BB looks forward to bringing you the news as it happens…

At the same time, the Earls Court Boat Show published a press release that begins by remarking on the National Boat Shows (NBS) video of industry movers and shakers all promising their support to ExCeL at the expense of the Earls Court Boat Show.

‘We the organisers of the Whyte and Mackay Earls Court Boat Show fully understand their position and would have been surprised had they felt otherwise, as these companies were prime movers in taking the show to Excel from Earls Court,’ explains the release.

‘As we have previously stated,’ it continues, ‘we remain fully supportive of the British Marine Federation (BMF) and recognise the importance of the many contributions they make on behalf of their members. We have also made it clear we are not in anyway trying to replicate the current boat show at Excel.’

The release then takes the theme that the show’s Whyte & Mackay sponsorship should: ‘be recognised as a new and substantial contribution to the boating fraternity and to the benefit of the industry.’ It also points out the show will be raising money for The Princes Trust that will help many young people get the training they need to find work through the maritime industry.

On a plaintive note, the release insists: ‘We very much wish to work alongside the BMF for the greater good and have no intention whatsoever of taking part in any confrontation.’

In response to requests for new product, interaction, entertainment, education and hospitality, the ECBS release says it is: ‘delighted to launch our New Product Showcase.’

‘Every week, we will release details of innovative products to be exhibited at the Whyte & Mackay Earls Court Boat Show,’ it promises, with the first announcement being for an exclusive appearance in London through Prosser Marine, which will be exhibiting seven ‘Cruisers Yachts’ at Earls Court.

Prosser Marine may be a boat exhibitor, but I’m sure the company will accept it’s not quite in the Sunseeker, Princess, Fairline and Sealine sector that make up the dream the public flocks to the London Boat Show to see.

The events industry B2B title Events Review has an interesting take on the London boat show situation and reflects BB’s stance that, in spite of repeated requests, there has been little evidence from the ECBS of enough paying exhibitors to give them a boat show.

‘The Earls Court venue will itself be looking at its own tenancy charts, anxious for confirmation that the contract will be honoured rather than being left high and dry if the exhibitor tide is confirmed to have taken to ExCeL's Docks or indeed the Paris event, when a Christmas concert could have filled the venue slot instead’, says columnist James Latham. ‘Certainly the Earls Court Boat Show website is lacking a great deal of thrust and one suspects that the skull and crossbones may soon need to be dropped in favour of a straight white flag unless the pirate event team can pull off a black pearl of their own.’

Latham also points out: ‘The Earls Court initiative has without doubt forced the mother ship to take a long hard look at itself, and ExCeL will be a better place for it come January whatever the outcome of Brooke’s decision.’

BB agrees with all of that.

If reading the comments from ExCeL exhibitors in BB didn’t convince you lots of exhibitors won’t be going to Earls Court (well, not as exhibitors, anyway), you can see the video put together by National Boat Shows (NBS) by clicking here