The groundbreaking decision to bring the three consumer shows together under one roof during the same timeframe was taken at the end of last year and resulted in around 850 exhibitors on the show floor between 13-17 June at the NEC in Birmingham.
Although the rain is thought to have affected attendance the organiser was encouraged by the feedback it received.Laura Biggs, BBC Haymarket commercial director, said: “BBC Gardeners’ World Live received excellent responses with a re-book rate of around 71%. Good Food was also positive. The circulation for these titles is high making it easier to attract an audience. BBC Good Homes Live was positive too but it’s a tougher market so we’ll be looking at how we can enhance this.
“We will definitely be forging ahead with the three shows and have plans to refine the Homes offering by attracting more brands and increasing the Food and Gardens sections.” The tri-located shows benefited from additional cash machines, shop-and-drop points for visitors’ purchases and a 2,700-seat Super Theatre sponsored by UKTV Style. This space showcased demonstrations on food, interior design, property and gardening.Among the celebrities on hand to entertain the crowds were Alan Titchmarsh, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Gordon Ramsay.
The debut outdoor evening entertainment, Music & Gardens for a Summer Evening, was inevitably affected by the weather.“It was hit by torrential rain but Saturday was still a sell-out,” added Biggs. “ABBA tribute band Björn Again proved a real hit. We’re looking at next year’s event now and want to make a few changes to the running hours and make sure that we get the talent offering right.”
The organiser was tasked with finding a replacement artiste for the opening night when classical singer Gardar Cortes was forced to cancel due to ill health.Singer Nicky Spence replaced him on the line-up.
• Next year’s event is scheduled to return to the NEC from 11-15 June.