Alan

Pleased to report there s been a steady influx all day of both exhibitors and traders, although traders are still down and many have still not set up properly yet. Traders field is still very empty though at the bottom end (beyond the model tent). have to say all staff I encountered today all very amicable again, and the booking process this year has been improved with a hold area and vehicles being called forward to the ‘lanes’ in the booking area. It is hot though, when the ice cream van finally turned up he had a constant queue!

Hard to tell if numbers have dropped, in Rex’s day you go a nice programme listing exhibitors, this has been dropped since the takeover, so there’s no comparison. I would say visually they have, the last show at the race course it was noticeable, and given the large area now taken over by MOP camping in America’s field the exhibit area feels smaller.

Can’t say I saw a big increase in toilets, America’s field seemed to have some at the top which were not there last year, but again they werent the trailer units of previous years but the Porto loo type. Not sure if they were the ‘controversial’open trap type though !

Booked in this afternoon, no queue and staff were polite. requested my sons wristband be applied loosely so he can take it off (he has swimming lessons this week) and ‘man in the van’ was fine about it. Fields seem very quiet this year, a lot of areas marked out though with nothing in them ! lots of space in the green camping field, very little in America’s field, this may be because the MOP camping now takes up nearly 30% of the field and is much bigger than last year! I think if I was visiting I’d think I was at the camping and caravan show in America’s , not a great mv to tent ratio. Sales stalls also appear down, unless they are all turning up in the next 24 hours ? Just realised I was never given a programme when I booked in , is there one ? Still some nice looking mv’s around and having seen a few items on the stalls to add to the stash and the weathers shining it’ll still be a good show. I just hope it’s fortunes change and it remains in the calendar.

Seen it all now, you can now pay a small premium and upgrade to vip toilets .....

Americas field was specifically for plastic camping and was noted as such in the literature. Whilst green camping obviously looks more in keeping with the event, practicality also has to be considered, this was my first w+p that my family decided to attend with me as such green camping was not an option, as my wife refuses to sleep in a cold old army tent! Bringing the family also required us to bring a support vehicle, can't fit 4 in a lightweight landrover and plus my wife had to work on two of the days (although in the end we ended up leaving her car outside due to the conditions, despite paying £30 for the privelage). given a better layout, civilian tenting and cars could be disguised better and be located behind the vehicles being displayed, but when we arrived Saturday am there was no option to do this. Was also disappointed to see that some reenactors and many MV's left during the show on Saturday and that many traders were packing up at 3 pm just as I was doing my last sweep of bargain hunting. Have to say with the exception of the weather and toilets had a great time, shame the number of traders was noticeably down, but at least this year I came home with a relatively intact wallet ! Improvements Toilets (obviously), exit and egress-to the site with separate entrances for public/exhibitors, bringing back the fashion shows etc for the ladies

I'm all for the authentic approach, unfortunately my wife and two kids aren't ! given in the past we have paid a small premium for these facilities it seems disappointing (in my opinion) that this year they are below par, especially given how good they were at Folkestone.

Don't know which field you are in fv1609, but we have no showers in americas field, although the public camping has a nice block (which apparently we can't use) we have to walk to the main block or the pods nearby. We also only have about a dozen portaloos, which is only adequate due to the low footfall through our field, I certainly preferred the block units we had at Folkestone. I am fortunate as I live 2 mins away so go home for a shower! Have to add staff are very good, had a few issues prior to the show downloading tickets and they e-mailed them over to me with a few hours of me contacting them and when I enquirer about bringing a support vehicle 2 days before the show, the e- mail I sent at 8.00pm was responded to positively ,within 20mins. There was good marshalling at the start with the two girls at americas stopping unnecessary traffic from entering the field due to conditions and pointing out which lanes still had available space.

It's strange how the hype has died down the last few years, I suppose with no one having arrived on site yet, there's little to say. I can tell you having been past there numerous time in the past few days on my way to work ( I could walk from my house to the hop farm !) that the perimeter security fencing is in, the two ww2 raf planes arrived on Monday and were out in the main car park (since moved into the grounds but not yet set up) and marquees where going up tonight and the first bits of the fun fair have arrived.

When are the trade stalls normally up and running? I have normally arrived the night the show opens, but this year with the show during the summer holidays and being able to get their earlier will I be able to get my hands on any bargains before Joe public has general access? Or is it the case most stalls don't open until the first day ?

Forgot to add, doesn't seem to be many toilet blocks either and showers only located at the back of the public camping and where the purpose built block is (close to the old model tent location).

Looking at the plan, is there going to be enough room for everyone ? With the public camping now in a previous Mv field and more public car parking now inside the site (location of the old fun fair ?) and what looks one extra field of living history the space for MVs seems to have shrunk considerably. one can only assume they have allocated space based on bookings?

