"Top 5 UK Wargame Shows?" Topic

I was surprised to see that Britcon advertises itself as the UK's largest wargames show. (I thought Salute was The Big One.)

So… which shows would you say are the Top Five in the UK?

Salute
Triples
Partizan
Colours
SELWG

I think, (no doubt some kind soul will correct me should this prove inaccurate), that Britcon claims to be the largest wargames convention in the UK, so that's technically different from the largest wargames show…

As for top 5, Timmo looks to have the right of it!

Top Five? Hmmm….. now you can be a Top show without being a huge show.

For me its the shows I rarely miss, or would make an effort to attend.

Derby
Alumwell
Triples
Partizan
Chester

I haven't been to Salute since they moved from Kensington. Too time consuming, isolated, expensive and by the sounds of it too huge/intense.

Britcon claims to be the largest wargames convention in the UK, so that's technically different from the largest wargames show…

What's the difference?

Salute for size
Partizan (or The Other Partizan) for quality
Colours for size
SELWG for ease of getting around the show
Vapnartak for Northernness

I'm partial to these, but my experience is limited, as these are ones I've enjoyed after half a day on an airplane from California.

Salute is the show everyone raves about and is seen as the pinacle.

Worlds at Derby
Partisan at Newark
Triples at Sheffield and
RECON at Leeds (top because of its friendly, homely nature)

Convention where you go to play the games (possibly competition games) and there's other stuff like traders etc? Afaik most American shows are conventions.

Show where you go shopping and to drool over demo games and there's extra stuff like participation games and competition games going on somewhere round the back? Certainly most British conventions are shows.

I'm probably taliking out of my nether regions here, as have never been to BritCon :-)

I like Warfare and SELWG more than Salute but I've only been to one or two other showed ever so what do I know?

I think in no particular order--

Triples(size & over 2 days)
Salute(size)
Partizan(quality and venue)
Bovington(venue and the crack)
Fiasco(Venue)

Chester?

Triples went for the first time this year much better than salute better eniroment and free parking.
Bovington Just becouse it is where it is and I can let my hair down (funny if you ever see me)
Colours As good as triples and well worth a visit.
Crusade its a excellent show and my local show shame its only 1 day.
UK Games Expo in Birmingham the only reall cross over show in the UK well worth a Visit.

If we are talking UK there should be a representative from north of the border so I would nominate Carronade as one of the top 5

Warfare at Reading in the top 5
readingwargames.co.uk

In terms of attendance the following I think are the UK's biggest:

Salute
UK Games Expo
Triples
Colours
Vapnartak

Based on what – attendance? venue? numbers of games? numbers of traders? amount of space given to re-enactors?

I doubt if many people – if any at all – could get to all five of the largest shows since I would suspect that they are spread too widely around the UK.

I would guess number one would have to be Salute in terms of sheer numbers of punters and traders/games, but I've never been to any shows in Scotland or the north of England, which I gather can be both well attended and of excellent quality.

Speaking personally, in order of preference.

1) Warfare (Last chance for wargames Xmas shopping)
2) Bovington (Excellent venue, good atmosphere)
3) SELWG (Balance: the right size, the right vendors)
4) Salute (Sheer size and variety)
5) Colours (Great venue to have a pint on the stands overlooking the racecourse)

Carronade and Claymore for being easy for me to get to.

Based on those I have attended and enjoyed, but in no particular order:

Derby
Triples
Vapnartak
Partisan
Battlegroup North

The first three are the ones that I always make an effort to attend. The other two are ones that I attend if I have the time but I enjoy them when I do go. Salute is huge, but size is not everything, and I have only really enjoyed myself there when putting on a game. I prefer a smaller show with good atmosphere and quality games. Oh yes, and free parking.

As a trader:

Salute
Colours
Warfare
Triples

5th is open, could be Val or Partizan.

Salute
Vapnartak
Triples
Fiasco

For me

1. Warfare Reading
2. Derby
3. Bovington – Battle group south
4. Colours – Newbury
5. Salute – only for size, hate the venue

Selwg just missed my list – but its a horrible place to drive to and park at for me, and not as many traders as the other shows

Al

Bill; in the UK we have wargame shows.

In the US you have conventions.

Conventions like Britcon are a recent development here and are along the same lines as US ones ie: residential, expensive, pre-booked games, not many traders.

Most of their custom comes from special interest groups such as competition gamers, boardgamers and fanboys of GW-style games. The mainstream wargaming content is minimal.

So Britcon may well be the largest convention in the UK, but is not a wargames show and I (like many other UK wargamers, I suspect) have no plans to ever attend.

I'm hoping that Chester in 1815guy's post means Gauntlet, 'cos frankly I would like the exposure!

link

Feel free to sign up for the WHFB or WAB tournaments.

Carronade and Claymore have to be in there!

"…get to all five of the largest shows since I would suspect that they are spread too widely around the UK."

This caught my eye and caused a chuckle. So many shows so close to each other geographically --not a one too far away to attend that would require the hassle/expense of airfare or a multi-day drive. For someone such as myself languishing in "the hinterlands" it is a large number of choices to be had easily and well within reach (if only physically, if not economically).

I'm envious.

St Helens Phalanx. Well worth a visit to the far NW of England….. and much ignored by the effete south.

gweirda

Yes, I was referring to cost as well as physical distance – and, for many of us, taking enough time off from family duties to make the journey worthwhile (and speaking personally, I'm now too old for early morning starts, so anything north of Watford means an overnight stay somewhere).

