ESSENTIAL INFO
What? British Shooting Show 2019
Where? NEC, Birmingham
When? 15-17 February 2019, 9am-4pm
Why should I be interested? Oh, it’s only the biggest indoor shooting exhibition in the UK. Having moved to the NEC last year, it’s bigger than ever and is a truly stunning showcase for the shooting industry – if you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself to make sure you get there this year.
How do I find out more? To buy tickets and get more information head to www.shootingshow.co.uk
A decade ago, the British Shooting Show got under way at Newark, a plucky new show in a mixture of indoor halls and marquees. Today, the level to which it’s grown is truly stunning. Set amid the NEC’s vast high-ceilinged halls, it’s a sprawling – yet focused – showcase for the shooting industry and all those whose livelihood or sport depends on it. Think of any of the major exhibitions at the NEC – Good Food, The Photography Show, Comic Con – just a few years ago it would have been unthinkable that shooting would have its own event of the same scale. And now, it does. It’s not an exaggeration to say that everyone who’s anyone is there, and there really is something for everyone – clay shooters included.
How do I get there?
The NEC’s central location means that 75 per cent of the UK is within a three-hour drive, and, as with last year, parking will be free for BSS visitors. If you fancy leaving the car at home, there are also 43 direct rail routes from around the country straight into the NEC via the attached Birmingham International station.
Speaking of internationals, there are over 140 direct flights into Birmingham International Airport from European destinations and the USA – so overseas readers have no excuse not to go either.
What’s new this year?
In short, it’s getting even bigger. With the move to the NEC last year, the show has increased a full third in size, with the greatest number of manufacturers ever to attend along with many of the industry’s leading distributors. 2019 is already poised to shatter that record, with some clay-specific manufacturers – the likes of Gamebore among them – adding their names to the list.
The increased scale of the show, coupled with the burgeoning international element to its make- up, means that many exhibitors are upgrading their presence to fit the setting. Visitors can expect to see huge stands for the gun trade’s biggest names. But that’s not all – there’s a strong retail element too. If you’re looking for a shopping experience to help you stock up ahead of the 2019 competition season, you’ll be well served. That’s alongside airgun ranges, arena demos, shooting associations, product launches, the chance to meet celebrity shooters… the list is endless.
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