It’s day one of the London Boat Show and the question on everyone’s lips is: have the organisers pulled it off?
On initial inspection MBM is glad to report that the revamp of the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show looks like its working.
As you enter the show via the east entrance (you should now be getting off at Prince Regent station remember), immediately to your right is the new Watersports Action Pool, which was the scene of this morning’s official opening (complete with pyrotechnics, watersports and, er, Jodie Kidd). With tiered seating, lots of displays and useful viewing platforms, we think this will inject a bit of fun into the show.
Next up, as you round the walkway between the North Hall and the South Hall the new Boardwalk feature – which is effectively a dry marina – is to your left and we envisage this being very popular among boat show visitors.
But the real jewel in the reworked boat show’s crown must surely be the Used Boat Marina outside where there are lots of second-hand deals to be had. A quick glance over revealed a Targa 38, a Sealine S34 and an Aquanaut for sale.
Could this new feature mark a turn in the boat show’s fortunes? We’ll be spending a lot of time there over the next 10 days to see just how popular it is.
But aside from these new features, visitors will have to get their heads around the new layout, which may take some getting used to if the groups of people I’ve spotted scratching their heads while hunched over maps are anything to go by.
For all the up-to-date news from the London Boat Show see our London Boat Show portal.
