Suggestions for a centralized location for a Eurobricks event in the U

[andy_0306uk]

Not wanting to distract away from the Eurobricks event(s) at Legoland Windsor, but, if other events were held in the UK, where would you suggest as a more centralized location?

I personally would suggest somewhere in/near Leicester, not only because it is near my home, but also as its accessible from the south and north via the M1 and not far from other routes M6/M42/A6/A1

[Brainbox]

The touble is, you've got to cater for people who live in the very South (Plymouth, Corwall), the South (London, Bristol), the North (Lancashire, Yorkshire), the very North (Newcastle), Scotland, Wales and (possibly) Ireland.

Then of course, you have to find a suitable venue. I mean, what've you got in the UK? Legoland Windsor. Nope, not central. Um, that's about it. So then you have to think what you can do instead. Do you, say, hire a hall and use that?

Or perhaps we could all pile into someone's house... :-D

Actually, you've also got to take into account accessibility by motorway/rail/etc. And you need to consider how far people can actually travel. For example, a student who doesn't own their own car may not be able to travel as far as someone who does.

I'm perhaps taking it too literally here, but if you look at this map, then the 'centre' of the country is between Birmingham, Manchester and Middlesborough.

But it all depends where everone lives though.

[andy_0306uk]

The touble is, you've got to cater for people who live in the very South (Plymouth, Corwall), the South (London, Bristol), the North (Lancashire, Yorkshire), the very North (Newcastle), Scotland, Wales and (possibly) Ireland.

Ahhh, maybe a UK Tour is needed ..............

Or perhaps we could all pile into someone's house... :-D

House? AFOL's have houses? I'm normally in the shed/garage

[captaintau]

If its for a LEGO-related meet, then realistically the only feasible place is Windsor. If we go anywhere else, what do we do when we get there?

The second option would be somewhere witha LEGO shop. Milton Keynes, anyone?

[DoubleT]

And its better for us non british chaps he he

And it is a lego event at Lego park ;-)

[Brainbox]

If its for a LEGO-related meet, then realistically the only feasible place is Windsor. If we go anywhere else, what do we do when we get there?

Um, take as much Lego as we can fit in our car/van'truck/helicopter (well, you never know).

The second option would be somewhere witha LEGO shop. Milton Keynes, anyone?

So that's Milton Keynes, Bluewater or Brighton. All, erm, in the south. Again.

I mean, I wouldn't mind but the nearest one to me was Birmingham (and that was only because my grandparents live in Telford). But it's closed. There're plenty of big cities near me that could have a Lego shop- Manchester, Liverpool (European Capital of Culture, for God's sake), Leeds.

[andy_0306uk]

I mean, I wouldn't mind but the nearest one to me was Birmingham (and that was only because my grandparents live in Telford). But it's closed. There're plenty of big cities near me that could have a Lego shop- Manchester, Liverpool (European Capital of Culture, for God's sake), Leeds.

Totally with Brainbox on this one. Even though Milton Keynes is only an hour away from home for me (or passing on my journey to/from work) it's still very South biased for the locations of Lego shops. You'd think they'd be in places like the Trafford Center and/or Meadowhall (Sheffield).

[Brainbox]

You'd think they'd be in places like the Trafford Center and/or Meadowhall (Sheffield).

Now, the Trafford Centre, that's more like it. I hadn't thought about that ( :-$ ). I've not been for ages, but a Lego shop'd certainly make me go again.

It was a bit much to expect, say, Scots to travel to Birmingham, let alone further South.

[captaintau]

As far as I recall from visits to Milton Keynes (for both LEGO and Jujitsu), its actually Midlands, not South. Its two and half hours away from me, which is about the same as Windsor.

[snefroe]

honestly, an event without a large pab+shop+discount tent would simply not be attractive. any event turns around that particular thing. we spend hours there and we're waiting at the doors of these places just before they open every day, hoping they've added something new... A lego shop, even if it has a small pab is just not good enough. Feel free to meet at your local lego shop if you want, but an event? no way...

[Brainbox]

Feel free to meet at your local lego shop if you want, but an event? no way...

You could call it a 'mini-event', I suppose.

[KimT]

It sounds like a great idea.

Using this forum to create small events in the different regions of Europe, that is.

Though it'll never replace the EB Event.

Perhaps one could even negotiate a real good bargain with a local LEGO store.

"Hey Mister! I'm having a LEGO get-down with a bunch if lunatic friends - we come here and spend BIG money - what offers can You give us?"

Negotiator ON!

KimT

PS The official LEGO store near me has closed |-/ So I guess a "mini-event" near me is out of the question!

[Norro]

You lads are aware of all the non-EB UK based lego fans?

Seen Here...

Including the 'North British lego train club'...

God Bless,

Nathan

[andy_0306uk]

You lads are aware of all the non-EB UK based lego fans?

