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Old 24-11-2008, 12:56
00tommo
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Anybody on here going over the weekend or been before?
Is it ok if you've been before?

Should be pretty good hopefully, got tickets to see Gordon Ramsay so hopefully he'll be there and not pull out over these adultery allegations!
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Old 24-11-2008, 13:25
TommyGavin76
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Yeah, been the last 3 years and going again this Saturday. I love it, we always get loads of nice food and have a good day out. Get there early though, it gets absolutely packed later on, we normally try and get there for 8:30 even though it doesn't open until 9.
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Old 24-11-2008, 15:41
chinchilla
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I'm going for the first time this Saturday, can't wait!
I assume it will be absolutlely packed?
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Old 24-11-2008, 18:13
TommyGavin76
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I'm going for the first time this Saturday, can't wait!
I assume it will be absolutlely packed?
Yeah, will be very packed.

If you're brave enough, do the booze first then the food, the booze bit will be empty for the first couple of hours.
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Old 24-11-2008, 19:58
dan1979
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Been to the London one the last few years which I've heard is not quite as good as Birmingham.

A lot less stalls this year to make way for a bigger dining area. Stupidly packed so you can't move again though.
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Old 24-11-2008, 21:02
mazzy50
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Have been every year for quite some time now. Usually have a very good time.

Year before last it was so packed that it wasn't as much fun, but last year was great as they seemd to have less stalls, but this left more space to move around.

I've noticed the generosity of the stall holders decline over the years - not as many freebies to taste as in the good old days, but you can still spend a full day and not go hungry!

It is possible to overdo things in the wines/spirits section though. I can remember getting rather lost and disoriented one year after being a bit too enthusiastic with the wine tasting And I've definitely been on the train home with lots of very merry people!

We are also supposed to be seeing Gordon Ramsay, but on the Sunday so I'm hoping the current controversy will have blown over enough by then. Bit of an unfortunate coincidence that this all comes out just as the Good Food Show is about to kick off
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Old 24-11-2008, 21:43
DaisyBumbleroot
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Been to the London one the last few years which I've heard is not quite as good as Birmingham.

A lot less stalls this year to make way for a bigger dining area. Stupidly packed so you can't move again though.
i went to the earls court one about three years ago after being told lots and lots of good things about GFS. I thought it was utter shite.

However, the people that told me the GFS was "brilliant, and you get to eat and drink yourself stupid" did go to the birmingham one.

Everytime i went to get a "sample" from the wine counters, i was given a dribble in the bottom of my glass, the only food samples you could get were odd stalls with crappy bits of cracker and scrapings of home made chutney on, we paid extra for premium seats to see some Marcus guy, what a rip, he was on big screens and speakers so everyone else with a bit of common sense just stood at the back. It was about £25 for these tickets and i was bored with the whole foodie bollocks after about an hour.


The best thing to come out of it was i subscribed to Olive magazine for £1 for 3 issues. I thought the magazine was utter WANK, so cancelled it, but they insisted on sending me copies for 15 months after *shrugs* between all the adverts and Gordon this and Tom that, i did find about 3 recipes ive since used....



I really hope for you the brum one is better, and Ive heard its TONNES better but the earls court one was shite.
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Old 24-11-2008, 22:18
Espresso
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I'm going to it on Saturday. It'll be the first time I've ever been and I'm really looking forward to it.
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Old 03-12-2008, 17:48
mazzy50
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Anybody on here going over the weekend or been before?
Is it ok if you've been before?

Should be pretty good hopefully, got tickets to see Gordon Ramsay so hopefully he'll be there and not pull out over these adultery allegations!
I'm going to it on Saturday. It'll be the first time I've ever been and I'm really looking forward to it.
So how did you both get on - did you enjoy it?

There were far fewer exhibitors than last year and some big names seemed to have really scaled down or weren't there at all. However, we still had a fairly good time.
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Old 03-12-2008, 18:28
TommyGavin76
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So how did you both get on - did you enjoy it?

