"A short review of Derby Worlds." Topic

I was there with my stand, and after ruffling feathers with my reports on Salute 2013, and putting out praise for one or two smaller shows… I think it is only appropriate for me to pass my thanks to the organisers for what I feel was a grand show.

The venue – An "aircraft hanger" like building at Donington park, was spacious and although cold when I arrived as a trader was pleasantly warm by 10:30. The gaps between stands were usually sufficient to allow even the larger figured gamer space to pass (like myself) and there were plenty of extra seats at various points so that rest stops could be taken during the buying frenzy.

The overall layout was excellent, and the provision of show special rates for food was a great idea, and whilst the sandwiches did run out earlier than I would have expected the staff did manage to rustle up a cheese cob on the fly for a reasonable price.

As I took a break from my show stand (where I could say that both days were busy), I toured the show looking for inspiration, you know the kick of a new period, or a new scale… and didn't see a great deal to inspire. ( I suppose you could insert a piece on how at my age there is not going to be much I have not seen before.. and you might be right). I was impressed with a firm selling cardboard sci fi scenery who will be doing a kickstarter for a new product that looks excellent, and I don't really do sci fi!

There was a very high standard of demonstration and participation games, most with excellent scenery, but some showed what us mere mortals could aspire to. The games seemed busy and there did seem to be some younger gamers involved, and taking part in games. The competition hall area seems vast – and contrary to the University seemed to be part of the show.

The program addressed (in part) one of my complaints from last year, by giving the location of the nearest cash points, which is important if you have no easy means of using a credit card. I think the organisers have done a great job with this.

The organisers asked a number of times if there was anything they could do, and were genuinely friendly and welcoming. I did not notice the concrete floors, and the black ceiling that other people have commented on, I was to busy to notice such things.

I felt it was a great two day show, with fewer through the door on sunday, but it was busy till closing time both days.

(Beer was cheaper than most other events I have attended, but I did not sample the quality, so I will not comment further.)

I admit I might have moaned a bit to the stallholders opposite (the brilliant Ainsty castings) and they had to put up with seeing my ugly mug almost all the time.

There did seem to be much more focused purchases by customers.. and even I exhibited some impulse control. I managed to sell a few of my own figures, and found a real bargain on the bring and buy, and one or two traders were disposing of pre loved items at a discount.

Overall, I would have to give Derby an 8.5, and suggest that it is better now than when it was at either of its two previous venues. I hope that other larger two day shows think about similar venues, which might lack some of the character that I liked about Kelham Hall, the home of Partizan, but are better with regard to shopping and gaming.

I am already looking forward to attending next year!

I also want to thank the organisers for helping out my mother when she became anxious at the event, it was little touches like this that will reassure me that you really do value your visitors.

Interesting comments.

Personally I found the venue souless, the toilets disgusting and the food very pricey. I paid £4.00 GBP for a baguette and £1.80 GBP for a cup of black coffee. That is not cheap or even reasonable in my book.

The beer I had was a 1 pint can of lager for £3.00 GBP which is just about OK but still a big mark up.

I enjoyed the weekend although I agree with all of Hammy's points (with the possible exception of the coffee … it was probably the best value item in the friendly but hardly efficient cafeteria …) …

It certainly had 2 day's worth of attractions …

Phil

Just a thank you to the organisers from us at Adler. Efficent and friendly, well attended show. :o)

If some berk hadnt decided that 'overnight closure' of the road into Nottingham meant 4.30, not as I suspect most of us would think something more like 9pm would have been better for us. All I need to do now is find out who the git is and hunt him down……………lol
L

I enjoyed the show and there was a definite improvement on last year. I expect higher prices on food at convention venues. The plus points for me were free parking (a rare experience these days), reasonable entry fee, £5.00 GBP for 2 days, easy to get around with plenty of space between stalls, plenty of seating and tables.

Great seeing so many familiar faces on trade stands and at demo games. Also very good to meet Richard Clarke from toofatlardies at last.

Will definitely go again next year and if rumours I heard about another Northern show being under threat This may be the only 2 day show I go to and ruin the number of weekends away with the lads!

In response to Hammy's points.

I didn't get a baguette – they had sold out! – but I did get a cheese cob, which was cheaper than the Food at the English institute of Sport, home of the Sheffield Triples show. ( and you don't want to know what I paid at Salute for a tin of Cola and a sandwich )

The toilets were better than last year, and one set was more noxious than the other… (I thought the one nearer the bar remained cleaner longer).