Seen Here...

Including the 'North British lego train club'...

God Bless,

Nathan

Thanks Nathan

They are holding an event at the National Space Center in Leicester which is my home town so think I'll be attending that

[Norro]

Thanks Nathan

They are holding an event at the National Space Center in Leicester which is my home town so think I'll be attending that

Enjoy! I've yet to attend anything lego orientated...

God Bless,

Nathan

[SlyOwl]

Seen Here...

Looks like London to me...although I wouldn't recommend it - you'll have your Lego stolen before you can start building! Well, that would be if Lego was an instantly valuable commodity ;-)

Edit: woops, I thought that was where Lugnet members live...I've now realised it's the major towns and cities :-$

SlyOwl, from London

Edited December 20, 2007 by SlyOwl

[Scouty]

I think the event should be on an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic, that way both North American members and European members only fly about the same distance *y* !

[goggleson]

I say we take down the county of all who want to attend and make a centre point based on all those people and rent out a town hall there.

[Benk]

Ok this may be a bit north, but I think a major possibility - link

If you scroll down a bit you can see there is going to be an indoor legoland in scarborough opening in 2009 X-O !

I think this would be a prime location *y*.

If not I can always go down south to windsor |-/ ;-)

-Benk

[captaintau]

I think we should stop talking about this and bloody well get on and organise it.

And this year since next year EB is due to come to the UK anyway.

I propose one Saturday in either Windsor or Milton Keynes.

Most of my weekends are already taken with training. Those that I'm not training, I'm working. So let's do it soon and I'll commit to a weekend.

Any suggestions for date?

[Brainbox]

Ooh... I'd completely forgotten about this thread.

Anyway, I'd certainly be interested, and I'm sure I'd be able to make the trip down to Windsor sometime (might get my friend to come as well, for company). That said, I definately couldn't do it until at least mid-June, as the exam season starts in a few weeks and I've got my AS exams.

I'd agree with making it a Saturday certainly. Trouble is, I'd have to leave Friday for travel, and I'm in college on Fridays. But, we (as a college) finish about 2 weeks before all the schools for our summer holidays, and while I would be volunteering in school a few of those days, I could travel down on a free Friday, then back home on the Sunday. Plus, it'd be summer thwn, so the weather should be nice.

I'd want a reasonable number of people to attend though. Otherwise, there's not a lot of point really. It's not exactly a short journey from North-West Lancashire down to Windsor.

Now isn't too late for you is it Tau? I realise it was a month ago you posted that.

[captaintau]

Thanks for reviving this thread, Brainbox.

I'm still game for this event, but I'm dismayed at the apathy.

Forget about June for me: EVERY Saturday is taken by Martial Arts (been invited to teach at a seminar in Inverness, among other things)

[Brainbox]

Thanks for reviving this thread, Brainbox.

Quite alright. I'm interested in this, as much as you are.

I'm still game for this event, but I'm dismayed at the apathy.

Yeah, it does seem to have got a fairly small, somewhat negative response. Maybe we could PM some of the UK members, see if they're interested? When we've got a better idea of when, I mean.

Forget about June for me: EVERY Saturday is taken by Martial Arts (been invited to teach at a seminar in Inverness, among other things)

Cool, but... damn. Although, I've just thought of another problem I might have: cost. I've just bought a new laptop, and. well, I've not got an awful lot of money at the moment, and I probably won't have an awful lot more come June. And then there's all the Lego I have to buy.

[Ralph_S]

Quite alright. I'm interested in this, as much as you are.

Yeah, it does seem to have got a fairly small, somewhat negative response. Maybe we could PM some of the UK members, see if they're interested? When we've got a better idea of when, I mean.

Cool, but... damn. Although, I've just thought of another problem I might have: cost. I've just bought a new laptop, and. well, I've not got an awful lot of money at the moment, and I probably won't have an awful lot more come June. And then there's all the Lego I have to buy.

You might run into the issue that quite a lot of AFOLs in the UK are actually members of The Brickish Association, including myself and several other UK members of this forum. The UK's already pretty well covered as far as events are concerned and I wouldn't be surprised if many of the members aren't really looking for even more events -certainly not events organised via some other group. That might explain some of the perceived apathy.

It's not my intention to get territorial here, but I would suggest that if you're interested in events in the UK, you take a look at Brickish: http://www.brickish.org

Cheers,

Ralph

[Brainbox]

You might run into the issue that quite a lot of AFOLs in the UK are actually members of The Brickish Association, including myself and several other UK members of this forum. The UK's already pretty well covered as far as events are concerned and I wouldn't be surprised if many of the members aren't really looking for even more events -certainly not events organised via some other group. That might explain some of the perceived apathy.

Perhaps. But surely those that aren't Brickish members would be at least somewhat interested.