Harrogate Showground

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

For the avoidance of [some] confusion:

“This article is about the town in England.”

**LINK**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrogate

MichaelG.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Thankyou Shaun.

Those days (10 and 11) are Friday and Saturday.

Odd, really. It doesn't bode well.

It's only 4 months away – I'd have thought it would be all set and on the venue's web-site, but they don't seem very prompt about keeping that up-to-date, with 2 of only 6 listed events already having taken place!

Only 2 days for a major exhibition is short as well. I hope that won't be seen as too short to be efficient by the larger traders with big stands, great masses of heavy stock and long travel distances. Especially with the traders still awaiting information vital to them.

.The venue doesn't seem keen to host anyone more than once a month – judging by its web-waffle. Unless that paucity is simply a seasonal reduction.

Perhaps too, the organisers of the exhibition itself, whoever they are, are still trying to find their feet after all the plague and now heavy financial inflation.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Jelly –

Thank you for your guide to Leeds City Centre! That's me lost before I've even left sight of the English Channel!

I would not dare try it. I cannot navigate and drive such a route; and my "sat-nag" cannot track my car rapidly and accurately enough for urban geography and motoring.

'

Clearly, how easy it is to reach any given point in or near a busy city is highly individual. Firstly it depends on your approach direction even before you consider the traffic around you. Secondly it also depends on your skill at finding your way through labrynths whose sign-posts meaningless to the visitor, while being forced along by heavy traffic. You have no time to look for route-signs anyway, and the lane markings are all concealed by vehicles.

I found the last point when returning from the NAME meeting at Ockbrook last Saturday. Wrongly, I took the dual carriageway East to the M1 junction; wrongly because this very complicated roundabout forces you away from the South-bound carriageway approach. I had to head back towards Ockbrook for more than 2 miles, to find a route Southwards. (On which seeing Jupiter in the clear sky ahead was comforting, by showing I was still heading South.)

'

On our last few expeditions to Alexandra Palace, parking was relatively easy even if far enough down the hill to use the shuttle bus; and that despite the snooker tournament. The car-parks cover a much bigger area than first appears. A great many visitors, probably to either event, did use public transport.

'

The great advantage of the Midlands show-ground is that it is in open countryside well away from cities, and very easy to reach from all directions! It's also fairly central for England though obviously a long way from Plymouth or Newcastle, let alone Scotland.

Its further advantage to me is that it is close enough, at about 150 miles via the Fosse Way, for a day-trip.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Should be the first time to have an easy walkround given the numbers not going cos it's not there.

Regards Ian

[A SmithParticipant @asmith78105]

I always found that the queues to get through Harrogate gave my old Satnav plenty of time to update! Never had a problem finding Doncaster racecourse, excellent fish & chip restaurant just across the road too.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Circlip –

Let's hope it is well-attended. It may be pleasant being able to see everything without being crushed between ruck-sacks, but that does not pay for the event's future

A.Smith –

Different routes and times, I think.

I needed only an atlas and simple route-card to reach the Harrogate show from the South-East, then drive through the town towards Skipton afterwards. It is properly sign-posted, the town is not ever so large and my late-morning approach was not congested. My exit, after 5pm, was at a much busier time, of course.

Doncaster race-course is practically in the city; and not sign-posted from the SE beyond the M1 turn-off. The roads from there are extremely complicated and full of traffic sprinting between innumerable short stops. The Lady In The Box even sent me to the rail-goods terminal at one point! On the other hand, the race-course adjoined my wanted main road North-Westwards from Doncaster after the show, so exiting the chaos was relatively easy. I won't risk it again though.

.

As for fish-and-chips… I am sure Doncaster does have fine chippies but I would not have a clue how to find them! I dined at my destination.

''''''

Let us see what comes about… I have "book-marked" the now blandly-named "Yorkshire Event Centre", in my growing "Engineering" folder, so I can keep watch. Though it seems slower and less helpful than a sat-nav on a 5-spout roundabout!

