Andyphilpott Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Just back from the show and I have to say that, for my wife and I, it was disappointing. In contrast to previous years, not that many visitors either although maybe that will pick up on Saturday.Seemed to me to be dominated by property agencies and food/wine with very little representation from the Regional french Tourist boards. The national French Tourist Board was there and you could buy all sorts of saucisson and fromage - even the Great British Sausage!!!We attended one of the Novelli demo's which was good but poorly attended, and also enjoyed listening to Carol Drinwater talking about her books, but even with those we were in and out in a couple of hours having seen all that we were interested in. No doubt the show will be good for those looking to buy a place in France (and XE.com gives a rate of 1.13 as of now so that will help).Andy Philpott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I too found it disappointing, in that there was nothing about it that actually made me feel excited about France. Quite the contrary. There was Novelli of course, but he sold his French restaurant years ago and is little known in his home country. Plenty of overpriced sellers of wine, cheese and sausages, but little I couldn't buy in a British supermarket (or the periodic French market in our town in the case of the saucissons) at a better price. Otherwise it was house sellers with overpriced Dordogne properties, financiers, ferry companies and the usual exhibition tat with nothing to do with France.The cynic in me thought, on the way home, that perhaps it was a microcosm of certain parts of France, with over-officious security guards dressed as gendarmes, extremely noisy kids on the campsite exhibit, caravans with smelly Arabic food, and loads of stages on which nothing was happening (perhaps I was there at the wrong time). For those going on the other days, note that it is in Earl's Court 2 - so don't go to the main Earl's Court exhibition centre (it's round the back). I don't like Earl's Court 2 as a show venue anyway, and moving round this show was impossible due to the way the not-too-great numbers of visitors were managing to totally block the aisles.Sorry Archant - thumbs down from me this time. A pale imitation of the show's glory days around the turn of the Millennium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 What a shame! Archant rescued it from disaster last year when previous backers pulled out, and, though it was a small event in comparison the old days, they did really well in tough circumstances. I thought/hoped this year things would be better but the economic situation and exchange rate must have been a bit of a blow! And it's a personal opinion but I hate Earls Court in comparison to Olympia - the only plus point is not having that extra bit of tube link.I have always gone as it's my job as well as my interest, but this year the west coast mainline train problems were the last straw and I stayed home with a fair amount of regret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 "extremely noisy kids on the campsite exhibit,"I agree they were really awful and that exhibit should not have been positioned so close to the other events. We found it impossible to stay in one of the talks as the noise from the kids and the can-can music was so distracting, I think it put the lecturer off as well.I agree there were fewer visitors and the show did not have the quite the same wow factor of the earlier Vive La France shows however we had an enjoyable day out and the free entry tickets were a bonus. On the plus side the dancers and musicians were good and I thought the stands were well positioned. I have to say the washrooms at Earls Court 2 were definitely cleaner and more easily accessible than those at Olympia. I found and bought a French book that I had been wanting and the LF Calendar.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Report from the show on BFMTV this morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Department71 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I was intrigued about the stands selling wine by the glass, as I understand it unless they have applied for a drinks license it is against the law to sell alcohol. Maybe I'm wrong, am sure someone will put me straight. Maybe they obtained a drinks license!!Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 I enjoyed my visit and am glad that the show was on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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