doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com CLA Game Fair 2016

For anyone who had been thinking of visiting the UK's main game fair at Ragley Hall in 2016, please note that it has been cancelled. The formal notice is here: http://www.cla.org.uk/latest/news/statement-future-cla-game-fair
It will be much missed, but perhaps it had gone rather 'off course' in recent years, and it had certainly become expensive, both to visit and apparently to exhibit.

That is sad news I attended this year and in 2011 and it was great! I always had fun and enjoyed the venues, the gun makers row and all the dog demonstrations.

That's too bad.

Somewhat surprised they were not able to make a go of it.

times they are a changing.....

I picked up this information yesterday from a long term gunmakers row exhibitor and Chrissy and I are bereft.
Yes, it was expensive in every respect from accommodation to the price of beer, and the exhibitors got royally fleeced, but it was fantastic, unique British institution and deserved to continue.
It celebrated the countryside and rural pastimes in a way that shone out, way brighter than all the myriad smaller local 'country fairs' could hope to do, good fun though they are.
This year's event seemed as good or better than any previous years.
It will be sadly missed.

That's my CLA membership done away with then, and a lot of others too I'd guess.

This would seem like a golden opportunity for the Countryside Alliance, a much more vibrant and alert outfit than either the CLA or BASC.

A "Game Fair Lite" still over three days but cutting out the hangers on and the dross is a potential winner. Given that the gate receipts alone must be around �1.5, if the CLA can't find a margin then someone else with more oil in their lamp surely can.

Eug

I believe someone or some organisation will step in and take it on. Whether that happens in time for next year we shall have to wait and see.

If it was to go back to its roots and concentrate more on field sports and less on property improvements and other peripheral 'stuff', it would be more attractive to the core visitors.

I do hope we see it back as "The Game Fair" very soon!

Tim

Ragley Hall is an easy venue for me to get to as well! My boss gives me free tickets to go in with which eases the pain of the ticket price. I know the Wild Trout Trust pulled out of this year's show.

For overseas visitors there is always the Midland Game Fair each September which is almost as big. Lagopus.....

On the occasions I visited the Game Fair I started to get the distinct impression that each year there where three hands in my wallet taking money and only two where mine!

Just a heads up; the 2016 Game Fair is alive and well, with a new operator.

It's still a three day event and is going to be held at The National Agriculture and Exhibition Centre at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire, just round the corner from the cancelled CLA event at Ragley Hall.

GAME FAIR 2016

I don't know anything about the new operators, but wish them well.

Eug