Screw it up? With Rob at the helm?.....yeah, I see your point.
One thing will be guarenteed, the drinking establishment will be first rate.
http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/1081/islington-pubs
London Toy Show new location? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Jay
- Start date
http://www.timeout.com/london/feature/1081/islington-pubs
R
Régis
Guest
Screw it up? With Rob at the helm?.....yeah, I see your point.
One thing will be guarenteed, the drinking establishment will be first rate.
Hi All
I have been reading all your threads re the New Venue for the London Toy Soldier Show.
I would like to set the schene as to why the move was necessary, by copying you in on a letter being sent out to all the traders.
Dear All
Re Change of Show Venue
As traders and customers will mostly already be aware, the venue for future Toy Soldier shows has had to be changed.
I have been contacted by the editor of TSC and other contributors, traders etc. about the rumours and hearsay circulating and I therefore felt it would be helpful to clarify a number of points to hopefully answer everyone’s concerns.
Firstly, I would like to re-iterate that this move was forced upon us by the Royal National Hotel who gave us notice on the day of our June 2012 show that it was to be our last with them, despite having a contract in place with them until the end of 2013. We were, of course, happy to continue at the Royal International Hotel
We have spent many hours researching numerous venues in the area and decided that the one that is available and best suits our requirements is the Business Design Centre in Islington.
We believe that in many respects, the new venue offers much better facilities than the Royal National. It is a purpose-built exhibition centre catering for all show types, some very much larger than ours. We believe that in the long term, everyone will agree that the IBDC offers a better environment although the actual logistics may prove challenging in the first instance.
We have tried to get the message across to as many traders and visitors as possible; firstly at the June 2012 show, followed up with a lengthy article in TSC No 47 regarding the reasons and need for the change, and with another article planned for TSC No 48 addressing your further concerns.
I therefore list below the facts as to how matters stand at the moment. Here are the details for the next 4 London Toy Soldier Shows.
1) The Venue is the Islington Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH
2) Venue dates;
a) Saturday 1st December 2012
b) Saturday 9th March 2013
c) Saturday 8th June 2013
d) Saturday 7th December 2013
The venue has had to be booked for 4 consecutive shows in order to reduce the cost of the venue hire, which was some £3,000 more than the Royal National. The additional venue cost and table hire are being met by Toy Soldier Collector.
3) Set up times;
a) Friday 18.00 - 22.00 hours with access to the loading bay at 16.00 hours.
b) Saturday 08.00* - 10.00 hours. * We are still in negotiations to see if we can gain entry at 07.30 hours on the day.
c) Saturday 22.00 hours halls must be cleared (breakdown and departure completed)
4) Table fees are as they were at the Royal National Hotel, entry fees £5.00 for those pre booking and £6.00 on the day.
5) Show times at present;
a) Early bird 09.00 - 10.00 hours
b) General admission 10.00 hours. I have suggested that we change the opening times to 09.00 - 11.00 hours Early bird and 11.00 - 16.00 hours for general admission. This suggested entry time change will give the Saturday traders a much needed extra hour to set up. I would welcome your feedback in this connection regarding changing the entry times
6) Access to the show hall and atrium are via the two very large and speedy hoists/lifts or via outside short term parking in the hotel courtyard and access via the main entrance.
7) Entry to the London Toy Soldier Show for the general public will be via a purpose built registration entrance.
8) The following Events Marshalls will be supplied and be present during the show, First Aid, Cloakroom and Lift and Traffic Marshalls.
9) On September 3rd at 12.00 hours we have arranged a guided tour for all at the Islington Business and Design Centre. Please let me know if you wish to attend.
Promotion of the show and venue are in progress, with adverts appearing in Toy Soldier Collector, Military Modelcraft Int, Collectors Gazette, via Flyers given to all the traders (free of charge), via our web site etc.
It continues to be our aim to raise the game, promote the hobby to the masses and to make the IBDC an attractive venue for a totally global show.
I invite you to give some thought to, and welcome your responses to the proposed changed opening times on the Saturday, as we are delaying production of the show flyers until we have received feedback from a majority of our traders regarding opening times.
Please feel free to contact any of the Guideline team, Alan, Stella, Kim or I at any time, re queries and suggestions, e-mail guidelines@regallitho.co.uk, tel 01908 274433. Guidelines will be on hand at the show for general help and information and we look forward to seeing you at the December London Toy Soldier Show.
