Venue
BFFI 2011 – New Venue and New Date
Due to the demise of the Trentham Estate as a viable venue, the time has come to seek a new and improved venue for BFFI 2011 and subsequent shows. The Trentham site is no longer an option due to the destruction of the main events marquee as a result of snow accumulation during last winter. Fortunately a new venue has been found .
Staffordshire County Showground – a great new BFFI venue
The Staffordshire County Showground is located 2 miles from junction 14 of the M6 motorway just outside Stafford. This location is very central for all areas of the UK and is close to 3 major airports and Stafford railway Station. This new site is about 12 miles from the original venue and is easily accessible from the M6, A34 and A51.
The show will be held in two inter-linked exhibition halls, the Prestwood Centre (1366 metres square) and the Argyle Centre (1157 metres square) giving a total of over 2500 metres square of indoor show arena.
The new site is a permanent exhibition venue with far better facilities than the Trentham site. These include -
- Ample free parking.
- Permanent Buildings.
- Mains electricity.
- In built heating system.
- Announcement systems.
- Toilets located in the exhibition halls.
- A permanent onsite café facility.
- Larger casting areas on grassed areas adjacent to the exhibition halls.
- A more spacious layout allowing easier passage around the show.
In short this site solves all the problems associated with the old venue and its marquee type facilities. Even though the site is of a superior quality than the old venue there will be no increase in the entrance fee to the show.
There is also a large antiques fair taking place in one of the other exhibition halls on the same weekend as BFFI – so something for non-fishing partners to do whilst you enjoy the show.
For more details of the site look at www.staffscountyshowground.co.uk
Why move to the 18th and 19th of June?
Obviously when approaching a new venue it is necessary to work around their existing long term commitments. Of the few dates available to the BFFI it was decided that the June date was most suitable.
The reasoning behind this was as follows -
A summer date has little risk of being interrupted by inclement weather.The outside casting demonstrations will be more pleasant to attend in the warmer weather.There is no need for long drives to and from the show in the dark, wet or frosty nights of winter.A summer date is attractive to the foreign demonstrators as they can get involved in some meaningful fishing or take a family holiday.
What will not change?
The BFFI will remain a show that encourages everything of quality to do with fly tying and fly fishing. Only demonstrators of the highest standard will be invited. The invited trade stands will also be closely vetted – with exhibitors specialising in quality products being encouraged.
The BFFI does not encourage a bargain basement mentality so commonly seen at other shows.
