Peterborough - Tired old show or did i miss the best bits?

[Chopsticks]

We went to the Peterborough Show as Day visitors as we haven't taken delivery of our PVC yet.
Having gone to the Norfolk Show previously, we thought that this was much better with many more stalls and traders.
We took our greyhound and lurcher and met loads of lovely dogs and their owners, too!
Visited the guys from Shire (who are doing our PVC) - think they had a result as their stand was in one of the sheds, well away from the inclement weather!
Loads of tempting things to buy but we're holding fire until we have our van to make sure that we do really need those 'essential' items !

 

[MillieMoocher]

Well that was our forth Peterborough show on the bounce, having occasionally attended in previous years with my parents.

I think there were some notable names absent, in particular Hymers N&B and Chausson seemed a bit under represented (more Hymers than the other 2 but no Travelworld was a big hole).

Wasn’t over impressed with Empires RV stand, accompanied viewings only whereas other Signature and the 5th wheel guys had a “shoes off” rule which everyone seemed to abide by. I can kind of understand Empires stance but it felt a bit “local shop for local people” to me.

Really liked one of the RVs on the Signature stand, would have been seriously tempted towards one if I was in the market for a tag axle /8 to 9 m sized MH. It had a surprisingly low payload though of 750kg, which for a 7.5 tonner didn’t sound much.

oh and it wasn’t sold to me!

At the other end of the scale, was very attracted to the IH panel vans, especially the 600 with the U shaped lounge. Seemed very open and airy but at £68k you could also get a Geist A class so a tough market sector.

Re Warner’s pricing, I think the money they ask for 4 nights camping and access to the show and most of the entertainment is brilliant value for money. Maybe rather than fleecing the exhibitors for more and more money they could consider a price rise - maybe not popular but I really don’t know where else you could get 4 days camping, unfettered access to a 3 1/2 day show and such entertainment for what they charge.

Final thought goes to gennies (without wanting to start a gennie thread). A guy near us (but not on Fun camping area) had a Honda EU10 (?) running from time to time. Absolutely whisper quiet and inoffensive, beyond any question if I was to buy one that’s the one to get. I was really impressed!

 

[eddie]

Re Warner’s pricing, I think the money they ask for 4 nights camping and access to the show and most of the entertainment is brilliant value for money. Maybe rather than fleecing the exhibitors for more and more money they could consider a price rise - maybe not popular but I really don’t know where else you could get 4 days camping, unfettered access to a 3 1/2 day show and such entertainment for what they charge.

To be honest we have stopped attending because of the nature of the show, not the cost, if attending a show was worthwhile the cost would be almost irrelevant. As I have said after 28 consecutive years exhibiting at the Peterborough show, the decision taken last year wasn't taken lightly and it's viability was discussed when booking the couple or so years before that.

Again, as I said I see the demise of the open air shows as I view the High Street, people don't need to shop there anymore. I am the same, I do most of my shopping online from Amazon so don't need to traipse around a muddy field in the rain to see gizmo's and gadgets.

 

[olley]

Well that was our forth Peterborough show on the bounce, having occasionally attended in previous years with my parents.

I think there were some notable names absent, in particular Hymers N&B and Chausson seemed a bit under represented (more Hymers than the other 2 but no Travelworld was a big hole).

Wasn’t over impressed with Empires RV stand, accompanied viewings only whereas other Signature and the 5th wheel guys had a “shoes off” rule which everyone seemed to abide by. I can kind of understand Empires stance but it felt a bit “local shop for local people” to me.

Really liked one of the RVs on the Signature stand, would have been seriously tempted towards one if I was in the market for a tag axle /8 to 9 m sized MH. It had a surprisingly low payload though of 750kg, which for a 7.5 tonner didn’t sound much.

View attachment 299964 View attachment 299965

oh and it wasn’t sold to me!

At the other end of the scale, was very attracted to the IH panel vans, especially the 600 with the U shaped lounge. Seemed very open and airy but at £68k you could also get a Geist A class so a tough market sector.

Re Warner’s pricing, I think the money they ask for 4 nights camping and access to the show and most of the entertainment is brilliant value for money. Maybe rather than fleecing the exhibitors for more and more money they could consider a price rise - maybe not popular but I really don’t know where else you could get 4 days camping, unfettered access to a 3 1/2 day show and such entertainment for what they charge.

Final thought goes to gennies (without wanting to start a gennie thread). A guy near us (but not on Fun camping area) had a Honda EU10 (?) running from time to time. Absolutely whisper quiet and inoffensive, beyond any question if I was to buy one that’s the one to get. I was really impressed!

It's on a 16000lb GWV chassis. (7257 kg)

 

[bigtwin]

Final thought goes to gennies (without wanting to start a gennie thread). A guy near us (but not on Fun camping area) had a Honda EU10 (?) running from time to time. Absolutely whisper quiet and inoffensive, beyond any question if I was to buy one that’s the one to get. I was really impressed!

We also had one next to us and could barely hear it.

I still gave him dagger looks though!

Ian

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[Peter JohnsCross MH]

Amazon is the ruination of the retail High Street and dont pay anywhere near enough tax on their profits unlike us and everyone else in the UK

Peter

 

[Ivory55]

Amazon is the ruination of the retail High Street and dont pay anywhere near enough tax on their profits unlike us and everyone else in the UK

Peter

And delivery driver wages.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

We went there again,but I do not think we will be there again next year or any other shows for that matter. I was in the market for a better radio for the van but there WERE NONE on sale from any stands at all. I noted none of the usuals had a stand I wanted to visit. Lots of tat and little sunstance. I went to Becks expecting to see the new FWD merc Hymer and they said we won't bother taking the Hymers to any shows now, except the van models. Because they will sell everyone they can get without showing them. Little point in going as the only thing I did get fixed was my Satfi unit which had an LCB broken and the verticla reception was all it got Sky News only.. It had always given trouble but there was no waranty on it as it was a discontinued model I bought but didn't know that at the time. Never mind It goes now after a 10 minutes fix on the roof, that cost £50 for the bit.
I might go to the one at Lincoln still but do not hold my breath about it. It might have cheered me up if the weather had been nicer.