As far as the putative show goes, whilst I am fine with the principle of it being combined with a model-railway exhibition, I do worry that means only half the available space each hobby would have enjoyed on its own, in the past. That would risk a lot of disappointed attendees already complaining the exhibitions seem be shrinking annually – though I think that so far, this is a perception from some big-name companies not participating with their sprawling stands, rather than by fewer models.

Who, by the way, is trying to run this one? The YEC itself, or a separate exhibition-company?

I say "trying" by the lack of positive announcement and publicity, the risk of too little room for each of two separate although related hobbies, and as Shaun Meakin (CuP) reveals above, poor information to help the traders; and all only 4 months in advance.

I am tempted to ring the place as an innocent abroad pleading a 600-mile round trip for a prestigious exhibition…

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

The original hall was demolished and rebuilt with a much bigger footprint. With regards to my original posting, this was done after being informed by the chairman of a model boat club near to me. Seems the muddle ingineers were too busy in their workshops to see this. Problem with the original shows at Harrer gate was it became too expensive. We'll see what next years offering turns out like. Secret to Fish and chips, in YORKSIRE they're cooked in proper fat. Pity the fish is not always cod or haddock.

Regards Ian.

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

Posted by Brian Wood on 16/11/2022 12:35:55:

I am hearing a rumour that the Harrogate Showground will be hosting a show in early 2023.

Is there any truth in it?

Brian

I've just received an email from the organiser, Simon Boak, They have finalised the exhibition details with the Yorkshire Event Centre at Harrogate.

So yes, it seems to be going ahead on Friday March 10 and Saturday March 11 2023.

Hope to see some of you there!

[mike TParticipant @miket56243]

Did the show orginisers give any indication as to when they intend to formally announce the show?

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Thank you Nigel Bennett, at least there is going to be some event but it will not be well attended if it doesn't get publicity as Mike T has pointed out

Brian

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

If you cross over to the steam rally forums you will find that one Simon Boak has a terrible reputation for organising rallies. Lots of traction engine owners would not attend one of his events if it was the last option available…

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Well, let us cross our fingers and see…

It won't be helped by people trying to deter us by slagging off the organiser in advance, in anonymous second-hand opinions, so please let's not indulge in that.

Nevertheless the show-ground's own web-site is poor at advertising its events or facilities. It no longer lists the October and November ones but goes only as far as February, one of them trade-only; unless the managers have up-dated it within the last two hours (to the date and time this post will show).

[mike TParticipant @miket56243]

That's rich.

The event has not yet been officially announced but already someone has had a go at slagging off the organisation. Lets wait and see what is about to be organised, before casting stones.

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

Though the YEC's web-site does not yet list exhibitions before February, nor any other events, it does have useful information on reaching the venue by various ways, including buses and taxis from the town and from Harrogate Railway Station, and a walk of a mile or so from the nearer Hornbeam Park Station. (On the line whose viaduct is seen from the Centre grounds – could be attractive in good weather).

Returning from the Dales last weekend via Skipton and Harrogate to the M1, I probably avoided the busiest traffic by going through the latter town at about 10am but despite fog, it was no more of an obstacle than any other town of comparable size. (Some here have complained about congestion.)

At a filling-station in the Western outskirts of Harrogate, petrol was some pence a litre cheaper than most others I had seen, including one near the show-ground junction. Cheapest I saw was £1.51p/l… but in Hawes.

.

Just a thought…. if the YEC web-site is not dated far ahead, is it by individual show organisers leaving booking the venue quite late while they try to weigh up likely interest, stand-bookings, pandemics, economics and any others "~ics" making life difficult for them? Things are not easy for anyone at the moment and I would not surprised if exhibition-organisers generally are being very cautious, especially for shows very early in the year.

;;;;

While down in the Midlands….

I called at the first filling-station on the Fosse Way a mile or two South of the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre. It's the one immediately South of the brick railway bridge, near the turning to Harbury.

I found it has installed a card-reading pump – I don't know when but it looks still new – but most usefully for us perhaps, available 24 hours a day. The next filling-station is quite a way away in Moreton-on-the-Marsh.

.

Two long, heavy hopper trains crossed that bridge in opposite directions while I was using the pump. I wondered if they were delivering to one of the HS2 sites, whose massive work areas sprawl across the nearby countryside.

