But, said Gower, we needed to cap new space by 15% to give us the space to get the new sectors and visitor attractions in.

As a result, nobody got their full space allocation. But the show will benefit from the additional visitor attractions.

One of the new sectors is Inland Waterways. The feature is being put together by Ken Dodd, ex-British Waterways head of marketing and communications and a man with 25 years inland waterways experience behind him.

The feature will - in typical inland waterways style - have its own proper waterside pub.

"And many of the things you see will be items of architecture going to the waterways or coming back from them, " said Gower. "The reeds and bullrushes, for example, will be real. They will be on their way to planting project."

The feature also has the backing of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO), which has put a 60ft narrowboat in the feature to join the others boats.

APCO also says it is exploring other ways it can get more involved with the feature.

The canoe industry will be taking a large area in the East Hall, where the pool is located.

The Association of Canoe trades (ACT) is heavily involved in the canoe section, which will feature a "canoe village".

The pool will be 30 by 70 metres, rather larger than Earls Court, with a wind machine to create 25kts in the centre of the pool with seating for 2,000 to watch the fun.

But as well as watching the young hot shoes handling 25kts with seemingly no effort, there will be opportunities for people to have a go at dinghy sailing, windsurfing and canoeing.

The seminar programme will transfer to ExCeL, as will - of course - the Guinness bar.

According to Gower, 45% of space is already allocated and the show has been set out by product section. NBS has also received the first bookings for the dock berths.