Will you be at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC between now and Sunday? If so, please pop along to our stand (right in the middle of Hall 18) and say hello!
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If so, what do you think of the accessory stands there today? I love the cheery showmanship of some of those salesmen and women, so I snapped some of them in action!
Please tell us what you thought of the show – and what you took home with you! Was it a Dicky Bag, one of the rather pretty dog-walking accessories for collecting unmentionables more elegantly than the rest of the doggie-walking pack?
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Or a super-efficient German barbecue (Lotusgrill, pictured below) that superheats the charcoal so that it’s ready superfast?
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Or a window-cleaning kit for your motorhome, as seen on those shopping channels you end up on when there’s ‘nothing’ on TV?
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Bucket Buddy is there again this year, with magnetic jewellery for arthritis sufferers. In fact there were loads of items you could try for bad backs, shoulders and joints. I saw plenty of people trying out the massagers – though it could be that they just fancied a little sit down for a while! You can have your shoes cleaned on one stand, too.
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Upholstery in all sorts of textures and colours, plus bedding in weird and wonderful fitted shapes to suit your motorhome or caravan beds also offer a chance to sit down – or even lie down – for a bit before exploring further in this Aladdin’s Cave of a show!
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Amazing graters are being demonstrated, too – the Cheese Mill keeps all your cheese/biscuit/breadcrumbs inside the grater, instead of all over your motorhome/caravan kitchen! Who knew such things existed?
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And if getting a decent TV picture matters to you, there are many Satellite TV solutions on offer!
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Oh yes, and OF COURSE there are lots of fabulous motorhomes, caravans, trailer tents, folding caravans, campsite stands, lodges and statics… Phew!
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Don’t forget to haggle over the price if you’re buying a new motorhome – whether it’s a Concorde RV (above), or a coachbuilt or van conversion – and check out the very special Show Offers on the stands.
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Hymer has a big stand, promoting its 2013 models, its new extensive dealer network in the UK and the fact that they now make beautiful Hymers tailored especially to suit us in the UK.
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On the Chausson stand you can step inside our Practical Motorhome magazine Motorhome of the Year overall winner – and enjoy the fun of their show motorhome with its clear picture windows. Ooh la la, that’s a very public washroom, n’est ce pas?!
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There are motorhome hire companies at the show, too, so once you’ve bought a motorhome, you can hire your ‘van out through one of them, when you’re not using it – you never know, maybe it will eventually pay for itself (or at least fund your own touring)!
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Our Nightstop Scheme partner, the Motor Caravanners’ Club, has a stand, as well as the two big clubs – The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. You can try towing a caravan, free, with The Caravan Club, just outside Hall 18. Both clubs are also promoting their overseas touring with talks and slide shows, too. It’s a chance to sit back and let yourself dream…
The NCC’s Motorhome & Caravan Show: October 16-21, 2012 at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.
As days out go, it’s certainly good value!
(Tickets cost £10 adults, £9 over-60s, kids go free.)
Kate Taylor, Practical Motorhome
