London show - your view?

[Sans Bateau]

I do agree with your observations, I was up there on Friday. I went last year and was less than impressed, the attendance seemed a bit thin last year too. Unlike Friday.

From my point of view, the show was OK, I'm not in the market for a boat, if I was I'm not sure I'd want to walk around a series of pontoons in Jan! The show does seem to cater for all interests, not only seasoned boat owners but also he public.

For me there was good coverage by manufactures and suppliers, I felt the show to be good value.

On the point of getting there and the food. We drove from just north of Worthing to the park and ride at Beckton and were in Excell within 1 3/4hr. An easy drive and the park and ride stress free. Food, at both SIBS and LIBS we always eat at the RYA lounge. They now have Leiths running the catering, it was good food, room to sit and not to expensive. At LIBS though there is that climb of two flights of stairs.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Like other people here I didn't go and will never go again. I used to look forward to Earl's Court Boat Show and take my my family every year. It was cosy and homely, just the job for a winter's day. Excel is exactly the opposite. It's like a giant soulless aircraft hangar. There's no atmosphere, it's actually got little to do with sailing, the food prices are outrageous, not to mention the quality of the stuff which basically is generally crap. I get the feeling whereas Earls Court was set up to attract the sailing punters, Excel is more targeted to giving Joe Public a day out. Thank heavens for Southampton.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

[ QUOTE ]
I can see Boating declining into a "shopping mall" , for gadgetry & fashions, which will be a great shame.


[/ QUOTE ]

I agree!

 

[Sailfree]

I get the impression its so expensive that only the large volumn manufacturers and luxury boats can afford to display there.

I don't think its a great idea to have a boat show where boat manufacturers cannot affort to display their boats especially the 20' to 36'

See previous post thread on what did you think of LIB where one claimed Najad said to exhibit would put £4k on every boat they sold that year!

SIB is getting bigger every year with more boats on the water so someone is doing something right there.

I may go to LIB next year as I get a free ticket but I will definately not miss SIB.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Rose tinted spex

Yes, it is expensive (£5.50 for a jacket spud with cheese), but I don't remember Earls Court as somewhere you could eat either well or cheaply.

 

[Mudplugger]

Elaine, went last Saturday, easy trip by car from E.Anglia, approx 1Hour. Parking Easy but a tad Expensive @£12.00. for the day. Contrary to the Doom & Gloom merchants had an interesting & informative day. Like the venue which is comfortable, logical in layout, Mobo's one side, Raggies t'other and kept at a sensible temp. Price at full whack, fairly heavy (took advantage of Mail offer 2 for 1 so £7.00 a ticket much better) less atomosphere than at E.C. probably due to the decline (recent) in the nos of large Chandlers. Noticeable lack of Show offers (real ones) as most seemed to be working off the same price policy. Never take advantage of the food outlets when the RYA lounge is operational. Food good and reasonably priced, seating area comfortable. By the time I'd asked the questions, had a look at that which I wanted, made a a few purchases, we'd spent 9hrs @ Libs. and enjoyed it! SWMBO insist on coming to Libs, went once to E.C in the 70's and swore would never go again, now she insists on her annual visit to Excel. Can understand the flack from those in the South & West cos of the logistical exercise but as far as we are concerned the Pro's far outweigh the Cons.

 

[gtmoore]

I couldn't quite work out the parking charges. I used the multistorey at the western entrance and it said £3 an hour - maximum £12 but after about 6 hours it was 'only' £9?

I also used the Mail 2 for 1 offer and thought the day very enjoyable (got a good deal on a new swim ladder and the show offer of a Standard Horizon DSC set with free command mike).

I do miss being able to view the whole show from the balcony at Earls Court though.

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
I couldn't quite work out the parking charges. I used the multistorey at the western entrance and it said £3 an hour - maximum £12 but after about 6 hours it was 'only' £9?

[/ QUOTE ]
I was in there for 9 hours and it was still £9. I'm sure that last year the max was £8.

 

[Allegro]

We went last Wednesday (2 adults, a two year old and a four year old). We had a good day, but would agree with many of the comments above, in particular the lack of boats we were interested in.

- No small boats on the water. Started off outside as it was sunny, but the only boat that looked vaguely like anything we might ever sail turned out not to be for sale at all, but thanks to the RAF for letting us look round it anyway! Otherwise I don't think there was anything <40' outside. With so much dock, surely they've the opportunity to lay on a huge "on the water" area of pontoons. Boats do somehow seem better when seen in their natural element. Just a thought - we had good weather, but for those complaining about the cold, maybe one of the good things about Earl's Court for a winter boat show was that the on-the-water boats were under cover.

- Food? Well, thanks to prior Scuttlebut tips we took our own, and even found somewhere to sit and eat it (outside, overlooking the boats), but I agree it would otherwise have been ludicrously expensive.

- Indoors. We actually found plenty to look at and made a few purchases. Particularly nice to be able to compare children's lifejackets "in the flesh" when the local chandlerys generally don't carry them in stock. But again, rather few small boats. The last time we went to LIBS (the last one at Earl's Court) we had a good time crawling round three different Cornish Crabbers (/shrimper /yawl). This time they had just one, the new smallest in their range. A specific example, but a trend that seemed general.

- Access. Park and ride was reasonably priced (£5) and delivered us straight to / from the door with minimal waiting, so no quibbles there.

So enjoyed our day, but with some reservations. Not sure we'll be able to afford to go once we need to pay for the children. Maybe will try to go back to Southampton next time.

Cheers
Patrick