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HUBB UK 2015 announcement
We have news about the HUBB UK 2015 - we know that the announcement of plans is eagerly awaited. But first, our thoughts on the HUBB UK 2014. The feedback has been fantastic! So many positive comments about the Presentations, the Demonstrations, the Skills Course, Slow Bike Race, the Trail Rideout, the Competitions and all of the other activities over the weekend. Just about everyone said how excellent it was, and helpful. Attendance was up again but thanks to the size of the Donington venue it never felt overcrowded. We were delighted to see so many long term attendees, and how many people were coming for the first time. That all just goes to show that Overlanding is growing wonderfully and that Horizons Unlimited is successfully continuing its tradition of helping to get enthusiasts together where they can be inspired and informed. We’d like to thank all of the presenters, volunteers, exhibitors, authors and you. You all helped make this all happen.
We’d also like to thank everyone who completed the Feedback Questionnaire or put a slip into the Feedback Box at the HUBB UK. We really value everyone’s thoughts about all the things that went so well, and are grateful for the encouraging feedback about how the event can be further improved. It’s your feedback which has set us to reviewing the event as a whole, and especially the location - there were inevitably comments about the aircraft noise, with a good number of people saying that they wouldn’t be back until a change in venue. Along with the feedback, we have been reviewing the figures from the HUBB UK. Donington is a very expensive venue for us; in part the site costs, but also the additional equipment required such as the very expensive 400 seat cinema marquee. This year’s event ran smoothly and with lots of things going on, but at a big cost. We did little more than break even, and that’s a problem for us, especially considering the enormous amount of effort from us and especially from Sam and Iain. For those who don’t know, Horizons Unlimited is just Grant and Susan, we’re not a big corporation. The two of us have invested 17 years of our lives and all our financial assets into this ‘social enterprise’ in support of overlanders / motorcycle travellers. The events are our main source of income, so they need to contribute to paying our rent and food and keeping the website running. With all this in mind, we started looking for another venue, and have looked at and rejected quite a few possibilities in the last few months. Although we still have some possibles, none of them are available for 2015. Good venues book out over a year in advance. We've given Donington 2 years and we aren’t enthused about being there for a third year, so we have very reluctantly decided to leave 2015 as a fallow year. We are going to spend the next few months looking for a venue that we can afford and will be happy to settle in for a few years. We also want to refocus the event to ensure that the event is a win for all of us - attendees, presenters, exhibitors, volunteers, and ourselves. We want to keep the event as the best place in the UK that you can go to learn the tips of the overlanding road, to be inspired and to be able to link up with so many like-minded people. Can you help? While we are looking at a couple of venues already, we are very interested in your suggestions for a new venue. The requirements are here (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/eve...KVenue-RFP.pdf). If you know of any venues that meet ALL the requirements, please let us know and we'll take it from there. Meanwhile, for 2015 you can keep the travel bug alive at other HU events in the UK (Ireland, Haggs Bank, the UK Mini-Meets), France, Germany, Montenegro, or further afield in Canada, USA, Australia, South Africa, South America and Asia! Thank you once again for all the amazing feedback about the HUBB this year. Hope to see you in 2016, if not sooner, and meanwhile, best wishes for a happy, healthy and adventurous 2015! :) Grant and Susan www.HorizonsUnlimited.com |
Hi Grant and Susan,
this is the best bit of news I've heard since my one and only stay at the Donington Camp Site! Shame that there won't be a 2015 event but I totally agree that the 'fallow year' is the right thing to do. There have been many other events that have, shall we say 'encroached' into the HUBB remit but I'm always happier when supporting you guys. Donington, good riddance. Roll on 2016 and a different venue. If I see any suitable locations then I'll pass on my suggestions. Kindest regards Reggie. PS Wherever the event re-locates to in 2016, then just count me in. |
Sorry to hear about the 2015 cancellation of the HUBB UK.
The Fire Service training college has been used by various organisations for events, including the BMW Club. They can cater for large numbers, have conference facilities, easy access, central England and large grounds. I have no connection whatsoever so don't know details of costs. Fire Service College - Good Luck! |
New HUBB UK Venue
Sorry to hear about not having a HUBB UK event next year. However, I agree Donington wasn't brilliant as a venue.
I live in north Gloucestershire and possible places for HUBB UK could be: 1) Three Counties Show Ground near Great Malvern - current venue for Van Fest (largest VW camper meet). Three Counties Showground 2) Prescott Hill Climb. Prescott Speed Hill Climb Best of luck Phil |
sorry to hear that.
