I could only go at the weekend I wouldn't bother, but would certainly visit again if I could go during the week.

As for London (and SIBS for that matter), the trick for easy access is a little local knowledge so you can ignore the official directions and parking. Coming from south of the river, park at North Greenwich tube for £5 all day and its a couple of stops on the Jubilee Line and then DLR to get the show. From Brighton it takes me the same time to Excel as to Southampton.
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Earls Court was a dirty, filthy hovel of a place and I am glad they have moved to Excel. I live jus outside Chichester and managed to get to Excel in under 2 hours using public transport!
 
Re: Didn\'t get into SIBS

Bluechip,
I used your advice yesterday and was very pleased not to be spending the 8 quid for the park and ride, thanks. It seems a number of other people used it too as when we returned, they had a sign outside saying 'Car Park Full'.
 
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