The GameFair - The highlights are missing something

[MAH]

I've just been checking date/location for my diary, and noticed that the Highlights page is missing one of the key traditional aspects. Gunmakes row.

Have we been kicked into the long grass?
Am I missing something?

The top highlight now is Shopping.
What a shame.
Maybe they'll drop the word "game" next year

Highlights of The Game Fair

Find out what is going on at The Game Fair. This festival of the countryside has so much going on, one day is not enough.

thegamefair.org

 

[Andrew Hubbard]

Gunmakers Row is still included Under Highlights, Shhoting....

 

[bluesako]

game fairs dont cater for the shooters now and they are just a rip off with prices save your money and gunmakers row is a joke bs.

 

[Howzat]

Maybe the Game concervency fair at Glan Usk will start a new era, as they have contracted to hold it there for the next ten years

 

[sikadog]

When the Game Conservancy Fair was in North Wales they had a number of gun stalls.

 

[Lancaster]

game fairs dont cater for the shooters now and they are just a rip off with prices save your money and gunmakers row is a joke bs.

I'm not sure that it's a rip off, more that the organisers charge more and more every year for a stand which has to be staffed and there isn't much margin left these days, so the old show day bargains are probably a thing of the past.

At this years local Agricultural show there wasn't a single Butcher, Farm Shop or Artisan producer selling Charcuterie, fresh or frozen meat, before Covid there was an entire food hall with probably a dozen stalls or more selling fresh or frozen products.
When I spoke to one of my local Butchers asking why they hadn't had a stall, which they had done for years, they told me it simply wasn't worth it these days.

 

[SimpleSimon]

As an event I enjoy the game fair. I like to watch the displays and see what's about, look at the cars and fancy stuff, try some food, have an overpriced pint and leave feeling like I've had a nice day out.
For a shopping experience, I expect its been killed by the Internet.
As a customer, why wait for the game fair to come around when you can buy whatever you want, whenever you want it, for the cheapest price possible, and send it back for a full refund if you don't like it?
As a retailer, why pay for a stand, transport all your stock there, pay for staff, accept the inevitable loss through theft, soiling, damage, etc... then to be told you're not selling cheap enough. Whereas you can sell on the Internet for no additional cost to your business. You'd do better to reduce everything in your online shop by 20% for game fair weekend, and probably come out of the other side with more profit!

 

[enfieldspares]

I was at Norman Clarke's shop at Rugby last week. He confirmed that apart from Bisley he'd also no be attending any shows or fairs. Said that people would come, pick something up try it, handle it and etc. then straightaway get on their smartphones and look to see who had it £5 cheaper on the internet.

 

[Bo Diddley]

The last fair we attended was the Midlands Game Fair a couple of years ago now, it was overrun with Pi-keys, the stall holders all had security which I found amazing until they explained about the thefts, this was all new to me as it was some time since we last went to such an event.
The day was OK though, we met up with some friends and we all took a picnic which ended up as a nice social occasion. If we don't attend and spend a little money they will just stop.
I love a haggle but the stallholders all played hardball... they explained about the extortionate cost of a pitch...

 

[Dorsettaff]

Cant wait to wade through all those craft gin and artisanal fudge stalls !

 

[bluesako]

its a shame i loved weston park midland gamefair, i really looked forward to going, great people old friends to meet, you could buy anything their, prices were good, you could always get a bargain if you wanted anything to do with shooting or fishing, you could get it there that was over 16 years ago, then it all changed, fairground scented candles cushions nothing for the shooters rip off prices and the worst of all pikey,s doing there early christmas shopping so i dont bother now, i think we should have a dedicated shot show like the yanks have, but i still miss it. it was a great weekend bs.