Warfare in Reading must be top 5 – it gets about 2000 punters over 2 days – significantly more than SELWG I reckon .

Bovington wins it for location. Best shows I have ever been to.

York, Partisan and Salute for premises, size and displays

Carronade and claymore for distance, but are not as big as any of the above, but the displays can match the best of the rest (because they tend to get displayed at these shows first!)
Cardiff was quite good but suffered slightly in size. Overall though , It was what I would rate as a good show.

You certainly can't rate Britcon as a "show." As its the only "convention" I visit (and that because of its small "show" element) I wouldn't like to place it in the "convention" pecking order.

Of the ones I can reasonably reach from Manchester (cost/timewise) by public transport I'd rate them as follows

Triples 1st=
Derby 1st=
Vapnartak 3rd=
Phalanx 3rd=
Fiasco 5th
Recon 6th
Britcon 7th

I only go to three so:

Vapnartak
Triples
Recon

I used to go to Northern Militaire as well but that was a long time ago. I am not the best show going as I get bored after an hour and three a year is enough.

All the above keep me happy though

Craig

The only shows I now go to are Attack (Devizes) – because it's local, is an excellent show for its size and has a good range of competitions too – Colours (sometimes) and Warfare (sometimes). I recently went to Fisticuffs at Weymouth but that's pretty small.

Used to go to Salute when I lived in London, and Britcon when it was in Loughborough. I'm reminded of Beau Brummell selling his commission because his regiment was transferred from Brighton to Manchester.

So the top shows from my experience are:

Salute (size)
Britcon (if a competition convention counts as a "show"
Warfare (good blend of competitions and traders)
Colours (great range of traders)
Attack (superb atmosphere, competitions and traders)

"I'm hoping that Chester in 1815guy's post means Gauntlet, 'cos frankly I would like the exposure!"

Yep, Gauntlet it is. Great atmosphere, really friendly peeps, no amateur rules lawyers that I could find, good variety/balance of competition games to play and demo games to try out. I can even put my 25mm WRG Ancients on the table…… so Dinosaurs have been known to roam……

Even the burgers were edible!

Couldn't an interested journalist track down attendance numbers for each?

WMMS – Alumwell
Triple – Sheffield
Gauntlet – Chester – link
Phalanx – St Helens
Derby – Derby of course.

(Going by my experience last year)

Salute
Colours
Selwg
Warfare

cutting down on the shows I go to.

Well as I said Bovington was one of my fave Shows I will need to make the most of this years as I have heard it will be the last…

From a foreigners' point of view.

Salute because of the sheer size and the chance to meet almost literally everyone.

Bovington because of the superb atmosphere and the guys from Battlegroup South.

SELWG not as crowded/huge as Salute and the chance to have a chat with old friends. Good selection of traders and often some really nice games I actually can have a look at.

Used to go to Armageddon/Colours until it moved from Reading to Derby.
Bit of a hassle to get there.

Heard some really good things about Partizan and Warfare, so will probably check one or both of these out in the coming year.

Would love to go to Claymore but the costs are prohibitive.

Ultimately we also get to attend a lot of continental shows like Tactica, Red Barons, Lille, Crisis of course and Dadicom so time ( and money!) becomes a bit limited.

Colours is still at reading isn't it, the world Championships are at Derby, have been for 25 years?

Colours is at Newbury Racecourse these days (not far from Reading – but nowhere near Derby)

My favourites are:

WMMS
Attack!
PAW
Square Bashing (when it starts)

These days I only go to Bovington – I wouldn't miss it. As has been said, the atmosphere (mainly generated by camping on site + alcohol + banter + alcoholic banter). The quality of games is always top-notch and although it's mainly 'demo' games, they're invariably run by the sort of people who invite you to join in and play – even if it's just for a few turns.

What's that?! The last bovvy ever this year???!!!! Please say it isn't true!!! :o(

Well I have heard from an insider that it is--The Museum wants loads more money and are apparently ing Richard about even more than usual… :(

Colours (Since it's move to Newbury racecourse) has been fantastic nice venue with plenty of space and parking. Unlike the 'park a mile away and single file corridors of traders that seemed to happen in it's days at the Hexagon.

North of the border I've always liked 'Targe' not an enormous show but friendly and with a nice variety of demo and participation games.

Warfare and Carronade also get an honourable mention from me!

Sorry to hear that about Bovington. I've been twice, even though it's quite a distance for our club, and enjoyed it totally. Friendly peeps, good mix of traders and very interesting games. Playing among the tanks on display there really adds something to the experience, and the local pint of Badger is well worth a go at!

No doubt it will re-surface in another location….

Bovvy – they have a Tiger, and we get to play Airfix charades – well worth the 650 mile round trip!
Derby – good venue, good traders, nice demos, easy to get to
Salute – too big to really enjoy, but err, well, its so big
Vappa – everyone seems happy – not sure why but it's contageous
Tripples – I always seem to run into some old Uni mates so it stands out

Ken

Only make a few shows each year but of the ones I attend.
Border Reiver
Vapnartak
Claymore
Durham.
Tend not to make the journey south as the train fair can make a serious dent in spending

Airfix Charades is definitely a party-game unique to the Bovington weekend… ;)

Now that Derby has moved up to the University, I only ever go to Triples. I'm not a big fan of wargames shows in general and now I can find most things to buy online I don't see much point in going just for shopping.