International AK47 Day - 25 May 2024. UK Event.

[Dex13]

Dear all,

I've floated initial planning ideas, on the AK47 Facebook Group, for a UK event in support of International AK47 Day; 25 May 2024.

First I want to check whether anyone else has already started planning for such an event? If so, is there an appetite to combine resourcing?

Questions about actual interest, location (personal preference will be north of the Watford Gap) etc may follow. But my primary communication channel will be the AK47 Facebook Group. If you want to follow any plans etc, that may be the best place to do so (AK47 Facebook Group).

Cheers

Dex

[Colonel Kilgore]

That sounds like a worthy initiative, Dex.

I'm just intrigued by the selection of that date - can you expand, please?

Simon

[Dex13]

That sounds like a worthy initiative, Dex.

I'm just intrigued by the selection of that date - can you expand, please?

Simon

I adopted the date from the facebook group. I believe one or more of the admins selected it last year as the 'international AK47 day.' Probably a joke and as good a date as any.

[Colonel Kilgore]

Thanks Dex.

So, nothing to do with the Primera Junta in Argentina, the Edict of Worms or the release of the first Star Wars film then 

Simon

[Smiley Miley 66]

Of course Wednesday does make it a bit ackward for a lot of working people.
Also remember there will be a bank holiday near to that date. Traffic, inflated prices for staying at places etc.

But other than that I am happy to come once you have a firm date, place to play etc.

I would of course suggest Entoyment down in Poole, Dorset.

I would suggest we need to find a place for this, and start working on a place for Great Northern day out too ? As it seemed a lot of people came from the eastern side of the North to play in the West ?
But from a serious point of view Entoyment is a good place to have a gaming day.
It does have a lot of things going for it.
It's not hard to travel down south, I think myself and Martin proved that twice this year, travelling UP the country, so sometimes so of you from North of the Watford gap can come down to us ! At least once or so a year ?
Also Entoyment does do a rather good all weekend show in Bournemouth. Beachhead.
Personally I will travel to most places in the country.
Miles

[Sean Clark]

That's a poster from 2 years ago. 25th May 2024 is a Saturday.

[Sean Clark]

Of course Wednesday does make it a bit ackward for a lot of working people.
Also remember there will be a bank holiday near to that date. Traffic, inflated prices for staying at places etc.

But other than that I am happy to come once you have a firm date, place to play etc.

I would of course suggest Entoyment down in Poole, Dorset.

I would suggest we need to find a place for this, and start working on a place for Great Northern day out too ? As it seemed a lot of people came from the eastern side of the North to play in the West ?
But from a serious point of view Entoyment is a good place to have a gaming day.
It does have a lot of things going for it.
It's not hard to travel down south, I think myself and Martin proved that twice this year, travelling UP the country, so sometimes so of you from North of the Watford gap can come down to us ! At least once or so a year ?
Also Entoyment does do a rather good all weekend show in Bournemouth. Beachhead.
Personally I will travel to most places in the country.
Miles

Miles, at last count I've travelled south around 25 times over the last few years. A 450 mile round trip. Of course  I have been very fortunate to have stayed withartin for the vast majority of those trips which keeps the cost down. Had I needed to pay for accommodation it's unlikely I'd have been down on more than a handful of occasions.

The Weekender is an exception. The best weekend of gaming going. Looking forward to it.

[Smoking gun]

Miles, I'm sorry Poole is too far for me, 550 mile round trip, probably 3 or 4 days drive due to my back and shoulder problems.

I don't know of many gaming venues outside of my home town of Grimsby which has a gaming store / centre plus a wargames club. The main issue is Grimsby isn't that easy to get to and can't be described as central.

I'm willing to travel for a day of gaming and have been to Daventry and Manchester.

