| Shooting Show
Great British Shooting Show 2018
When the British Shooting Show opens next year at the NEC (February 16th –
18th) it begins a new chapter in the shows incredible journey from a tented
exhibition area in Nottinghamshire to the country’s National Exhibition Centre.
en years ago the dreams of an
annual UK event exclusively for
the shooting community and
the shooting industry were
about to spring from the
drawing board and become a
reality. The British Shooting Show was born
and in the years that followed the event has
seen an amazing increase in the support from
the global shooting industry, including the
countryside organisations leading to increasing
numbers of exhibitors and visitors year after
year. Today the British Shooting Show is proud
to be the only event in the UK to bring the
shooting industry and the shooting community
together on such a colossal scale.
After the 2017 show it was clear that if the
British Shooting show was going to continue its
controlled growth something was going to have
to change and that something was the venue.
Stoneleigh Park has been the home of the
British Shooting Show since 2013 and has
served it extremely well, but the event now
needed a much larger venue to host future
shows and so the search began.
A new home for the British Shooting Show
was going to have to meet certain
requirements. It was going to have to offer
sizeable, first rate exhibition facilities and also
be easily accessible, not only for UK visit ors
and exhibitors, but also for those travelling from
Europe and further afield. The next job was to
compile a short list of potential venues; and
that list was very short indeed. In fact, there
was only one name on it; The National
Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
Centrally located, 75% of the UK is within a
three hour drive and once you arrive, the
parking at the NEC is FREE for visitors to the
British Shooting Show. If the thought of the UK
roads is something that doesn’t fill you with joy
there are 43 direct rail routes from around the
country straight into the NEC and with 25% off
advanced fares from Virgin Rail why not leave
the car at home, jump on the train, relax in
comfort and let Virgin Rail bring you directly
into the NEC, with the entrance to the British
Shooting Show just a two minute walk from the
platform. For visitors and exhibitors alike who
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are travelling from abroad there are 143 direct
flights into Birmingham International airport
from European destinations as well as direct
flights from the USA and with the NEC only 90
seconds from the terminal, ease of access to
the British Shooting Show from international
destinations has never been easier.
Shooting Accessories
The British Shooting Show isn’t just about
the guns and ammunition. There are a
multitude of accessories available for every
shooting sport – Fashion ,Fine arts ,Antiques,
Jewellery , Watches handmade knives,
electronic calls, shooting sticks, Designer
Clothing, and footwear, hearing and eye
protection, gunslips and bags bespoke gun
boxes and cases specialist vehicles – the list of
quality accessories for purchase is almost
endless.
International Hunting Experiences attend the
Show
Is a hunting safari something that’s on your
wish list? These trips are becoming more and
more popular with intrepid hunters who want to
experience tracking and hunting game in exotic
locations such as the African plains. The British
Shooting Show has more professional
international hunting outfitters attending than in
any previous year. With the number of different
packages that can be tailored to your specific
requirements you might be surprised at just
how affordable the hunting trip of a lifetime
could be.
And Even More ….
The National Gamekeepers Organisation has
worked tirelessly with the British Shooting
Show in bringing the popular Gamekeeping
element to the show and is now a major
attraction for gamekeepers and all who have a
passion for country sports and pursuits.
Throughout the show area visitors will come
across stands where artisans demonstrate
incredible craftsmanship such as hand
engraving, barrel making, stock making,
taxidermy and stick making to name just a few.
The arena is the place to be for visitors wanting
to enjoy an exciting line up of displays on a
rural theme presented by the leading
professionals of their fields. The inspirational
Andy Cullen MBE demonstrates invaluable
techniques and personal tips on how to train
your gundog and build a successful working
partnership. The charismatic Chris Green will
be sharing his vast knowledge of country skills
in a way that is as entertaining as it is
enlightening. And if game cooking is your
passion ‘Wild Chef’ Ralph Skripek will be
showing how to prepare and create delicious
recipe’s using the game abundant in our
countryside. Stunning and unusual gun, rifle
and pistol collections will also be on show from
antique pistols and historic breech loading rifles
to huge .50 calibre rifles and Mike Kay’s
magnificent Winchester collection. For those
wanting a challenge ‘The Battleship Breach’ in
the tactical area gives visitors the chance to
come on board and ‘clear the decks’, shooting
at a variety of targets against the clock while
moving through the ship.
A Festival of Shooting over a full three day
experience
What is the appeal of the British Shooting
Show? The answer is quite simple! The show
focuses on the needs of the gun trade and the
needs and wants of the individual shooter.
Those who have visited the big trade shows
around the world such as the Shot Show in Las
Vegas and IWA in Nuremberg will recall that jaw
dropping moment when the sheer expanse of
trade stands and products are first seen. These
international shows are not just trade events,
but a visitor experience. They bring the “Wow
Factor” and that is something that we need to
have in this country. The move to the NEC
gives the British Shooting Show the venue and
the shooting industry the stage on which to
deliver and present a truly international
shooting show here in the UK.
Come and join us for three full days of
shooting indulgence at the NEC, 16th – 18th
February 2018 where you can enjoy a warm
welcome, a friendly atmosphere and the best
the shooting industry has to offer.
Tickets are available now by visiting the
British Shooting Show website
www.shootingshow.co.uk or for more
information contact the team on 01258 857700
February 2018 | Farming Monthly | 27