Easy access. Quite. Plenty room . Excellent B road ride outs and Trail riding On the door step. Private Hire I Corporate Hospitality I Broughton Hall Estate Yorkshire |
Having got a host of t-shirts/videos/DVDs over the years from an assortment of shows, I know exactly where you're coming from. I agree that Donny was good but not ideal - what venue truly is?
However, I can readily see a change was due, so in my role as Event Director of the Adventure Travel & Overland Show at Stratford-upon-Avon Racecourse, and proprietor of 4x4Calendar, you have my support wherever it may end up. If I can help in any way regarding promotion, publicity, etc. ... just ask, it's how we get by! |
We may even be back in the UK for 2016, not promising tho. It's a shame nothing for 2015. But everyone this is a great opportunity for Mini meets.
I truely hope hubb uk goes from on to find a better home. |
How about river dart country park? Home
Camping, dorm rooms, twin rooms etc. Bar and restaurant area with presentation area. Large area of woodland useful for bush craft or maybe riding skills? Car park areas in couple of locations on site. Holne park house in the grounds offering further dining/presentation/ accommodation areas. Probably have to be out of school holidays! Harley Davidson guys go there every year for a meet, also couple of big kayak gatherings each year with bar, restaurant, presentation rooms used etc. Not sure on cost though....... Richard |
Seems like I'm one of the few people that liked Donnington! If it's financially unworkable, then obviously a move is needed. Shame there won't / might not be a 2015 meet, but I'll look forward to 2016!!!
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Odds?
I'm going bet there'll be a mini-ish meet up in mid 2015 probably at Haggs Bank Bunkhouse in Cumbria or near to.
Can't have some 250 hubbers all with moto-meet-withdrawal symptoms at the same time! :rofl: |
We'll be checking out all the suggestions, thanks for the thoughts!
Mini-meets - yes, we've already had an offer or two, and we'll be going ahead with those as best as. Already announced: HU Takoda Camping mini-meeting, 24-25 April 2015. Reg details to come, but expect same as 2014. Details to follow, but get it on your calendar! :D:D |
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cheers Danny |
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Human nature being what it is, many people are inherently negative and only give feedback when they don't like something. Each year there's a fresh bunch of people who are attending HUBBUK for the first time, which means every year there's a bunch of people from the previous year that didn't come back. These are your nay-sayers. I thought Donnington was great. Everyone I spoke to was very positive. Maybe we should have got off our asses and given positive feedback. Cost problems with a 400-seat cinema marquee? Then don't have it. I never went into it. Personally I think giving up on Donnington before identifying a replacement venue is a big mistake and having a fallow year is an even bigger mistake. There's clearly a market for this type of event and in a vacuum someone will move to fill it. More mini-meets in 2015 might help keep the wolf from the door, but they need to be identified and promoted. And at least some of them need to have travel presentations. What about holding a 150-200 person mini meet at Ripley? . |
I find this all rather sad as I thoroughly enjoy Donnington.
I don’t have any actual figures but there must have been around 1,000 people there last year. Let’s say they paid an average of £50 each so the total take is an awful lot of money. I’ve no idea of the costs of using Donnington but surely a lot less than £50,000. Grant’s opening posting on this thread stated that – “ …. The events are our main source of income, so they need to contribute to paying our rent and food and keeping the website running….. “ So possibly consideration should be given to the Hubb charging a forum subscription in order to fund the above rather than trying to take the money from the Hubb meetings ? I also agree with Tim Cullis’s comment that giving up on Donnington before identifying a replacement venue is a big mistake and having a fallow year is an even bigger mistake. |
I have not been to any of the Hubb meets for a good few years as for me they simply got to big - but thats just me lots of people love the big events, however i still attend a few mini meets. I agree with Tim on one thing maybe a limited number meet would be well attended. If two were held and would help people to attend one if the dates clashed with another, maybe I am over simplifying it as i realise more organisation is needed but one meet could be aimed towards the commercial sponsorship type event that the current meet seems to have become maybe with bands etc and the other could be without the commercial stuff offering talks and bike skill events / riding etc more like the original format. It should be easier to accommodate smaller events and remain cost effective with a bit profit in it for HU. Jake.