Kind regards.
Reg
E-mail: regisauckland@btinternet.com
Mobile: 07894 355843
Tele: 01530 231407
Régis Auckland
Chairman of Guideline Publications/Toy Soldier Collector
I hope that this goes someway to clarifying the situation at present. The fact that the move was forced on us “it was broke" and needed fairly swift action to ensure that the show continued and flourished. We “Guidelines” have taken some real contractual financial and logistical risks in booking the new venue for 4 consecutive shows for the good of us all.
We look forward to your continuing support and to seeing you all at the Islington Business Design Centre over the coming years.
Kind regards
Régis Auckland
tdubel
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c) Saturday 8th June 2013
WELL, unfortunately, that kills it for me coming from the States. I will be in London, but toward the end of the month as my little guy is still in school. Oh well, we tried to to do this, but by moving the show to the beginning of the month, that kills it for me. Just my luck I guess, will still enjoy London, Scotland, Wales and Normandy, France, just no show. No offense to the new show organizers, but what was wrong with the June 29th show weekend as originally scheduled???
TD
yeoman
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Following my two earlier posts regarding the London Toy Soldier Shows, I have now been able to have a long talk with Regis Auckland Chairman of Guideline Publications and where I was a little put out about not being invited to the meeting on 3rd September it now appears that the meeting has not been arranged by the organisers, Guideline Publications, and Mr Auckland has had to invite himself to the meeting to find out the agenda of those who have called the meeting. One of these is apparently Mike Neville of King and Country and I'm afraid I have to wonder what is behind this!
Yeoman.
Yeoman.
Having just read Reg Auckland's post it would have been nice if the traders had been notified officially first, after all without traders, no show.
I understand the hall to be used is not the main exhibition area but a smaller one off the balcony on the second floor. The thought of reaching it with over a dozen crates of heavy metal via lifts, stairs and/or an escalator fills me with dread.
The Friday hours of access are very poor given the London traffic that the traders would have to contend with, the Saturday set up hours are far too short. Even with a 7.30 start it takes 3 and a half hours to set the stand properly. Opening at 11 is a necessity.
All this could have been avoided if Guideline had taken a consensus to start with (yes there would have been time), removing the jumble sale from the middle of hall A at the Royal National and giving it over to the serious manufacturers. The car booters could then have been placed in the other rooms offered by the hotel.
The likelihood of footfall being increased is a red herring, this will only come from traders and customers of other Guideline publications who will not be interested in toy soldiers. Only Guideline will profit.
I understand the hall to be used is not the main exhibition area but a smaller one off the balcony on the second floor. The thought of reaching it with over a dozen crates of heavy metal via lifts, stairs and/or an escalator fills me with dread.
The Friday hours of access are very poor given the London traffic that the traders would have to contend with, the Saturday set up hours are far too short. Even with a 7.30 start it takes 3 and a half hours to set the stand properly. Opening at 11 is a necessity.
All this could have been avoided if Guideline had taken a consensus to start with (yes there would have been time), removing the jumble sale from the middle of hall A at the Royal National and giving it over to the serious manufacturers. The car booters could then have been placed in the other rooms offered by the hotel.
The likelihood of footfall being increased is a red herring, this will only come from traders and customers of other Guideline publications who will not be interested in toy soldiers. Only Guideline will profit.
Angusprune
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'removing the jumble sale from the middle of hall A at the Royal National and giving it over to the serious manufacturers. The car booters could then have been placed in the other rooms offered by the hotel.'
I find the arrant snobbery of this comment to be breathtaking.
What the hell is a 'serious' manufacturer ? Some one without a sense of humour ? or what?
I convert and paint my own figures, love rumaging around in boxes, finding converting material and have no real interest in buying expensive, stencil painted metal models. I am the sort of guy who likes the 'Jumble sale, car boot' aspect. This is why I love the PLASTIC WARRIOR Show.
I don't like the idea that somehow people like me should be shunted into some side rooms because we don't buy from the 'serious' manufacturers.
One of the postitive aspects of this hobby is that collectors can vary their collecting based on their income and I for one do not like 'metal is better than plastic, because it costs more' rubbish which sometimes appears in this hobby. Snobbery has no place in the hobby.
