International AK47 Day - 25 May 2024. UK Event.

[Dex13]

Is anyone volunteering to confirm a venue, in the Midlands, and run the event there?

Otherwise, this is the current location preference from the AK47 Facebook group.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Dex you can still run it where ever you put it ?
If it is slightly further a field than you are, collaborate with someone who knows where your going to place the games day !
But we were only trying to find the best place that everyone can go to ?
If you have in say Sheffield or Stockport ? Us Southerns have a long way to travel ?
If it's held in Poole say you Northerns complain that it is the end of the world ? Actually to be fair those that come from the Midlands too ?
It seems that us down here are the only ones mad enough to travel long distances!
Unless someone other than Sean can prove me wrong ?
So if you want to include all ? the Midlands is the best of all options?
It's not saying we won't travel, but it's less of a challenge if you only have to drive 2-2 and a half - 3 hours in a car rather than 5-6 hours each way ?
It does have more of an appeal?
It's also the Bank Holiday weekend so the traffic could be awful!
Especially south to North ?
Miles

[Dex13]

Some wags indicate South Yorkshire is in the Midlands and there has been alternative feedback that Sheffield, as a location, is actually too far south! (As an aside, if we were aiming to put on an event in the centre of Britain various measures put it either in Northumberland or Lancashire; the centre of the UK is apparently just off the coast of Morecombe).

I've got no strong objections to travelling for the right event. Having worked in Wales for many years I was amused at the number of national events held in Builth Wells, seemingly on the grounds that it was mutually inconvenient for all the participants!

I'm going to leave the location (and interest) polls live on the Ak47 Facebook Group for the rest of November.

If there is a sudden strong interest in other specific locations we may see it there.

[Sean Clark]

Builith Wells!

So that's what he's saying in Zulu 😂

For years I thought he was saying Bilth Wales. Which made no sense at all 😂🤣

I'm happy to help organise. Battlefield Hobbies has held several Piggie events now and are very Pig friendly. The consensus  on the Facebook page (with hundreds of members!) seems to be to play classic AK which I don't mind at all, but may put others off. I'm not sure a split event would work, though I could be wrong.

If we went with the idea of a resurrection of the Brixcon event  then 4'x4' tables using classic would be the way to go.

To be honest, there is more chance of solving third world debt than finding a consensus. In my experience democracy usually fails where wargaming events are concerned.

It may take one of us (maybe me!) booking the venue and saying 'who wants to come?'.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Sean, I ve said to Dex we can bring this up at WWW ? Get an nucleus of an event going, as there will be enough "brains" and "experience" there to get the idea over the line ?   possible venue settings ? And other things that need to be done and report back to Dex ?
I ve asked him to scout the Sheffield venues out ? See what they have to offer ?
Maybe we can all get this going ?
But try and keep it in the 6 x4 tables if possible? Whichever version we play ?
Miles

[Sean Clark]

But try and keep it in the 6 x4 tables if possible? Whichever version we play ?
Miles

Agreed on table size. Whichever version was used, I think it would generate a few sales for Martin for those odd bits we are all missing 🙂

[Colonel Kilgore]

That's the thing with AK47 - there is always something else you "need"

Simon

[Dex13]

Although I've left the polls open until end of November, by chance I am at one of the possible Sheffield venues this weekend.

It's host for Steel Lard, with 9 games and nearly 50 players (including game hosts). So space isn't an issue. Also 10 minutes walk from Sheffield station,  less than that to a Premier Inn and 338 feet from a brewery tap.

[Dex13]

Of the three potential Sheffield locations I have now visited all three to assess viability for an event.

1. Farm Road Social Club - currently where the Sheffield and Rotherham Wargames Club and the Sheffield Wargames Club meet on Thursdays and Wednesdays respectively. It has plenty of space and is occasionally available at the weekends for a small cost. Convenient to the train station and city centre and with dedicated parking. However, also host to local football fans meaning an in-season weekend is not viable. Internally it's a bit 1980s working mens club.

2. The Outpost - A games shop, catering for the Games Workshop and related market, with a good amount of table space. Free for social gaming but there will be a charge for a more formal event. Small in-house tea and coffee area and nearby pub. However, away from city centre and with no parking other than onstreet. Gaming area is old storage areas and can be dark.

3. Patriot Games - Also a game shop for GW and board games in the main. Significant table space (Steel Lard has been hosted there for two years consecutively - easy 50 people attended that and the venue still had tables being used by as many other non-Lardy gamers again). In house cafe with hot food. City centre location, convenient to train station, hotels and pub. No immediate parking but there are pay to park places fairly nearby in the area. Again, free for social gaming but they charge for formal events (which can include discount vouchers for their cafe as part of the deal). Gaming area is old industrial area but also quite light and airy.

My personal preference would be Patriot Games.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Patriot Games does sound the better of the 3 ? Thank you Dex.
Miles

[Smoking gun]

Patroit games does sound a good choice. Thank you Dex and best wishes, Martin

[Dex13]

Initial event details are up for an AK47 Day in Sheffield (UK) on 25 May 2024.

Venue will be Patriot Games in Sheffield.

Players can opt to play either of the Peter Pig AK47 rulesets (Classic and Reloaded). We are aiming for a discrete friendly gathering focusing on the humourous chaos of AK47, and with some random competitive elements thrown in.

There will be a small charge for attendance but with concessions available.

Event details and further information will be available first through the AK47 Facebook Group.

[martin goddard]

This all sounds excellent Dex.
I don't think I will be there ( I am just not up to that amount of travel   250 miles)  but will certainly contribute prizes and do any web advertising that helps.
Thanks for doing the event Dex.


martin

[Dex13]

This all sounds excellent Dex.
I don't think I will be there ( I am just not up to that amount of travel   250 miles)  but will certainly contribute prizes and do any web advertising that helps.
Thanks for doing the event Dex.


martin

Thank you Martin. That is very kind.

[Sean Clark]

Dex

Do we have a list of people who have expressed interest in attending so far?