London Boat Show 2019

[silverthorn2151]

Is cancelled.

To be honest, 2018 wasn't as good as 2017, but I did enjoy a days dreaming every January.

Will it ever come back?

Now where am I going to go and buy those random bits and bobs that look so indispensable when at the show?

[IforB]

The boat show this year was pretty pathetic. I wouldn’t have gone next year unless there was a major change to it.

[silverthorn2151]

I know what you mean and the difference between 2017 and this year was significant. It's very convenient for me so I would have gone. I can understand the reticence of the large companies to commit such a large amount to a 5 day show.

Just a shame really.

[IforB]

silverthorn2151 said:

I know what you mean and the difference between 2017 and this year was significant. It's very convenient for me so I would have gone. I can understand the reticence of the large companies to commit such a large amount to a 5 day show.

Just a shame really.

They had to make changes as the show had been losing money at a horrendous rate prior to this year, but there just weren't the stands there to make it worthwhile going to. I know more than a few dealers who had already made the decision that it just wasn't worth going anymore and so hadn't bothered.

I've been going since I was a child and it's been on a downward spiral for a long time.

[Chrisgr31]

IforB said:

They had to make changes as the show had been losing money at a horrendous rate prior to this year,

My understanding was that it was subsidised by the Southampton Show, guess the decision has been taken its better to have one good show than risk Southampton being affected by London.

[NeilB12]

The official statement from British Marine said "This decision was made after independent research by exhibition experts, Zing Insights, showed there was insufficient support from a large proportion of the marine industry to the London Boat Show with its current format, duration and location."

This pretty much sums it up but the rest can be found here which was announced back in May - https://www.theyachtmarket.com/news/marine-industr...

[donutsina911]

As a punter ‘in the market’, I thought this years Southampton show was dire - reminiscent of the last years of London and felt like a boat jumble on steroids. What’s the view in the trade? Will Southampton go the way of London?

[belleair302]

Boat shows work best either in the sunshine ie Monaco, Ft Lauderdale or Miami.....or for accessories, smaller craft, safety equipment and jet ski's somewhere better than London, where nobody boats or even uses the water. Silly location and I can se why it has no future. Buyers want to see what they are buying full scale, sellers want serious footfall and stands need the opportunity to showcase their services.

[Boatbuoy]

Hop on a plane to Dusseldorf for the day, it's a far superior winter show.

[NeilB12]

I thought Southampton was quite good this year despite the weather during the 2nd half, I even spent 5 mins stuck in a lift with a Hairy Biker !!Slightly different layout with the Guinness bar in the centre instead of hidden at the back along with a stage for talks and live bands late afternoon.
The not so "secret" MGM bar had better Guinness though !!

The show was oversubscribed and they are adding another section of pontoon for next year to accommodate demand. Mayflower park was due to be enlarged but I've heard the plans are on the back burner for now so visitors will still have a bridge to negotiate.