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| "It feels like this exciting weekend sneaks up on us every year." |
Seeing as this "ninth annual Beachhead event" was my first wargaming show of the new year, I found myself surprisingly excited as I drove down to the Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) in Dorset. I'd actually missed the previous one, and had therefore largely forgotten my past disappointment with its lack of new vendors. Indeed, this time round I already knew some of the stores that were going to be attending, and was very eager to reacquaint myself with "Athena Miniatures" excellent range of Apocalypse Survivors.
What I hadn't forgotten though was the tabletop games expo's entry fee, especially as I paid for my ticket in advance, so I was quite keen to ensure that I obtained significantly more 'value for money' with this trip than I had twenty-four months earlier. Sadly, I must confess that I did not; albeit I did manage to stick around for more than a couple of hours - which is twice as long as I did last time.
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| A few of the Exhibition/Participation Games in the Main Hall |
To be fair, the problem I encountered this time round though wasn't really the lack of 'fresh-faced' manufacturers trying to tempt me with their new wares. But rather surprisingly, a distinct lack of vendors full stop. According to their website, Beachhead didn't even house fifty vendors - a third less than that at Warfare 2024, so after approximately thirty minutes of walking around I'd actually toured the entire Main Hall, and began pouring through the colourful event guide looking for a non-existent second sales area.
Now obviously there is so much more to "Beachhead" these days than its vendor room, with the weekend also containing boardgames, tournaments, demonstration/participation games, workshops, card games and role-playing. In fact, its organiser Pete Valinski waxes quite lyrically about how the event has evolved "from a wargaming show into the tabletop extravaganza" I experienced, and I think therein lies the problem. I'm no longer its target audience, as I'm simply not interested in the majority of the services it now offers.
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| The stalls of Shiver by "Parable Games" and Zoontalis: Battle Royale by "Dice Heads" |
However, having got the 'doom and gloom' out of my system, I'm pleased to say that there were still a number of things I did enjoy at the show - most notably picking up some more 28mm metal Post Apocalyptic Survivors, British Armed Forces and Russian NBC Troopers from John Caboche's aforementioned "Athena Miniatures". I've already been slowly painting up a number of this range's hand-sculpted figures since first encountering the company late last year, so it took quite a bit of will-power not to go completely mad and purchase the remaining figure sets I don't currently own.
Likewise, I was rather enthused when I suddenly spotted the fantastic looking Dead Man's Hand figures Butch And Sundance by "Great Escape Games". This pair of 28mm metal gunslingers completely caught me off-guard, and as a huge fan of George Roy Hill's 1969 American Western film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", they went straight into my 'shopping trolley'. Now admittedly, I've yet to buy the skirmish game which sees "bands of tough and wily Cowboys, stoic Lawmen, ruthless Outlaws and crazy Desperados fight for fame and respect in the Old West." But as these figures come with their statistic cards supplied, I thought they roguish outlaws would make a nice starter for ten if I do.
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| Some of the fully-painted "Age Of Sigmar" armies on display in the Tournament Area |
My last purchase was definitely not what I was expecting, and was an owl-shaped incense burner from the "Into The Realm" Candle Company. This vendor appeared completely 'out of the blue' amidst a rather 'odd' collection of different entrepreneurs selling everything from canvas artwork through to Pokemon collectible cards, and caught my eye due to their creativeness in cleverly naming their wax melts to fit in with Fantasy RPG locations. Nonetheless, it was a somewhat strange place to find a craft stall, and frankly summed up how eclectic the range of goods for sale were at Beachhead overall...
Been a while since I attended Beachead, and interesting to read what's changed over the years. glad you found some interesting wares to obtain while you were there though.
ReplyDeleteIt's noticeably changed since I last saw you there, Dave, and that entire hall where you last had your stall is now the Tournament Area. I was quite shocked at how few (what I'd call) Wargaming vendors there were. But having said that, everyone seemed to be having fun and there was a great atmosphere to the place. It simply isn't my kind of show - so it's probably the last time I'll be attending.
DeleteGreat show!
ReplyDeleteThank you for a photos!
Cheers Michal. You're welcome.
