Next Event: Antiques Collectors Fair,
Riverside Leisure Centre, Morpeth Sunday 11th May.
What a terrific start to a New Year, and now, along comes a very early Easter!
WILLOWBURN LEISURE CTR. ALNWICK
No longer nestling in a quiet backwater of Alnwick, Willowburn Leisure Centre is now at the heart of the commercial resurgence of this ancient market town. Love them or hate them, the mighty Sainsbury has arrived and with it comes Homebase and Argos in the new Willowburn Retail Park. The Leisure Centre is located at the entrance to the Park, consequently, as we all saw at the last Antiques Fair, business has never been better. Tens of thousands of people now pass the Leisure Centre every week, raising the profile and awareness to people across the region. Our next visit will be on Good Friday 21st March and with bookings already strong, book now to avoid disappointment.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY (PAT TESTING)
I’m sure that you are aware that all electrical equipment must, by law, have a current annual test label attached. This notice appears on our web site and all venue lists published by CCE. All venues and organisers throughout the Country are under increasing pressure to enforce this regulation, which is why the matter is constantly highlighted by CCE. You may also know that it can be quite expensive to have your lighting tested annually; therefore from 1st March 2008, CCE will provide a new service for all exhibitors at a nominal cost. From that date, a PAT test will be available at all Fairs.
For a fee of just £3, your appliance will be tested, and should it be safe and pass, a pass label will be affixed and recorded. If it is unsafe, then a fail label will be attached and the appliance must not be used, however the test fee will be wavered. Make sure that you take advantage of this very inexpensive service - this advice should not be ignored.
NEW VENUES OFF TO A FLYING START
As many of you will now know, the New Year has seen the successful launch of a number of new venues including The Shepherds Inn at Carlisle where the facilities and huge free car park were received with huge enthusiasm from both exhibitors and visitors. A buoyant days trading ensured that the next Fair on Sunday 18th May is now almost full. Business was also very brisk on Tyneside at the Silverlink Park Hotel where there has been a terrific appeal to return from exhibitors, the venue will appear again on our programme very soon. We will also return to Marton Country Club on Teeside where the Fair got off to a positive start against all odds, with adverse weather leading up to the weekend and a now, infamous and rather boisterous gypsy wedding reception the night prior to the Fair, which delayed our set up time considerably. The next fair at Marton will be held on Sunday 13th April.
19th February 2008.
Here we are again, at the start of another year, 2008!
You may have heard that last year finished on a positive note, with a very successful Fair at Newcastle Airport Hotel; a steady flow of visitors throughout the day and a lot of money exchanging hands. The recovery of the Fairs programme throughout the last nine months looks set to continue with terrific advance bookings and in some cases Fairs already fully booked.
As you will be aware, today we have an exhibitor stand price increase, the first for two years. Once again, kept to the absolute minimum, the increase will offset two years of marketing and logistical price rises. Also, today you will see that vouchers are being given to our visitors in the form of a 2 for 1 ticket for the Gateshead Fair on Sunday 24th February. This voucher will also be repeated in newspaper adverts prior to the Fair and again at times throughout 2008 to help maintain the attendance on Sundays at Gateshead.
On that note may we wish you a Happy New Year, thank you for your support, and announce three new venues for 2008...
MENZIES SILVERLINK PARK HOTEL, NORTH TYNE.
Located 1 mile north of the Tyne Tunnel, on the junction of the A19 / A1058, Silverlink Retail Park is one of the busiest high profile locations on Tyneside. The Fair will be held in the Conference Centre, adjacent to the hotel, in a warm and comfortable environment. Thousands of people pass this location every week, and with banners and AA signs it is sure to be a successful day. The hotel will be providing food and beverages throughout the day and a large car park will make the visit and access very straight forward. The Fair to be held on January 13th is already well subscribed, so book now to avoid disappointment!
MARTON COUNTRY CLUB, TEESIDE
February 3rd 2008 will see the re-launch of this venue, and a return to Teeside for Colin Caygill Events after a long absence. The location is superb, on the A174, the parking is free, and the venue is vast. There is space for over a hundred stands and with no other Fair of this size within 30 miles, this could, with your support, become one of the North’s most popular venues. A big marketing plan is being put into place with PR, adverts, banners, AA signs and a huge effort from all. It’s now up to you to support this Fair from the beginning, secure your place for the future and take advantage of the vast catchment area of North Yorkshire and Teeside.
SHEPHERDS INN CONFERENCE CENTRE, CARLISLE
A new start for 2008 in Carlisle, with a venue that is perhaps the best known location in the city. Once again this high profile venue is passed by thousands every week, located next to Carlisle Mart, at Junction 43 of the M6 motorway. The adjacent Auctioneer Pub is one of the busiest Sunday Eateries in Carlisle and refreshments will be served throughout the day in the Conference Centre. Parking is free, with space for a thousand cars. Reserve bookings are now being taken, as the first Fair on Sunday 10th February is fully booked.
31st December 2007.