There were far fewer exhibitors than last year and some big names seemed to have really scaled down or weren't there at all. However, we still had a fairly good time.
Hi, Glad it wasn't just me who thought that. Have been every year for 5 years and was exremely disappointed in the offerings, especially the booze which seemed to be almost non-existent. Where was the beer tent?
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Old 03-12-2008, 18:31
mazzy50
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Hi, Glad it wasn't just me who thought that. Have been every year for 5 years and was exremely disappointed in the offerings, especially the booze which seemed to be almost non-existent. Where was the beer tent?
Yes. I was really hoping that the Banrock Station stand would be there so get I could get some of their gorgeous sparkling shiraz at a good price - no such luck
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Old 03-12-2008, 18:32
TommyGavin76
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Yes. I was really hoping that the Banrock Station stand would be there so get I could get some of their gorgeous sparkling shiraz at a good price - no such luck
I was that disappointed we are thinking of not going next year, which is unheard of for us. The icing was put on the cake when we realised our Premium seats for Gordon Ramsay that were Row A weren't anywhere near the front as it started at Row AA!
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Old 03-12-2008, 19:40
serendipitea
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My tips; take shoulder bags so you can carry things you pick up on the way without getting too encumbered; be open minded in your sampling as you can discover new treats you might otherwise not have considered; and don't be embarrassed about asking for samples, as that's what the companies are there for.

And if you're into food and drink, do talk to the reps/food producers about what you're sampling; it can be genuinely interesting!
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Old 03-12-2008, 21:03
00tommo
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I had a really good time. Got loads of different things, tasted loads of different things too. I was trolleyed by about 10 though as we went in at the alcohol entrance!!
Gordon Ramsay was great, straight away he started talking about the "affair". Bizarre though hearing nearly 3000 people screaming at a bloke cooking!!
Will more than likely go again next year.
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Old 03-12-2008, 21:43
Smutbucket
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I went to Birmingham - I love food and really enjoy cooking and thanks to a friend of mine my confidence has grown and grown

I did get some discounted spices which were much larger than I can get in the supermarket - I shall be eating Spicey Bake Chicken for ever!!!

We saw James Martine (gorgeous) and very very very funny

I don't think I will go again but I am glad I went for the experience. I would love to see more recipe cards so I could be inspired!!
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Old 03-12-2008, 21:49
whoever,hey
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How much were the tickets guys? I just wonder given how people go on about how much was given away.....?
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:09
chinchilla
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I went to Birmingham - I love food and really enjoy cooking and thanks to a friend of mine my confidence has grown and grown

I did get some discounted spices which were much larger than I can get in the supermarket - I shall be eating Spicey Bake Chicken for ever!!!

We saw James Martine (gorgeous) and very very very funny

I don't think I will go again but I am glad I went for the experience. I would love to see more recipe cards so I could be inspired!!
I saw him at his stand too, he is absolutely stunning!!
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:55
00tommo
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How much were the tickets guys? I just wonder given how people go on about how much was given away.....?
I think i paid around £50 for 2 but that was with seating booked to see Gordon Ramsay too.
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Old 04-12-2008, 12:57
00tommo
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I saw him at his stand too, he is absolutely stunning!!
We were over by the stage when James Martin walked on and i couldn't hear myself think with all of the women screaming for him!
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Old 04-12-2008, 18:05
TommyGavin76
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How much were the tickets guys? I just wonder given how people go on about how much was given away.....?
You don't get given that much, some places are better than others. Had a whole Amore yoghurt and the Carte D'Or stand are always generous.
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Old 04-12-2008, 18:42
mazzy50
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I went on the Sunday and as I subscribe to Good Food magazine the tickets were reduced - £19 including the Gordon Ramsay demo.
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Old 05-12-2008, 00:24
Espresso
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I enjoyed it, great day out.
We saw The Hairy Bikers who were great. I've decided I would like to marry Si King, but I think he's already married and I'm sure my other half would have something to say about it.

Managed to scoff a ridiculous amount of cheese and innumerable sausages along the way and over indulged a bit on the gin. We came away with some lovely breads, cheeses, liqueurs, cider, ham, smoked fish and yoghurts. Some of these goodies didn't make it home with us because we had a bit of a picnic back in the hotel on Saturday evening.
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