Next month I’m attending my first UK Games Expo at the Hilton Metropole Hotel in Birmingham (May 29-31).
It’s the UK’s largest annual hobby games convention and is attended by thousands of gamers, as ell as hosting the national championships and tournaments for the biggest games in the business including Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan.
So how come I’ve been to Essen three years in a row, but have never attended UKGE? It’s simply a matter of timing. My better half works in a school, the Expo is in half term, and we’ve usually booked flights to somewhere exotic before I realise they clash. But this year we’re staying local for our holiday, so I can get the best of both worlds.
I’ve been a regular at Essen for three years now, and love it, but the UK Expo is more than just a giant board game shop. There will everything from authors, artists and special guests to seminars and talks on all things gaming – as well as it being the UK’s biggest gaming trade fair.
It’s child friendly, hosting a family zone packed full of kids activities; plus if you get bored of board games there’s everything from live action gaming (The Dark Room), RPGs (more scheduled here than at any other UK event), costume groups – even a UK cinema premier for documentary ‘The Next Great American Game‘ by Doug Morse.
Doug is an occasional visitor to the Cambridge Board Game Design Meetup group and I’m pleased to say a big chunk of us will be in attendance – at least five at last count. And play-testing is another big reason to attend, as there will be plenty of great prototype games to demo from the likes of Matthew Dunstan and Brett Gilbert.
Sadly AEG aren’t in attendance this year, but hopefully Empire Engine will be on sale somewhere! But there are plenty of board game publishers heading to Birmingham: the big boys include Mayfair Games, Czech Games Edition, Asmodee, Queen Games, Ragnar Brothers and Surprised Stare.
As a first time attendee I’m not setting myself an agenda but am really looking forward to it. I’ll be there from Thursday night to Sunday afternoon, so if you read the blog at all and are attending please say hi – or preferably buy me a pint. See you in Brum!
Hi Chris,
I’m there Thursday to Sunday too so I’ll see you for a pint (although not at the hotel bar ;).
Dave
Cool 🙂
We were too slow to get into the main hotel, so are in one down the road – maybe it will have a more agreeable bar!
The bar for the show is very reasonable but limited choice. The bar at the hotel is Hilton pricing so very expensive but the only option once the trade show bar closes!
We’re at the Crowne Plaza – may be a better option.
That sounds amazing! I will have to look into it.
Maybe see you there 🙂
Don’t forget to visit the bring and buy Chris, preferably Friday as it is absolutely manic on the Saturday (although they have revamped it this year, but it will still have queues around the hotel).
See you there.
S.
Will be sure to check it out 🙂