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Warrior Bazaar 2010 Review

Warrior Bazaar 2010 was a success!!!

Thanks to the traders, demo and participation games, re-enactors and everyone else who gave their time-this would not have been possible without you.

We want Warrior Bazaar to be more than a trade show. We want it to be a fun day out for all the family and that way, we may get the war-gamers visiting that aren’t always given the green light to attend war-gaming shows. If there is something for everyone, the atmosphere is fun and lively then women and children will also look forward to the show giving their husbands the sneaky opportunity to look and buy.

The Warrior Bazaar’s new home at the Park Hall, Charnock Richard was warmly received. No one can dispute the fact that the Baronial Hall is beautiful and authentic – with its candles lit on the walls and plush red carpet, although a little dark for the tournaments that were being played, it has to be one of the nicest function rooms and entrance for a war-game show. The Lancastrian Suite was also well received with its bright and interesting statues and ambience. Although a little darker in two of the corners of the function room, the spot-lights will be re-directed for next year but this can be forgiven with the added benefit of the huge stage which was an excellent focal point.

Even the entrance from the car park could not fail to impress as you walk under an iron arch into the beautiful spacious courtyard which led you to the Baronial Hall or the hotel itself. Luckily the weather was on our side and visitors could sit and enjoy the courtyards interesting surroundings in the bright sunlight and the re-enactors could enjoy having their photographs taken.

We tried to cover all aspects of the day from traders to visitors. We wanted to set ourselves apart from the usual show and prior to the event, we posted show packs comprising of detailed information and laminated transport numbers to assist when they arrived. We had a free coffee and Danish station for the traders whilst they set up their stands which was effectively transformed into a sausage/bacon refreshment station when visitors started to arrive. Visitors and show attendees could also benefit from either the hotel bar’s snack refreshments or the hotel’s restaurant Brookes which offered a Sunday carvery with free drink to all visitors of the show. The hotel was overwhelmed at the amount of visitors who took the opportunity of enjoying the carvery and visitors not only enjoyed it but was pleased at it being so reasonably priced.

Again, the traders that attended were all in great spirit and visitors were given the opportunity to see one or two traders that are not regularly seen on the trade show circuit including Dreamholme Scenics, Heresy and Warbases to name but a few and we also enjoyed meeting the new owner of Figures in Comfort who travelled 5 hours to be with us. We thank all our traders for their support.

We also had the opportunity to enjoy fantastic demo and participation games that hadn’t been widely seen before from Sherlock Holmes Sci-fi to Brutal which came along with its own female Gladiator. Again we thank all the participants including the Cackromunda game which did cause a stir when it bleeped loudly and flashed when someone lost and died but became annoyingly funny for the neighbouring Battle of Cheriton game.

We also had a fantastic response to all our re-enactment groups that most definitely added atmosphere and colour to the day. Seeing a stormtrooper concentrate on being shown how to load a cannon by an American Civil War soldier was one not to be missed. Also seeing Darth Vader playing chess in the courtyard isn’t something you see every day. We want to thank again members of the Sealed Knot, American Civil War, American War of Independence and of course the colourful and menacing Galactic Knights.

We were also delighted to have some great prizes and awards donated for the Best Demo, Best Trader, Best Participation and Best Costume. We were also pleased that the main prize for the children’s History Alive competition, along with a plaque and framed certificate was a Family Pass to Camelot Themepark and for the main Painting Competition, along with a framed certificate, award plaque, bottle of bubbly and £20 voucher, the winner also won a stay at the Park Hall with Bed & Breakfast and Three Course Meal. We do hope that we have more entries next year and thank the editors of Wargames Recon and Miniature Wargames magazines for helping judge the competition.

All in all it was a fantastic day and even the sun shined on us which made it perfect. Thank you to all……

See you next year!!