To be honest I think if this approach was taken the 'serious' manufacturers would have a boring day while the 'car boot jumble sale' rooms would be heaving.
If the show had to move it had to move......the people make a good show, not just the venue
I find the arrant snobbery of this comment to be breathtaking.
What the hell is a 'serious' manufacturer ? Some one without a sense of humour ? or what?
I convert and paint my own figures, love rumaging around in boxes, finding converting material and have no real interest in buying expensive, stencil painted metal models. I am the sort of guy who likes the 'Jumble sale, car boot' aspect. This is why I love the PLASTIC WARRIOR Show.
I don't like the idea that somehow people like me should be shunted into some side rooms because we don't buy from the 'serious' manufacturers.
One of the postitive aspects of this hobby is that collectors can vary their collecting based on their income and I for one do not like 'metal is better than plastic, because it costs more' rubbish which sometimes appears in this hobby. Snobbery has no place in the hobby.
To be honest I think if this approach was taken the 'serious' manufacturers would have a boring day while the 'car boot jumble sale' rooms would be heaving.
If the show had to move it had to move......the people make a good show, not just the venue
Mitch
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Rob
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^&grin{bravo}}
You know what mate, even if the show was a disaster, the venue a dump and someone stole the underground, we'd all still have a good time in the bar!^&grin:wink2:
Rob
AIDMAN
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QUOTE=Rob;518546]^&grin{bravo}}
You know what mate, even if the show was a disaster, the venue a dump and someone stole the underground, we'd all still have a good time in the bar!^&grin:wink2:
Rob[/QUOTE]
Thats for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....Steve
You know what mate, even if the show was a disaster, the venue a dump and someone stole the underground, we'd all still have a good time in the bar!^&grin:wink2:
Rob[/QUOTE]
Thats for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....Steve
Martin Tabony
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I believe that this was organised in order to work out how things are going to be moved about, locating secure over night parking, etc. rather than leaving it until the actual weekend.
Martin
Mitch
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Can't see the show being redated just to accomodate one travelling collector!!! This seems to be the date they want and, the way the show will go. As Rob said people either suck it up and accept a new way or don't go and moan and groan. I have been to some badly planned events but, if everyone makes the best they can still have a good time. Its the six P's here for me.
Mitch
Mitch
tdubel
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Mitch,
I think if you read the context of my post and the previous one, the new date was made public shortly after my post telling my British friends not to screw it up. That is the irony of the post. I have no opinion on the new show, etc. versus the old, I am just sad I will not see it if the date is now the beginning of June instead of the traditional end of June.
TD
Rob
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Guys, if the show has indeed been moved to the start of June then another factor will have to be taken into consideration when arranging group trips for the symposium. The Imperial War Museum will not be open until the start of July, so will of course be out of bounds for visitors at start of June.
Rob
Rob
Tony Neville
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With regards to Mike being at London, need no wonder. Mike (my dad) was worried about the logistics for us (K&C UK) and getting down, unloading, accomadation, parking etc. He organised a meeting with th enew venue not guidline, HIMSELF for the 3rd where it was made public to OTHER dealers and ANY dealer could then have come down / up to see the venue and the lady who looks after the functions.
We have to work these things out due to having 10+ tables with display material and a Lot of kit in weight and monitory value.
We are now happy that we can sort ourselves out and I feel that the London show will go from strength to strength.
There has been no discussion of teddy bears beanies etc. However i have heard discussion of Military collectables which will bring in a large number of OTHER collecting interests and footfall to the venue, this cannot be a bad thing.
Reasons why the event moved is not important..............infact a lot of traders when WE ran the show complained about the busy hotel and the amount of kids around when trying to set up, the lack of parking on the saturday etc etc
The main thing will be to get behind the new venue and ALL of us try and move it forward
Tony Neville
K& C UK
Rob
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Well speaking as a punter I enjoyed the new venue. A cafe that sold perfectly edible food, a big clean, airy , bright, temp controlled room, good selection of pubs and shops outside, five min walk from Angel Underground and toilets that have been cleaned and don't look like they were the center of an outbreak of dysentery during the great toilet roll strike of 1789. And finally there were not hundreds of enthusiastic but noisy teenage tourists to negotiate when making ones way around the show. So all in all a winner for me, although I understand there are difficulties for exhibitors getting the product to second floor as there appears only one lift that is not exactly swift.
Rob
Rob