This was my first "carp" show in nine years, so I'm pretty much looking at it from a fresh pair of eyes. I'm bored at work, so thought i'd do a little light hearted review of my insight into the modern world of carp angling marketing and what occurs when thousands of like minded odd bods like myself descend onto one venue.
The parking and queuing layout needs some serious attention. People were queuing around the tents, blocking the road, and when the doors opened there were plenty of folk who just decided to push in. Food kiosks were outside, but from what I could see only one bin was in situ, so I saw plenty of chaps just dumping cups on peoples car bonnets and on top of whatever flat object they could find. The rest of the car park seemed to have little gaggles of influencers enthusiastically declaring that they were having a day trip to Kent, handing out leaflets in the pissing rain to folk who just wanted to seek solace from the drizzle.
Apparently the queues got worse as the morning progressed. One bloke commented that even at around 11am, he'd waited 90mins to get in, only to be told he would get bussed down to the venue. People dumped cars wherever they could find a space.
As someone who is completely allergic to marketing, I enjoyed the fact it wasn't "pushy". The only person who ever asked for my attention was the chappy on the veterans foundation stand, a chappy who looked like he wanted to engage his self defence training to my face when I politely declined a chat. What got me, was the absolutely giant stand dedicated to some sort of guttering solutions company, with a bored chap with a clipboard taking up space for some pointless reason. It all seemed a bit cramped, and I bumped/got bumped into often. I've never been so British, and said "sorry" so many times even if it wasn't my fault.
There was a good mix of stands, although there was a large amount of cheap wholesale too, with what seemed like a good 15 wraps dedicated just to cheap camo body warmers. I won't even mention the Bass Pro stand, although I'm sure customs would be interested in them.
I managed to watch Mark Holmes' self pleasuring slide show out of morbid curiosity, which was in essence a bro science lesson about chemicals with a few pictures of fish caught on spinners. A few parents used the slide shows as a means of respite for their bored wags and kids, only to hear Holmes compare a carp to a crackhead. I swerved Hamidi's one, although I'm sure I could hear the ADHD excitement from the entrance as I was leaving.
I spent more on coffee than I did on tackle, sipping my warm beverage as a few of the local travellers were out in force. I'm sure one of them had just buried his uncle as he came to the show wearing his sunday best, with the remnants of the freshly dug grave covering his fake gucci shoes. The rest of the family were outside calling for "joe boy" whoever he was. I hope they found him.
I actually enjoyed it. I took it for what it was, just opportunity for grown men to queue up for an hour to get their pic taken with Danny and grab a few bargains. I spoke to who I needed to (which lakes near me I could poach) and done a bit of tyre kicking. The biggest disappointment for me was the new ATTS. The twisty cover on the speaker just looked (to me) like a good idea poorly executed. I can see that causing issues, with sets appearing on marketplace in a few years stating that the volume wheel has seized up/locked in the silent position, but we'll see.
As for bargains, they were actually plentiful if you had a spare grand in your pocket to take advantage of the better ones. One fella must have literally shat himself when he realised how much he spent, as there appeared to be a hastily laid cable OUTSIDE the karzi.
All in all, I was just content to wander about, bump into some old acquaintances, sip my four quid Wofte coffee, and take the piss out of my mate for queuing up to see Ali.
The parking and queuing layout needs some serious attention. People were queuing around the tents, blocking the road, and when the doors opened there were plenty of folk who just decided to push in. Food kiosks were outside, but from what I could see only one bin was in situ, so I saw plenty of chaps just dumping cups on peoples car bonnets and on top of whatever flat object they could find. The rest of the car park seemed to have little gaggles of influencers enthusiastically declaring that they were having a day trip to Kent, handing out leaflets in the pissing rain to folk who just wanted to seek solace from the drizzle.
Apparently the queues got worse as the morning progressed. One bloke commented that even at around 11am, he'd waited 90mins to get in, only to be told he would get bussed down to the venue. People dumped cars wherever they could find a space.
As someone who is completely allergic to marketing, I enjoyed the fact it wasn't "pushy". The only person who ever asked for my attention was the chappy on the veterans foundation stand, a chappy who looked like he wanted to engage his self defence training to my face when I politely declined a chat. What got me, was the absolutely giant stand dedicated to some sort of guttering solutions company, with a bored chap with a clipboard taking up space for some pointless reason. It all seemed a bit cramped, and I bumped/got bumped into often. I've never been so British, and said "sorry" so many times even if it wasn't my fault.
There was a good mix of stands, although there was a large amount of cheap wholesale too, with what seemed like a good 15 wraps dedicated just to cheap camo body warmers. I won't even mention the Bass Pro stand, although I'm sure customs would be interested in them.
I managed to watch Mark Holmes' self pleasuring slide show out of morbid curiosity, which was in essence a bro science lesson about chemicals with a few pictures of fish caught on spinners. A few parents used the slide shows as a means of respite for their bored wags and kids, only to hear Holmes compare a carp to a crackhead. I swerved Hamidi's one, although I'm sure I could hear the ADHD excitement from the entrance as I was leaving.
I spent more on coffee than I did on tackle, sipping my warm beverage as a few of the local travellers were out in force. I'm sure one of them had just buried his uncle as he came to the show wearing his sunday best, with the remnants of the freshly dug grave covering his fake gucci shoes. The rest of the family were outside calling for "joe boy" whoever he was. I hope they found him.
