For those that mourne the passing of Earls Court and the 'proper' london boatshow

I only went to the boat show at Earls Court once. I thought it looked like a camping and caravanning show was being held in a venue that was falling down.
 
benjenbav said:
I only went to the boat show at Earls Court once. I thought it looked like a camping and caravanning show was being held in a venue that was falling down.
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I loved it, went most years from about 1990. I thought it had a great atmosphere that Excel fails to,generate. I've been there twice and won't be returning.
 
Putting aside where individuals live, and just trying to be objective I think Excell is far better, however the industry has been through few high periods in recent years, and the 2nd rate atmosphere ( at its not a fab bubbly atmosphere) at the UK London boat show is generated by an industry that is struggling.
 
I went there as a (very junior) exibiter in the late 50s & early 60s. The temp was kept quite high to encourage drink sales. Lots of people collecting leaflets with out any interest in the boats. Quite a few that already had one and wanted to chat about sailing it. A very few that might be buyers. It wasn't worth the effort and cost back then, so we stopped. But, if you do that, then lots of people think that you have gone under as a company.
I also remember the rush to get the stand ready and the bolshy union blokes, who would do anything to delay work so as to get it finished on extra time at high cost.
 
IMHO the London Boat Show started to go downhill the moment it left Earls Court to go to some industrial warehouse at the arse end of the Docklands Light Railway. Yes Earls Court was far from ideal but it had a buzz that Excel could never reproduce. It was easy to get to for far more people than Excel and you could send the other half off to Harrods and Harvey Nicks if she got bored. In those days you even got semi naked bimbos draped over the boats. In fact the completely erroneous notion, formed one year at Earls Court, that buying a boat would make us more attractive to the opposite sex got me and a mate into boating in the first place:)
 
Found memories here too - the boat and motor show -dragged by parents -remember 77 motor seeing the Lotus Esprit acual one used in the bond film -live ammo on the road and there was a bullit hole in the R rear wing below the bumper , The white car on the stand was the Bond car .
Boats - last one took wife with Todlers circa ealy noughties ? In the pool was a Sunseeker Portofino 35 .
We were rag n stick but sold up when pitta patter of tiny feet .So boat less .But being a "bloke " I was edging her back to sea -slowly ,slowly catch the monkey .
I remember the SS staff looking after the kids and being attentive .I remember asking the sales man the beam as I had allready bought a mooring in La Nap - as an investment - and it fitted - I remember the display boat had no dinette table or doors fitted ,presumable to big up the feeling of space .
As few years later I got a fax from the marina office ( after creaming off rent in a BTL way )
" when are you bringing your boat to your mooring -according to article xyz of mandate "
Shit. - in desperation largely from Earls Court -wife was instructed to ring Sunseeker next AM .
Within 3 weeks our new boat to us ,our 1st MoBo was on our Birth .

So it sowed seeds - boat shows that's what it's all about -
.
I have been back to excel once , but after Cannes it just does not chime , how ever practically they can display bigger boats
But then agian folks in that mkt can see them in an other Med show .
I can,t see my self returning to excel .
Earls court - yes combined with a west end trip etc .
 
Portofino said:
Found memories here too - the boat and motor show -dragged by parents -remember 77 motor seeing the Lotus Esprit acual one used in the bond film -live ammo on the road and there was a bullit hole in the R rear wing below the bumper , The white car on the stand was the Bond car .
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There were half a dozen of those original white "Wet Nellie" Esprit's. Elon Musk recently bought one that was found in a shipping container.

I've never had the motivation to schlepp to Excel. I'm quite happy visiting the BMYS and Southampton.
 
The best view of Earls Court right now is when you fly over it coming into LHR. It's gone !!! A huge piece of land given over to much needed housing ....

A terrible terrible venue and I remember the day clearly leaving it for the last time. It was one hell of a party ...
 
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