The best thing about the show has to seeing the stashes people have hidden away, it's unbelievable the quantity some of these dealers have that he visits.

I suppose my main gripe about the show moving to the school holidays, is that now my kids and wife can come, which will make both buying and hiding my purchases more difficult !

7 would be the most applicable for me, the problem is doing most shows by myself I tend not to display any valuable equipment (or cr*p as my wife calls it!) I have collected over the years and part of the reason for going is to wander around the show in the aquistion of more, so I can't secure it at a show, especially somewhere like W+P. The other issue is family, if they come they can't fit in a lwt so wife takes her car, also she is not keen on the cold 9x9 and demands more modern tentage (she does agree with it being fully cammed up though). I do firmly agree though that vehicle and display should be at the front and the rest at the back, W+P is especially bad for this with often huge encampments of mixed tentage, civi vehicles, Porto loo all on show and the military vehicles packed nose in or haphazardly around them As an after thought.

Signed as well, up to 177 now

Amazing thread, not sure I have ever seen such a diverse range of in service NI vehicle pics

Thanks, I only checked at the weekend too., and there was nothing there. Not looking forward to the extra MOPS though due to the whole show being in the holidays. it's been nice in the past having a few days to explore the stalls and watch the demos etc without the crowds!

Anyone have any news on this years show, with the exception of a merry Christmas e-mail from them, it's all been quiet. I see the application forms have not yet to be posted on their website either.

Well I didn't have dig an escape tunnel to get out, just drove through the gate. Bit of a red herring I think 🤔 For some reason my whole report didn't get loaded in, but I'll summarise my observations. I believe exhibitors down 30-40%, both fields fairly empty with huge gaps between vehicles. Reenactors seemed about usual, possibly less support vehicles though. Stalls again about the same but some notable regulars missing. No funfair this year, and less shows during the day in the show tents (no fashion shows etc for the ladies), I think there may have been less performers as well. Jive aces as good as ever, but noticeably less people getting up and dancing / participating. Visitors down too, certainly not the numbers wandering the stalls and I didn't observe any queues at the gate. Not sure what the additional toilet surcharge was for, same number to my eyes, condition seemed the same. I realise this is all rather negative, but it did have the feel of a non event, certainly not the sparkle of past shows (even those in its present location). but this is the first year I have returned with all my spending money and after 2 days had pretty much seen it all. I really hope it was just the excessive hot weather putting people off, as I'd miss my yearly dose of w+p if it ended.

Have just returned after 3 days (had to leave early due a urgent issue arising at work) and can honestly report that it's the worst year I've ever attended. When I arrived on the Tuesday night I was surprised to see that easily 50% of the green camping area just inside the main gate was empty, this as you know is normally a no go area for someone arriving half way through the week.

Received an e-mail today confirming no passes etc will issued by mail, all have to signed for at the booking gate. Also that the booking gate will only be open from 8.00am to 6.00pm ! Not sure how i am going to get back from work and drive down through the M20 traffic to beat the 6.00pm curfew andIi live less than 45mins away. Why so early I wonder ? Also having seen the new layout, anyone arriving at Westerhanger by train is going to have a walk to get to the entrance, I wonder what the thought behind moving the car park into the site was, the area looks a lot smaller than the original one.

Well The Gunner store had complete ones for £2,500 at W+P. They still have one for sale on-line now.

Hi all Need some minor work and a service carried out to my lightweight before this years show season and as I neither have the time, space or any expertise in mechanical matters! I need to find someone else to do the work. Work is only related to a few advisories from the last MOT in July, a service and tracing an electrical fault which has just appeared (using the indicators starts the hazards off). Any suggestions gratefully received. Alan

This was my first W+P as an exhibitor, having bough my first M/V last year (for the last 9 years or so I have been a MOP) Have to agree with all that's has been said so far, but definitely more toilets and showers needed for Kitchener's field (some grass would be nice too!) and more toilets around the stall area. Heard a few grumbles from the traders that sales were down (they put this down to too big a site and people no longer being funnelled through the stall area to the display field as at Beltring). Personally I though the number of re-enactors in attendance and the size/quality of the battles was down on previous years. The site could also benefit from a land train (this would also help with carrying back all the those 'essential' bargains). Overall I liked the feel of the new site, meals in the grandstand (carvery and breakfast) were exceptional value and the daytime/evening entertainment (Satin Dolls especially...) was very good. Gripes None really probably only the toilet/showers and I think the layout of M/V's in Kitchener's was haphazard, at one point I was in a line of M/V's by the time I left I was surrounded by campers, tents, cars etc some of which had no M/V with them, there appeared to be no order at all. These are all teething problems to be expected with a new site etc. Roll on next year!