I thought the pinball gathering was traditionally held on the bank holiday weekend in August.
I'm quite happy to move them but I thought it suited most.
Ideas?
I'm quite happy to move them but I thought it suited most.
Ideas?
Pinball info
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When should ukpinfest 2020 be held? Poll added
- Thread starter Big Phil
- Start date
Bank holiday is fine with me personally Phil ( obviously, it being a bank holiday wouldn't keep me away 
), my comment in the other thread was just a thought about whether it is keeping numbers down.
), my comment in the other thread was just a thought about whether it is keeping numbers down.
When I am not working ! ……… Lol, I could not attend in 2019 so hope to make it next year 
I dont mind when it is. I was gutted to miss it this year but I'll definitely be there next year.
Would the rate for booking the function room at the hotel be more / less if you avoided the bank hol? That might be the deciding factor?
Would the rate for booking the function room at the hotel be more / less if you avoided the bank hol? That might be the deciding factor?
Hot weather turns out to be a detriment for this as it turns out. Last year either the weather wasn't as warm, or the air con was working better. Later in the year might make things more comfortable and allow a bit of a gap with the other large events.
As always there isn't a one size fits all in those circumstances.
Personally we were going to miss it as we had plans for going somewhere on bank holiday weekend. These plans fell through and we were able to come on the Sunday.
I have no idea whether others would have been in the same situation. I remember seeing several other posts saying they couldn't make it. Would they have been on a different weekend in say mid Sept? God knows.
I think people who want to come will make it happen, whether it is in Aug or at any other times. But to attract other, less involved, people, maybe a weekend when it isn't competing with going away for a long weekend would work better?
That's just my view.
Personally we were going to miss it as we had plans for going somewhere on bank holiday weekend. These plans fell through and we were able to come on the Sunday.
I have no idea whether others would have been in the same situation. I remember seeing several other posts saying they couldn't make it. Would they have been on a different weekend in say mid Sept? God knows.
I think people who want to come will make it happen, whether it is in Aug or at any other times. But to attract other, less involved, people, maybe a weekend when it isn't competing with going away for a long weekend would work better?
That's just my view.
If you book it, they will come
How about the bank holiday at the end of may? You also might want to look at running this at half term. You may get more families with kids attending too.
The only thing is parents would need to ensure their kids are aware of the fair play policy.
Just throwing my thoughts into the mix. Look forward to seeing you again next year.
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Its not just the kids who need to be aware, its usually the adults who are worse for this
I think it not being on a bank holiday weekend would be better. People often go away with families so you may get more general punters.
I'll be there whatever weekend it is but commercially might be a sensible move.
I'll be there whatever weekend it is but commercially might be a sensible move.
That too... and an even cheaper hotel rate too? The event might be cheaper to run too?
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I would avoid Bank Holidays
August is always a slow month due to holidays, children being off school, hike in hotel prices...
I'd avoid September and November as people are generally skint after holiday or saving for Xmas
May is similar situation to August Bank Holiday people try to get away and make more effiecient use of their annual leave
June to mid July
October
Would be good options...
August is always a slow month due to holidays, children being off school, hike in hotel prices...
I'd avoid September and November as people are generally skint after holiday or saving for Xmas
May is similar situation to August Bank Holiday people try to get away and make more effiecient use of their annual leave
June to mid July
October
Would be good options...
Pretty naive point of view... @Big Phil needs to make sure its profitable and getting it at the right time of the year will be key to getting punters through the doors...
Because at the end of the day its Joe public that make events profitable... Because its definitely not the pinball community... Free hotel rooms, Free Vans and fuel... Free VIP tickets for being a machines all eats in the bottom line
The tournament ran by @Wayne J @Wizcat was self sufficient this year, all the prize money came from the repeat entries... Massive step forward in my eyes... No cost to organisers and pulls tournament players in.
D
Deleted member 2463
It doesn't matter when you do it; it won't be good for someone.
August bank holiday has many plus:
1: Doesn't clash with any other major pinball event - Personally if you move it you need to make sure you don't clash.
2: Its now pretty well established.
Minuses:
1: Heat risk - Saturday was pretty unbearable, not sure when they turned the AC on but it wasn't early enough.
2: Lots of folks go on holiday this time of year.
3: holiday traffic - but I don't think you'll avoid travel chaos if you move it. Being next to MotoGP definitely doesn't help.
