Festive Gift Fair, NEC Birmingham

By : Forum Member
Published 11th November 2016 |
Read latest comment - 18th November 2016

Went there yesterday, on its first day (finishes Sunday).  I've had a love/hate relationship with this event, returning last year after giving it a miss.  Lucky to get a cut-price ticket from a lady who had a spare.  

One thing I noticed was the larger number of traders who were taking cash only; were they in league with the NEC who had installed a large number of ATMs charging £2.50 per transaction.  Lots of traders selling cheese and fudge! 

Now for the real moans.  In addition to the ATM charge and cash only trend, there's not enough seating unless you go out of the show; then you have your hand stamped so you can get back in.  With the "olds" in tow, sitting down frequently is important. Went on train as parking now £12.  None of staff seemed to know how often station shuttle bus ran, we waited around 20 minutes.   

I'll keep comments about other visitors to myself, but why do people stare.......


JuliaP
Comments

So you have to pay to go to the event, pay for cash withdrawals for cash only traders, and there is the good old NEC car park sting.

I'm afraid you're not selling it to me  

Done the Brum German xmas market a few times which isn't too bad, but only go for a nose rather than to actively buy things.


Steve Richardson
Gaffer of My Local Services
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So you have to pay to go to the event, pay for cash withdrawals for cash only traders, and there is the good old NEC car park sting.”

 

 Also forgot to mention that had I not been offered a cut price ticket, I would have paid exactly the same amount at the door as I would have online, which included the dreaded admin fee. 

Won't be going back.

German market isn't bad; wonder what it will be like post-Brexit   I usually go to graze.  Can't get the Haribo aeroplanes as they're still only sold in German airports......


JuliaP

I'm off to the Good Food Show next weekend with friends.

Got stung £12 a couple, of weeks ago for the Grand Deign Show (would not recommend that !).

Going to try and park in the Resort World multi storey carpark, thats only £1 for 3 hours  or £3 for upto 5 hours - go figure that out when you have to pay £12 for open air parking on roughly the same site  


Clive

Clive

Parking in Resort World is free up to 3pm.  Not sure if it applies to weekends as well, but their website will tell you.  

My next NEC trip is for Big Airport Sale 2-6 December (no not bidding for an airport, but duty free sale). Entry by ticket only, available on website (bigairportsale.com).  Parking is free and right by Resort World.


JuliaP

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