DeleteI wonder why the change? are there not enough tabletop wargamers willing to head down to make it worthwhile for vendors to set up shop? So inviting all the other different angles of the hobby along may help keep door numbers where the organizers expect?
ReplyDeleteRegardless, thanks for sharing Simon. I think I'd feel a little let down as well overall.
Well some big guns like Warlord Games and Great Escape Games were there, Dai. But I believe it was simply too far south for many of the others - such as Crooked Dice. I think filling that vendor hall was probably a bit of a priority hence the art & craft stalls making up the numbers. As I say, there was plenty to see and do if you liked other stuff like RPGs, card games and board games - which I do from time to time. But that wasn't why I used to visit Beachhead, and I think its grown beyond being dedicated to just wargaming - which unfortunately just isn't for me anymore.
DeleteI’d say that what you saw regarding the reducing number of traders is becoming very common at wargaming shows. I’ve noticed it at the last 4 or 5 I’ve attended. I’m fear that a spiral is forming- fewer traders, less to buy, fewer attendees and ultimately the show disappears.
ReplyDeleteI think there are a number of reasons- for many traders it isn’t worth their while to hire a stand, possibly pay to stay overnight, hire a van and load it up etc etc. Their time could be more productively spent casting and posting electronic orders. For the club, hosting a show becomes a bigger financial risk.
Sadly, I think there will be far fewer shows. I hope not.
Yes. I fear you're probably right. Although I still very much enjoy attending both Warfare and Colours - and plan to visit both later this year. I'm not sure about Salute though - its just so expensive to get there these days that much of my budget is spent on fuel, parking, and trains.
DeleteHmm. Had been going to tell people, I know, that Bournemouth show was better than York show (the week before), seemingly it might not be the case anymore. But, if wargaming shows are going to start suffering from a decline due to age, of the show-goers and the traders, maybe your chap from Entoyment has the right idea in diversifying?
ReplyDeletePeter Pig (from Weymouth, Dorset) didn't attend York show, I noticed (can't blame them, though, with the travel and other expenses). Don't think I saw them trading at Bournemouth, the time I was there pre-Covid. It being a local show, to them, seems a bit strange.
There were a few big names/regular stalls at Beachhead as I say, including Perry Miniatures. But I think this show is now very much settling into its rebranding as a games expo as opposed to the old-fashioned wargaming events which I enjoy. Obviously the organisers feel they need to do this to survive - which I entirely agree with - but it's just not for me anymore.
DeleteColours is not what it was, seems to be badly run now. The club members I talk to seem disinterested. I do not attend Warfare now it’s in Farnborough. Salute has been a no go for nearly twenty years, it’s just a dreadful experience. I think many shows will disappear now. Punters are getting older. Traders find it too expensive to attend.
ReplyDeleteI have had a couple of poor Colours. But the last few I've really enjoyed. I'd say the same for Warfare but the price of entry at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre is far too high, imho. I think I've only been to one or two Salutes since Covid, and it didn't seem to have the variety of foreign-based vendors it used to draw. So a lot of stuff could easily be brought off the internet without forking out for the travel costs to reach Salute. I prefer all three over these last two outings to Beachhead.
DeleteI was talking to one of the demo game runners and he said that ‘Entoyment’ who now run the show had handed it over to an events company and they had to fight to get demo games in as they did not produce money!
ReplyDeleteIt’s a shame, I commented on your FB post, it’s not a wargames show anymore
Hello again, and thanks for popping across from FB. I think the lack of demo/participation games was really telling this year, and just as noticeable as the lack of vendors. My last visit two years ago was a bitter disappointment to me. But at least there were some amazing tables to look over and take some pics of. Not so much this time round by quite a mark, tbh.
DeleteThanks for your honest and fair review of the show. For me it was the worst wargames show I have been to, but perhaps you are right that Beachhead isn't a wargames show any more. Like you, I didn't think it was value for money and I don't think I would go again. You have written a good balanced account of the show though, so fair play to you.
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. I've been visiting Beachhead for a few years now, and when I first attended it became one of my fave shows of the season. Now though, it has clearly moved on to a different audience, and I won't be going again.
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