In my view I wonder if there are alternative locations though. The Mercure is pretty ropey. No A/C in the rooms. Overall service not great, middle of no where so family that aren't into pinball don't have many choices and TV channel choice sucks. Wifi was pretty good though and its centralish. I think keeping it in a hotel so we are close both from a people POV and parking POV is important as well as a non lift non stairs loading bay, the after hours events of Pinfest are as important as the show and being all in the same hotel in the same location really works.
Because of the established nature of the date I would be very cautious about moving it but it will definitely be a barrier to getting more folks to attend.
Cheers,
Neil.
August bank holiday has many plus:
1: Doesn't clash with any other major pinball event - Personally if you move it you need to make sure you don't clash.
2: Its now pretty well established.
Minuses:
1: Heat risk - Saturday was pretty unbearable, not sure when they turned the AC on but it wasn't early enough.
2: Lots of folks go on holiday this time of year.
3: holiday traffic - but I don't think you'll avoid travel chaos if you move it. Being next to MotoGP definitely doesn't help.
In my view I wonder if there are alternative locations though. The Mercure is pretty ropey. No A/C in the rooms. Overall service not great, middle of no where so family that aren't into pinball don't have many choices and TV channel choice sucks. Wifi was pretty good though and its centralish. I think keeping it in a hotel so we are close both from a people POV and parking POV is important as well as a non lift non stairs loading bay, the after hours events of Pinfest are as important as the show and being all in the same hotel in the same location really works.
Because of the established nature of the date I would be very cautious about moving it but it will definitely be a barrier to getting more folks to attend.
Cheers,
Neil.
Seemed pretty busy already to me, some pins were hard to get a game on. More punters means we will need more pin donors perhaps?
Appreciate Phil needs to cover his costs though. And I know it's been suggested before but maybe in the future a portion of the competition money should go to the running costs of the show?
Appreciate Phil needs to cover his costs though. And I know it's been suggested before but maybe in the future a portion of the competition money should go to the running costs of the show?
D
Deleted member 2463
They would be rubbish
October has several well established large pinball events on almost every weekend. (BPO, EPC, Expo etc).
June July have lots of events and it probably means not running the league at UK Pinfest. First week of July is Pinburgh...
Neil.
Best let the hotel know that too! The heating was on in my room on arrival crazy!
What about the venue in Blackpool that hosts the play expo there each year? Would that be big enough to host pinfest by itself.
Could spend a week there lots of other things to do not just pinball which would take place over the weekend!
Also lots of cheap B and Bs and not miles from a train station either.
Thoughts please?
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Blackpool is not central enough, too far for a lot of people.
Daventry is a poor location in terms of transport... Good if you drive but terrible for people coming on public transport...
Pinfest could be in central UK, with good transport links...
D
Deleted member 2463
I can't imagine a worse place than Blackpool.
Ok where would you suggest that Disney cost too much to host has easy transport links and a big enough venue? NEC Birmingham? Nottingham? Any other ideas? Brighton?
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* doesn’t not Disney!
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Guess you’ve never seen Waynes World for the reference there Kirk, never mind
Just to add, Phils question was WHEN should Pinfest be held, not WHERE
Personally if it moves any further north I probably wouldn't be able to make it. Took me over 4 hours to get there and done £60 in petrol. Personally I think Daventry is the perfect location as it's roughly in the middle of the UK and fair on everyone to travel. Hosting it in Brighton would be nuts as for most of our friends up north it would be rediculous to get to.
The date doesn't affect me, with enough notice I can book it off work pretty easily. The bank holiday traffic does suck though I'll agree with that. If most of the entry money is coming from the public and not pinheads perhaps a bank holiday isn't the best choice as I can't imagine many people would have swapped a beautiful weekend away in the sun for a sweaty weekend with us lot!
The date doesn't affect me, with enough notice I can book it off work pretty easily. The bank holiday traffic does suck though I'll agree with that. If most of the entry money is coming from the public and not pinheads perhaps a bank holiday isn't the best choice as I can't imagine many people would have swapped a beautiful weekend away in the sun for a sweaty weekend with us lot!
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Sorry..... location is equally important as when to hold it let’s set a date before confirming the venue
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Which is why I said location is just as important as the date. I’ll stop now....
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D
Deleted member 2463
Nottingham.. few miles from centre of town so you don't get gangbangers drifting in but decent transport links, modern venue and I think could be had at the right price.
D