 

[MisterB]

LCB or LNB?

 

[scotzsue]

We also had one next to us and could barely hear it.

I still gave him dagger looks though!

Ian

couldn't have been us ours isn't a Honda. After 6 days off grid and 1 battery down, we needed top up to run CPAP. Apologies if we disturbd anyone, it was mid day and most people were on the showground.
Thought there were mmore motorhomes on display this year, but was disappointed by the accessories, although saved money as the things i needed weren't there. The best part however, as always, was meeting up with other funsters. After speaking to a newbie, and seeing the mass everyone chatting buttie Sunday, think it might be better to have this right at the start of the meet, but realise that is impractical.

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[bigtwin]

couldn't have been us ours isn't a Honda. After 6 days off grid and 1 battery down, we needed top up to run CPAP. Apologies if we disturbd anyone, it was mid day and most people were on the showground.

Pay no heed to the naysayers, you, and anyone else, are perfectly entitled to use your generator despite what the ‘generator police’ would have you believe.

Ian

 

[ROB1CHELSEA1]

Not been for a couple of years but thought this years was good. I think visitor numbers were down due to poor weather which was mainly the wind but this meant walking around was easy with no bumping into/dodging people/dogs. Popped in the Funsters tent Saturday for a couple of three Stellas and chatted with some old friends I'd not seen for a while

Purchased a 13.5 Tog double quilt
2 leisure batteries (DMS)
Shower head
Sports bag
Aqua Kem green sachets
Sink Plug
2 pairs of 501s
2 bacon rolls
1 Pizza
and a waving Donald Trump solar figure

Nearly bought Jim's van until i realised it wouldn't fit between my gate posts

Rob

 

[Jim]

So many people mentioning that the show is much smaller than it used to be. Does anyone happen to have any old show guides so we could see for certain?

 

[Ivory55]

We wasn’t there but are dealers taking smaller pitches to save costs, which would give the impression of less there.

 

[orridge]

We went as day visitors as looking for a replacement Motorhome and have narrowed down a few makes and models so thought it would be a good opportunity to see all in one place without waiting for the NEC in October however only one or two of each brand was there and whist the large American RV's were a interesting distraction nothing caught our eye and with the layout found it a bit strange as units all over the place used in with new and no sense of organisation.

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[weejocky]

Given the state of our nation right now "The National Motorhome Show" probably reflects it well. The showground is awful, the toilets are circa 1960, that's not the build date, it's the last deep clean date. If the farm animals that normally populate the showground were forced to use the onsite showers the RSPCA would be taking Warners to court.

Dealers are rammed into narrow, leaky, stinking, drafty old cattlesheds and you literally are smelling bullshit while walking on bullshit and listening to it from the desperate dealers. The premium indoor area resembles a Brittas Empire badminton court, while the rest of the outdoor exhibits are in rows with bigger and bigger gaps resembling a grotty market or car boot sale. National Motorhome Show! National Embarrassment more like.

 

[funflair]

Given the state of our nation right now "The National Motorhome Show" probably reflects it well. The showground is awful, the toilets are circa 1960, that's not the build date, it's the last deep clean date. If the farm animals that normally populate the showground were forced to use the onsite showers the RSPCA would be taking Warners to court.

Dealers are rammed into narrow, leaky, stinking, drafty old cattlesheds and you literally are smelling bullshit while walking on bullshit and listening to it from the desperate dealers. The premium indoor area resembles a Brittas Empire badminton court, while the rest of the outdoor exhibits are in rows with bigger and bigger gaps resembling a grotty market or car boot sale. National Motorhome Show! National Embarrassment more like.

A tad harsh in my opinion

All the toilets I used were clean, the sheds looked and smelt clean enough to me, i didn’t see much ramming in the sheds as there seemed to be plenty of room, most of the vans were outside anyway.

Martin

 

[Ivory55]

I was sure that they have stopped having the county show there for a while now as it did not pay, and it’s owned by a private firm now not farmers etc.

 

[Hotelman]

I think if you were looking for a ‘pre used ‘ van in a particular price range then the show was OK. Looking for a new van or one slightly more expensive then NO. I understand that the N.E.C show if you are not careful is very ‘confusing to the mind’ and after a period of time you can forget what you have seen, and if you can remember, you can forget where you saw it !!.

 

[olley]

So many people mentioning that the show is much smaller than it used to be. Does anyone happen to have any old show guides so we could see for certain?

Got a picture from the top of my RV in 07.

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[movan]

..and in 2014 there were some really unusual Funsters in attendance..

 

[scotzsue]

We wasn’t there but are dealers taking smaller pitches to save costs, which would give the impression of less there.

was looking for a solar power pack, got my last one at Peterborough and at least 3 stalls selling them, none at all this year.
only 1 knicker stall, thank goodness. The craft tent was quieter too.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

LCB or LNB?

LNB but I got confused I knew it was three letters though.

 

[Jo662]

We went as day visitors on Sunday. Been going for quite a few years,but thought this year was better than the previous two. I thought there were more motorhomes on show than last year anyway. It was a nice day out anyway,and we must come in to the funster tent one year having past it so many times.