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Posted by smilingrosie2 (U10973578) on Monday, 6th February 2012
booked our tickets for gardeners world birmingham, this is a great show, have been going for the last 5 years, , i always enjoy it, much better then chelsea really looking forward to going, has any one else bought tickets
Feeling very smug cos there's an offer on Tesco club card points where you can get tickets for £8 each. Order online and they post the vouchers to you.
We went every year for ages until they combined it with the food show - then it became too huge, too many non-gardeners in the garden bit and too many gardeners in the food bit - in my opinion a disaster! Sad to say no longer go there for that reason, now go to Malvern or Harrogate (or both if I'm feeling really lucky). They are smaller and there are fewer people to try and get around to see the offerings.
Anyway, do enjoy your trip to B'ham, with the good offer on the tickets!
The food bit is the only way I can get my husband to go!!! For once, god bless Tescos! Really tickets are free aren't they. Can anyone explain to me why Malvern is so expensive to get in? If I go somewhere to spend money I don't expect to have to pay a fortune to get in which I feel Malvern and maybe other shows cost.
I live really close to Malvern but won't be going any more.
Hello Tobyjojo
Taking a guess that Malvern, as well as Chelsea, Hampton Court, Tatton, etc. are shows run by the RHS which is a charity. Whereas the GW show at Birmingham is a ´óÏó´«Ã½ event I think. If anyone else knows better please tell us.
The high prices of shows is offputting, I agree, as is the RHS annual subscription. It's a great shame as it's a haven for gardeners.
Hi - I agree that the ticket price for Malvern and other RHS shows are high, but I would not call £20 - £22 to get into Gardeners World free!! It is just because they are a charity that they must charge these kinds of prices, but indeed that may well keep alot of people away who might otherwise go there.
I meant tath they are "free" if you get them through Tesco reward vouchers, oherwise yes they are expensive!
I've always considered ´óÏó´«Ã½ GW Live to be good value although I don't go every year. There are always great displays and of course the celebreties even though they can sometimes disappoint, What I do object to are the smaller shows, very often around my neck of the woods, Essex, run by events companies and under the guise of 'The Spring Garden Show' or such like. These are nothing but large markets, no show tents and can charge up to £10 to get in. OK, some of the dealers only sell at these do's and you can get the odd bargain but by the time you take into account your travelling and entry you could probably get just as good at your local nursery.
I didn't go last year simply because I don't think it is the value it once was.
The previous year(2010) I noticed that things were more spread out to give the appearance that there were still as many trade stalls as there once was.
I had a chat with some of the trade stand holders and concensus was; it is coming down to 'costs' one of those 16 x 8 ft stalls costs over £3000 so god only knows what the big ones must cost!
So even the 'trade' is finding it expensive to go, particularly if they don't get an award of some description. I believe a 'gold medallist gets around £750 so this I guess would subsidise their efforts.
I am going to Harrogate Spring show on the 27th April, I also go to the autumn show! Here are a few pictures;
My favourite show is Tatton but that is getting more expensive now.
For instance I like to go on members day (first day) where members usually benefit from a discount of around 10% , last year it was quite the reverse...... was a 'fiver' more than any other day ;(
So yes things are getting a bit more expensive but what can we do about it?
People still go in their thousands choose what it costs meaning; so long as this continues the organisers will try to extract another few bob out of us each year.
What I have done to reduce costs is cut my visits from four to three and it is the NEC that is suffering as far as I am concerned, the other three are better value for money plus the fact they are nearer to home!
I hope you enjoy your day out!...Tg
i'm visiting The Edible Garden Show in warwickshire this year, it looks to be a good one with grow your own veg experts, small holding and home produce, its on 16th to 18th March.
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