Best wishes, Martin of Grimsby

[Smiley Miley 66]

 Before we go into top trumps mode ? I am pointing out some of the problems we all face ? Including old tired body ones along with financial ones? And Mileage etc,etc.
If you want to go by mileage. Then a 600 mile round trip was done by myself picking up Martin on the way through (or just over 500 miles on my own without picking up Martin) to Stockport. 
Yes staying somewhere costs a lot of money. Then there is the problem a lot of people on here do earn a lot more than some of us by a considerable amount ?
 So what I am pointing out most people suffer the same problem.
But it does seem that those of us that live down South are seemingly a lot more willing  or happy to travel up North ? While those up North do seem to be quite shy to travel down South ?
 So Solution: please find some good places that we can all travel to within nice and agreeable distances of the where we all live ?
Good gaming facilities and good accommodation nearby please ? Also easy to find !
Also good times of the year so there is so light to travel to and from these venues please ? Upto 3-4 hour drive is acceptable?
Also to avoid Bank Holidays and school holiday weekends, as some Motorways are a nightmare to try and travel on, especially a Friday Afternoon!
So now the problems have been discussed?
Please those above the Watford Gap sort it out ?
It would be appreciated and encourage those from down here to travel up more ?
Hopefully we can game several times a year ?
Miles
 

[Sean Clark]

I'm not top trumping Mules, merely pointing out that I have and hopefully will continue to travel south. But Weymouth or Poole is a long way to go. Daventry is around two and half hours for me but fairly central to the four corners of the UK. Derby is considered east Midlands.

Everyones circumstances are different and long drives aren't everyones cup of tea. But hopefully there are enough events throughout the year and across the country to enable those willing to get to at least one or two.

Entoyment is a great venue. Probably my favourite.   

[Smiley Miley 66]

I agree Sean, but I was just trying to point out that before everyone comes up with excuses the problems for us all; both North and South !
So now we can get down to the nitty gritty of finding some Venues that might be good for all concerned.
Mine problems at the moment is Financial and time orientated more than anything else.
These days example Stockport, I had to take Thursday off to get my body back into non school day mode. Friday  make my way down to Stockport(North West) via Weymouth, but when you look at that it wasn't a detour, just part of the Journey. This allowed us time to get up there, and be ready for the Saturday, and get some gaming time in Friday and Saturday evening, which was a plus. Before getting back Sunday.
Going North East, especially East Midlands(Daventry)isn't quite a "Long Journey" as Martin and others can come up towards myself before going up the country.
If people on here who live up beyond do know any venues Midlands, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby and maybe further up country? As long as we all agree and it's agreeable to us all ?
So we down south will leave it to you up North to find some possibilities?
All I pointed out that down South we do have a good contender? So we have done our bit.
Then we can promote some more gaming between us all ! Also several times a year !
Miles

[martin goddard]

What gaming stores with tables are available in the  midlands and north?
 Only Battlefield hobbies?
These sort of veues/shops are super for an evenet.

martin

[Smiley Miley 66]

I think there are a few available, it's which ones are good and will allow us to play our games etc.
Hopefully we can find some or one which his relatively easy to get to ? By all types of transport ?
Some people also need to use the train  as well as Road!
Is Battlefield Hobbies a good place ? Do people like it ?
I know those of us that travel up don't mind it ?
Is there a place nearby (50-90 miles?) that might be better ?
Miles

[Panzer21]

What gaming stores with tables are available in the  midlands and north?
 Only Battlefield hobbies?
These sort of veues/shops are super for an evenet.

martin

Derby has "Swords and Boards Hobbies" which I understand has hosted "Never Mind the Billhooks" events as well as an informal convention (Sean had the organisers on his podcast IIRC).

Nottingham - has Leadbelt Gaming Arena and tSN Arena - a lot of focus on GW obviously, but their blurb suggests happy to host anybody.

No experience of any of these venues I'm afraid.

Neil

[Smiley Miley 66]

Well can I suggest that some of you who live relatively near to them go and have a look at them ?
One of the big problems with some of these places is Parking, relatively easy access in and out of the venues.
Food and refreshments.friendly staff !
Table height ?
Table spaces, between the tables ?
These are problems with all venues, some can be worse than others obviously.
Then is it relatively easy to travel too ?
Local accommodation for those that want to make a day of it ?
Cost most seem to charge similar to others, having done some internet searches myself. So I don't think this is a big problem? We all know they have to make some money from us to survive, and be able to run and be there for us to use !
Miles