Excel/Earls Court, you more/less likely to go?

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ari

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Just wondered whether this boat show move to Excel is going to make you more likely to go this year (brand new show, more exhibits etc) or less likely (problems with access etc)?

Curious as to whether the move is likely to increase the number of show goers or depress the numbers...?

Ari.

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It has always been beyond me why these huge centres are in the middle of cities like London. I am sure if they were more accessible, like just off a motorway they would get a far better response.

There is nothing worse than battling your way into London city....

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

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I didn't always go to LBS cos of fact that Earls Court was a dump, albeit reasonably easy to get to via train/tube.
Am going this year to see what the show is like at Excel and how "easy" it is to get to by public transport.
I think that there will probably be a considerable novelty attendance as this is Excel's first year.

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I think visitor numbers will be a little down simply because of the difficulty of reaching Excel by car or public transport and the lack of nearby hotel accomodation. I have tickets for Thursday and already I'm thinking whether I can be bothered to schlap round the M25 to see boats I already saw at Southampton
Personally, I think the Show should have moved to the NEC which is much more central in the UK and has excellent transport links

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why move it to brum, when most of the boating goes on down sarf? just do away with the london show completely and have two in sarfhamton.

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Because I suspect that boaters are spread more evenly around the country and on average it would take them less time to reach the NEC than Excel. I live about 40miles from Excel and about 90miles from the NEC and I know which one takes the longest to get to and it ain't the NEC

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My wife and i have driven from Glasgow to Earls court for the last 2 boat shows, but with the move to Excel, we thought we would give it a miss, as more awkward to get too. But i enquired about flights to London City Airport, and was surpriced at how cheap they were,
So this year we are going again, and we are flying down. Saves watching out for all the speed cameras. And i get to look at the brochures on the way home. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Cheers

Alistair.


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://arweb.co.uk/argallery/alistair?&page=1> My Pictures, Please take a look.</A>
 
As likely I think. Used to go to Earls Court fairly regularly and on a Sunday and would drive from Essex which is a bit of a nightmare. For me Excel should be much easier to get to by car. The proof of the pudding will be whether the parking is up to it!

AJ

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What , build a purpose built exhibition centre where its centrally located for the whole country, Build it next to a motorway, rail station, airport for access and with huge car parks....... No , far too logical




Theres a thought, its called the NEC

<hr width=100% size=1>Been there, done that, got the oily T shirt
 
I definately prefer ExCeL as it took me 15 minutes door to door just before xmas when I went to the Build-up. Best I could hope to do Earls Court in was 1.5 hours.
I think anyone travelling from the East will find the drive easy on the A13.
Anyone from the North easy on A1 & M11
From the South drive to the Dome and get the River Taxi across.
From the West its the M25 I'm afraid.
There are already Park and Ride Sites established near the venue apart from the 2 large carparks, and I believe 4 hotels very close (and 1 is floating and looks fantastic, just outside the East entrance).
Inside the place is fantastic, and absolutely enormous, and because the headroom is not as high as EC2 you do not need mountaineering gear to reach the top of the Sunseeker or Princess stands.
I will be there Thursday 8th if anyone wants to meet for a drink

Terry

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Last time I went to Excel to a bike show, there was a huge amount of parking there, I don't think that will be an issue.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

boat2.jpg

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I think the NEC would be excellent - the difficulty would be geting the bigger boats to the location - but they only allow "invited" guests onto the big boats anyway, so not many people would miss out.

But with Southampton covering the South should focus on "Boat buying" cus SWMBOs prefer the sun.

The NEC would be available to all AND is very easy to get to from all over the country when compared to Excel, and would be focused on the "ownership" bit of boating.

<hr width=100% size=1>Adrian <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/kelisha>Kelisha</A> I never snub anyone accidentally
 
I agree with that, I love it when the bike show is at the NEC, easy to get to. They always seem to have the best shows there.

<hr width=100% size=1>Alex

boat2.jpg

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Personally I doubt that there will ever be a national boat show outside of South East/Central Southern England (I'm discounting Inland Waterway shows).

Although the NEC is a great Exhibition venue, it's about as far from the sea as you can get in the UK and I think this might be off putting. Removing the big, expensive stuff from the show might focus people on smaller stuff but it will also remove some of the "phwoar factor" that attracts small boys and anoraks to Earl's Court and Southampton - imagine a Motor Show without Rollers, Mercs and expensive Italian Sports Cars - with a subsequent effect on attendance revenues. Also (I'm guessing) the main incentive for the likes of SexSeeker and Fairline to go to Earl's Court at all is the likelihood that they will make a handful of sales of large, expensive boats to very rich people. If that isn't going to happen, then I doubt they would think it worthwhile to go at all.

Finally, most of the rich people live down South, and are unlikely to venture north of Watford to look at boats (runs for cover).

;o)

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From the South drive to the Dome and get the River Taxi across

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Would you still expect your car to be there when you return! It may be in part if your lucky.

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My 7 year old niece got Father Christmas to bring me a ticket so Im going.

my trip is ok, thameslink then straight through on the tube, sounds easy but will it be!!?

I wonder whether the national boat and caravan show in february at the NEC is moving in to be the third national boat show. Its definitly trying to get away from its inland waterways feel with some notable boat manufacturers there, IMHO i think they would have to move away from February, too near the Excel show.

Kevin

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We are Poole based and NOT going, for the first time in many years. Excel is the wrong side of a heap of traffic and the extra traveling time means either a much earlier start and later return or less time at the show, neither of which appeals when Southampton is so much more convenient. Our usual YC Coach is still going, with reduced numbers I believe, but is more expensive than before and will allow less time at the show, not a good deal anymore. We are not interested either in fighting the commuters for (expensive) standing room on the trains, or the various transfers needed especially when carrying any purchases, and the time penalty still exists. Long live SBS!




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Excel is a winner for me - Earls Court was reaching such a state of over-crowding that it was becoming too painful.

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After giving EC a miss for the last two years am interested in seeing the new set up at Excel. Although based on the West coast of Scotland with Prestwick airport on my doorstep and only one penny to Stansted with Ryanair how could I not go?? Will be there on Friday 16th if you want to buy me a pint...Paul.

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