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

Not slagging off, just alerting you to information I have seen on another forum.

Follow this link and make up your own mind:-

https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/search.php?searchid=2496162

Especially look at Pickering posts.

Edited By Les Riley on 03/12/2022 08:46:54

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by Les Riley on 03/12/2022 08:46:05:

Not slagging off, just alerting you to information I have seen on another forum.

Follow this link and make up your own mind:-

https://www.tractiontalkforum.com/search.php?searchid=2496162

Especially look at Pickering posts.

Edited By Les Riley on 03/12/2022 08:46:54

Les

I would love to but one has to register for membership first.

JA

Edited By JA on 03/12/2022 09:44:35

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by mike T on 02/12/2022 16:39:28: That's rich. The event has not yet been officially announced but already someone has had a go at slagging off the organisation. Lets wait and see what is about to be organised, before casting stones.

Yup.

[Chris GunnParticipant @chrisgunn36534]

I had an email from NAME yesterday with the advance details of this show, I imagine all the secretaries of the societies that belong to NAME also got this email.

Chris Gunn

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Hello Chris

Are you in a position to share this information for those of us who are freelance?

Regards Brian

[Les RileyParticipant @lesriley75593]

Posted by JA on 03/12/2022 09:43:38:

I would love to but one has to register for membership first.

JA

Edited By JA on 03/12/2022 09:44:35

Apologies didn't realise.

Try these :-

https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/4542094.police-called-as-furious-exhibitors-block-exits-to-pickerings-annual-traction-engine-rally/

https://internalfire.com/xenf/index.php?threads/pickering-steam-rally.1752/

[Chris CrewParticipant @chriscrew66644]

Unless I am reading it wrong the NAME website gives Friday 10th & Saturday 11th March 2023 as the dates for the Harrogate Model Engineering Exhibition 2023. I seem to recall that an invitation to attend has been accepted by the society of which I am a member was mentioned at the last general meeting of the club.

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

If H. Xbn. had been advertised in ME in a proper fashion as previously, I would have been only to willing to purchase a ticket and book hotel accommodation. In the weird goings on in previous posts here, I feel put off and consider it not worth effort or expense of travelling up from Brighton. Here's one potential customer who will be choosing another weekend venue like Didcot, Swindon museum, Mid Hants Rly or the like.

John

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

From NAME website….

Harrogate Model Engineering Exhibition 2023

Friday March 10th Saturday March 11th

Updated Advance FAQs

Venue Yorkshire Event Centre Exhibition Halls, Great Yorkshire Showground, Wetherby Road, HARROGATE HG2 8NZ.

​Set up access Wednesday 8th March – 8am till 6pm.

Thursday 9th March – 8am till 9pm.

Friday 10th March – 7am till 8-45am

​Public Opening

Friday 10th – Advance tickets 9-45am. Pay on door 10am till 5pm

Saturday 11th – Advance tickets 9-45am. Pay on door 10am till 5pm

​Break

Saturday 12th – 5-15pm till 10pm

Sunday 13th – 9am till midday.

Edited By Clive India on 04/12/2022 10:15:14

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Refreshments Light refreshments (tea/biscuits etc.) will be available free of charge to traders/exhibitors during the Thursday setting up hours. The are 2 café areas operational during the exhibition opening hours – 1 between Hall 1 and 2 and the other in the reception area near the main entrance. Both facilities sell Hot Food, Sandwiches with licensed area A sweet stall is in the main exhibition area.

​Exhibitor trader parking A designated parking area is available close to the hall. Further detailed arrangements for setting up to follow.

​Courtesy Bus A London Routemaster Bus is operating a courtesy service from Harrogate Railway Station.

​Contact the organiser

Events Office 19 Birdgate Pickering YO18 7AL

01751 477757 (Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm)

Simon (direct mobile 07786 330016) ring/text

Email info@theeventsoffice.com

Website http://www.theeventsoffice.com

Edited By Clive India on 04/12/2022 10:12:10

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Thank you Clive,

News at last but curiously no mention of entry price or how to book advance tickets unless we are expected to camp out and be at the door for 9.45 am

Brian

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