The coffee was drinkable and good value, and the breakfast special was a good deal. I didn't comment on the bar, but I did pay over £4.00 GBP-00 a pint at another northern show this year, so a reasonable price in comparison.

(I am not saying the venue is perfect… but the show made up for a number of shortcomings… )

The free parking was good but as a venue I think it's awful. A noisy, dark aircraft hanger with a concrete floor. I learned my lesson from last year's exorbitant food prices and took a packed lunch. The toilets were marginally improved from last year but that wouldn't be saying much.

The range of traders was good, I didn't buy anything other than a painted Viking commander for Saga but the opportunities were there if I wanted to start a new project. Some of the display games looked "ordinary" but some looked well presented so that's par for the course. The Bring and Buy seemed to be full of junk and old books but that's normally the case in my experience.

If it wasn't for the fact I was playing in the Impetus competition I wouldn't have gone this year. I will probably want to play in it next year too but to be frank the petrol cost and the poor venue make it hard to justify the 200 mile round trip. I know this sounds very negative but it's just not a place that I want to get up at 6 AM to go to.

Carl has just updated his Blog with a report ans some pictures. We also got some pictures of some 3D printed models used in one of the games which were made on a home printer. Very good quality. You can find it here-

Link

I think its better all round, more space, well laid out, the floor was concrete….so what…? The beer I did not try but I heard three people say it was cheaper than so and so. The lighting was fine and the location ideal for cars.

So all in a plus for me better than the University.

I think its better all round, more space, well laid out, the floor was concrete….so what…? The beer I did not try but I heard three people say it was cheaper than so and so. The lighting was fine and the location ideal for cars.

So all in a plus for me better than the University

The issue with the concrete floor is that standing all day on it makes your feet ache. That's not great if you're stood for two days putting on a display or participation game.

Ok, concrete floors might not be the ideal …. but they are now the norm in many venues.

So with this in mind why not look at buying yourself/club or tradestand with anti-fatigue matting ….. we have it where I work for operators who are at a machine for a large proportion of their day and it makes a massive difference.

or

Get some decent footwear that is either designed for looking after your feet or has appropriate sole for the conditions – let's face it for the majority of wargamers fashion isn't an option they take, so why not choose something that's fit for purpose …… you don't after all go swimming in your tuxedo, you wear swimming trunks/shorts … decent training shoes are far better at keeping your feet in reasonable nick on a hard surface than a pair of school plimsolls for example

I'll bear it in mind but it isn't my feet that needed looking after, I was sat down playing in the Impetus competition. I'm merely feeding back the general opinion of my fellow club members who were stood up for two days and who did get aching feet. I will mention the anti fatigue matting to them.

I went with someone who hadn't been to the new venue, and his first impression was 'Wow! Great! on entering the Hall. We 3 all felt thats it is nice and spacious, easier to get round than the University, cheap entry, reasonably priced food and a goo day out. More seats would have been nice as all the ones I saw were usually taken, otherwise no gripes. As for the toilets and food prices, we always stop off at McDonalds at Newark and use their facilities on the way, and their food is just as expensive if not more so, so we don't tend to spend too much time dwelling in the cafeteria or toilets.
Didn't make any impulse buys, but made a few notes on items. Overall I thought the games on display weren't quite up to last years standards with a couple of exceptions, however my memory is getting awful these days so I might have forgotten most of last year's or mixed them up with Sheffield. Overall I'd agree 8.5 is pretty fair mark.

As a small addendum, since Hammerhead is moving to Newark Showground next year into a similar exhibition hall, due from what I hear to Kelham's new owners raising the venue hire charge from 2k to 4k for the day, I think those of us who don't like wargames shows in these types of centres will have to get used to the idea as ever increasing overheads will force organizers to seek cheaper venues in future. About a year ago I put up a post asking why Partizan had never moved to Newark Showground, and I think it was Laurence replied that they had never needed to look elsewhere. If the story about Kelham's price increase is true that's a lot of money for Partizan organizers to find extra, twice a year if it applies to them as well.

As a visitor to the show with a chum who stayed and did both days, we both felt it was an excellent show. We took a packed lunch for Saturday so no food price issues there and simply ate on the grassy knowl outside in the glorious sunshine when energy levels started to run low. We stayed in a nearby Premier Inn which included a buffet breakfast each on the Sunday morning which kept us going through most of Sunday.

A great 2 days so thanks to all!