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Went with my mate and his missus and had a most enjoyable time. Well....bit of a walk from the car park but a few puffs on the inhaler sorted me out. Road in was busy as expected but was moving. Got there at 9, was busy but no queues to get in. Did seem to thin out a lot by about 12. Mate had a few bits that he was looking at so we meandered around looking at prices etc. Wish i had left my cards at home as ended up spending a lot more than i thought i would but i did pick up a few nice bits. Dragging them all back to the car took an eternity and even more puffs on the inhaler. Plenty of celebs but the only one we spoke to was Chilly and that was nothing about fishing. When you speak to them about life, you see them in a totally different way. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Lucky Man, remember that. Walked straight past DF, TD and NS. Motionless at the front of MASSIVE queues for photos etc. but the majority of the celebs mingled and didnt act like film stars. First time there for a few years and really enjoyed it. Food was expensive but I took my own. Was tempted when i first got there as you were surrounded by the smells but i ran inside quickly!!!
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In reply to Post #10
I agree it was a bit of a yomp 🚶♂️🥾🚶🥾from and to the 1st carpark with no indication of a shuttle bus🤷🏻♂️especially if you happen to have bought some bulky items.
Speaking to one of those working on a major retail stand, parking and getting into the event was a major gripe for them, as was the case at the Brands Hatch event where apparently parking was a shambles. It was also said that many retailers wont venture too far from the M25 catchment area due to the costs of being at these shows. A few i spoke to had travelled 4-5 hrs to get there. For some people these shows are the only place where they can go to see and try products without having to 'buy and try' due to where they live.
Time for the NEC to be used again for these type of shows, as was the case many yrs ago, for the convenience of many and accesibility.
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| | | Belch | | Posts: 4450 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #1
Was down to visit my old mum so made a detour on the way back . . .first show since ye olde Sandown back in the day and pleased to report at least 75% were still wearing camo which would have pleased Gerry/OldGeezer but still disturbed me (  )
Big show and spent a few hours wondering about - a lot of stuff was 'as expected' with some decent deals if you haggled / proffered cash; got a good price on some AL Tech bait boat batteries and some PB Products hooklink spools (Ghost Dragonfly Fluro etc) at 50% off.
Bait deals were poor to be fair with brands not offering much in terms of incentive so my micro pellet fixation wasn't satisfied unfortunately - Unless you wanted to buy a combo deal with liquids and cr*p pop ups there was nothing worth mentioning although most seemed to be doing a roaring trade . . .
Highlights for me were -
Chatting with Bob James on the Normark Stand and waggling their re-released specimen river rod range (Microlite / Titan / Avenger)
Bumping into Samir Arebi on the Fox stand by accident (he's actually much smaller in real life than I thought he'd be) - top chap and very interesting to talk to
Solar releasing a reasonably lightweight bedchair buddy with much longer front legs (than a Trakker Transformer) to make it usable with the SP C Tech beds
A good range of decent grub (different food vans - I went for the Lebanese Chicken & Chips Combo)
Lowlights were -
The price of my Lebanese Chicken Combo (could have been worse - cod & chips was £17!)
Realising how large and paper thin the Trakker RS100 Bivvy actually is
Almost buying 8x Jag bivvy pegs as an impulse purchase and at a vaguely reduced cost but then seeing sense and walking away realising my own insanity (and the fact that they're realistically not long enough)
Brands releasing new baitboats in either silly large (Ridgemonkey / Boatman) or silly small (Boatman) sizes . . .and the fact that on closer inspection both the RT7/Deeper boats are pretty plasticky / poorly made
The walk back to the carp park (after realising there was a shuttle bus)
Happy to wait another 20yrs until the next one (unless I'm in the vicinity) . . . 
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In reply to Post #8
Have to agree, less general coarse fishing tackle more carp/technology based stands. I give zero ****s about lights fitted to my spomb or 2k plus bait boats. I love my carp fishing but also my river/pike/chub fishing etc and there was deffo a lack of tackle geared that way. Did get a bargain on the 2nd hand stand, albeit fight my way through the crowds
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I went yesterday, thought it was decent enough, do we have a better show than this in England?
My only issue this year is that’s it’s turning too carp based. It’s definitely losing its way a bit in that respect. The spinning and lure section round the back has completely gone now, and year by year the coarse equipment is getting less and less.
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In reply to Post #6
Did you not at least get a picture hamidi? 🤣🤣
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300 mile round trip for a £7 pasty. I wont be going to any more.
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In reply to Post #4
It's a limited number of tickets yes no guarantees.
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In reply to Post #3
It’s not sold out it says on their website you can pay on the door after 10.00am
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I'll be going I think, rains put a stop to my plans of slabbing my patio so might as well go, one of the reasons I was going to go was to see the wychwood bivvy in person but they're not there so that's perfect 🤣
Edit: that'll be a no then as tickets off sale now due to popular demand! it's busy enough in there without them selling out of tickets so god knows what it'll be like with it sold out.
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Yes. I am going on Sunday. i don't really need anything, but it has been a long winter so just fancied a bit of wander, to get some inspiration. £19 for a ticket seems a bit steep though.
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Who's going tomorrow then? First time for a few years.
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