I actually enjoyed it. I took it for what it was, just opportunity for grown men to queue up for an hour to get their pic taken with Danny and grab a few bargains. I spoke to who I needed to (which lakes near me I could poach) and done a bit of tyre kicking. The biggest disappointment for me was the new ATTS. The twisty cover on the speaker just looked (to me) like a good idea poorly executed. I can see that causing issues, with sets appearing on marketplace in a few years stating that the volume wheel has seized up/locked in the silent position, but we'll see.
As for bargains, they were actually plentiful if you had a spare grand in your pocket to take advantage of the better ones. One fella must have literally shat himself when he realised how much he spent, as there appeared to be a hastily laid cable OUTSIDE the karzi.
All in all, I was just content to wander about, bump into some old acquaintances, sip my four quid Wofte coffee, and take the piss out of my mate for queuing up to see Ali.
In reply to Post #1
Haha, thanks for the entertaining review!
Haha, thanks for the entertaining review!
In reply to Post #1
Awesome
reminds me why I only ever went to one...about 15 years ago.
Awesome
reminds me why I only ever went to one...about 15 years ago.
Great review 
I haven't been to a show in years. Used to always go to the Sandown one, Brentwood, 5 lakes and the big one at Farnborough, just for something to do during the winter months that I rarely fish in these days. You've just reminded me why I stopped going to them lol 😂
In reply to Post #1
Haha! Lovely stuff
Haha! Lovely stuff
Haha interesting review, thanks!
My mate went, he said he enjoyed it... But he was also on the way home after only a couple of hours, so I wondered how great it really was? His drive there was longer than that!
My mate went, he said he enjoyed it... But he was also on the way home after only a couple of hours, so I wondered how great it really was? His drive there was longer than that!
In reply to Post #7
The last one I went to was Dunstable back in the day .
Ritchie Mc Donald was bidding on the Redmire opening week as usual at the raffle .
The last one I went to was Dunstable back in the day .
Ritchie Mc Donald was bidding on the Redmire opening week as usual at the raffle .
I shall be attending The Big One for the first time in years. Dont really need anything but a mate is going so said i would join him.
I went on the Sunday.
They had sorted out the issue of queueing traffic from the Saturday, we got there around 9:15am and we didn't have to queue at all. There was a big queue to actually get in after parking though.
Food wasn't too bad, expensive enough, but not bad and plenty more bins out, when we went out to eat mid afternoon.
At times it felt very much like being a sardine, struggling to move around the place. Over populated for the size of the space.
The 'show prices' were pathetic, almost all the 'main brands' were the same price as online anyway, no deals anymore!
Some of the stands were basement level stuff. Never heard of a fair few of the brands. Scruffy, Del Boy jobs.
Found it very odd people queueing for photos with anglers, almost to the extent of cringey and embarrassing. Passing by a couple I did shake hands and have a short chat with some but not bloody queueing for them.
All in all The Big One was better from previous experience going to that.
I won't be returning to Brands Hatch for it again.
They had sorted out the issue of queueing traffic from the Saturday, we got there around 9:15am and we didn't have to queue at all. There was a big queue to actually get in after parking though.
Food wasn't too bad, expensive enough, but not bad and plenty more bins out, when we went out to eat mid afternoon.
At times it felt very much like being a sardine, struggling to move around the place. Over populated for the size of the space.
The 'show prices' were pathetic, almost all the 'main brands' were the same price as online anyway, no deals anymore!
Some of the stands were basement level stuff. Never heard of a fair few of the brands. Scruffy, Del Boy jobs.
Found it very odd people queueing for photos with anglers, almost to the extent of cringey and embarrassing. Passing by a couple I did shake hands and have a short chat with some but not bloody queueing for them.
All in all The Big One was better from previous experience going to that.
I won't be returning to Brands Hatch for it again.
A mate and I went yesterday afternoon and I really enjoyed watching him spending money hand over fist, while I did my best to maintain my 'tight arse' reputation. I did let that slip a little when I purchased a nice little Icey Tech cool box at a really healthy discount.
We had a really nice chat with the couple on the Target Baits stand and I actually spent a bit more money with them.
I'm currently sat in a darkened room.
We had a really nice chat with the couple on the Target Baits stand and I actually spent a bit more money with them.
I'm currently sat in a darkened room.
I went to the big one last year to look at the different power barrows and I'll be going this year to look at a certain bivvy I want to buy.
I agree it is cringe watching grown men ask for a photo, fully head to tow in branded carp clothes 🤣
It is worth spending the money for a ticket if there's something you need or want to buy but can't see it in a normal shop.
There aren't many deals to be had though, not like the previous one I went to at stoneligh just before COVID, that had a lot of deals.
I agree it is cringe watching grown men ask for a photo, fully head to tow in branded carp clothes 🤣
It is worth spending the money for a ticket if there's something you need or want to buy but can't see it in a normal shop.
There aren't many deals to be had though, not like the previous one I went to at stoneligh just before COVID, that had a lot of deals.
In reply to Post #10
I went to the Big One in 2024 and after doing BH on Saturday, the Big One is the only one I'll do now if I want something I can't see in a tackle shop.
I went to the Big One in 2024 and after doing BH on Saturday, the Big One is the only one I'll do now if I want something I can't see in a tackle shop.