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Re the numbers - nowhere near 1000, and the important part is that only about 500 paid, many at discounted early bird rates - the rest are vendors and their staff who paid very little, presenters, clubs, authors and press all get in free, and so on. Until you've run a big event, you can't begin to comprehend how costly it is. :( The Donington venue itself is the biggest, but not the only cost of the event - A/V alone is 4.5k, marquee rental, shower and toilet rentals, insurance!, etc. and Sam and Iain don't work for free, but they're desperately underpaid! Anyway, doesn't matter how you cut it, in the end we just barely broke even, and if the weather forecast had been bad we'd have lost money. Two weeks before the event the weather was so bad that Donington raised the possibility of cancelling our booking so as not to mess up their fields, at which point we would have had to declare bankruptcy. The truth is that we don't have the resources to carry this level of financial risk. :( AND we had loads of complaints about the noise, and the food. So, the decision was made to find a new venue - and we've been looking since June, and are still looking - literally a hundred or so hours so far, and not done. We desperately wanted one for 2015, but couldn't make it happen. Who knows, the perfect place might drop into our laps tomorrow and be available too! So keep looking and sending in ideas! We really appreciate all the positive feedback and it's important to us that people understand this decision wasn't taken lightly. As longtime HU folk know, it's just us two, and we work very hard to make it all happen, and without the volunteers it couldn't be done at all. We've ALWAYS had the best interests of travellers at the centre of what we do, (our first tagline was "travellers helping travellers") but we need to eat and pay the rent, and hopefully put a few pennies aside for an eventual retirement. |
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Note that we have had a voluntary subscription / Membership system for a very long time! While we deeply appreciate those who do contribute, only a tiny percentage ever have... It's only US$20, which is what, three or four pints - maybe? And it goes a long way to helping HU survive, and at the same time gives you extra privileges such as more photo storage space, more PM's and more. It also allows us to acknowledge your contribution in your HUBB status - for example see Jake's above - instead of 'Registered User', you can be a 'Contributing Member'! See all the benefits here: membership and subscribe now! :) |
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Must admit I was a tad irritated when I discovered some of the club attendees got in for £0. They had access to all the same events & facilities that I did. Yet I had not only paid but did a few hours volunteering - which I enjoy, so not complaining, just highlighting out the imbalance. There are quite a few travel-related events springing up & many charge well over the HU cost, yet they're still well attended. Out of interest, how do the other large HU events compare to the UK one in terms of costs & complaints? |
Might be worth investigating Doncaster Racecourse. You might need to do some negotiations on the showers and such as they have the place the jockeys use. Obviously all other facilities are there and its A1, M1, M18, M62 and an airport and mainline train station make it ideal. Its also midlands sort of. Hotels, Supermarket etc all nearby. Lots of hard surface and lots of grass although no formal campsite but pleanty of space to do so.
Failing that any Racecourse may be an idea. |
Thanks for the idea Neill, place is fabulous, but their prices are astronomical! :eek3:
There may be a much smaller racecourse that's better, we'll keep an eye out. |
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To answer in order: Club members - there was a reason! :) The idea was to make sure Clubs came to the event and supported it, and as well did some promo for the event to their members! :) I'm not sure in the end how well it worked, it is one of the things that's up for evaluation for the next HU event. You have to keep trying things! Great to hear you enjoyed the volunteering, it always seems to work well for the volunteers, they make great connections with new people they wouldn't have met otherwise, and most volunteer again the next year! Good to hear the other events are more expensive, :) that will make it easier to charge appropriately. We are often told at our other events that we should be charging more for such an amazing event! Draw your own conclusions. :) We greatly appreciate your support! |
I did realise the price and of course thats a big factor.
What about a school ? Thinking locally, as thats all I can do really. Theres a school near my Dads house with a large field, fenced in of course. And surely they will have a assembly hall and toilets and showers. Its in pretty much the same area as the Race Course i mentioned. During the summer holidays its of course unused so if the event is in the summer then it might be able to be negotiated. No idea how you'd go about that but it would be cheap, i'm sure. They used to run the RGS event at a school and that worked pretty well. https://goo.gl/maps/nP8DT The green space in the middle of this map is the school. Its part of Hallcross Comprehensive. Its near all the other stuff on Lakeside. Theres also Castel Park just up the road and thats the rugby Ground and that also has all the things you require. Not sure about the parking on the grass though! Conferences | Castle Park |
A couple of suggestions for a venue...
Duncombe Park, Helmsley or Sledmere House, Nr Driffield. Don't know what their costs are like but both have hosted large bike events in the past. |
I seem to remember that there are a number of large Scout Camp and activity centres all over the U.K. Tolmers is one that comes to mind. These places usually have both lots of facilities with classrooms etc. as well as the usual camping/catering. Dunno if availbale for a bunch of bikers, but maybe worth a shout!
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Hi can some one please let me know of any Hubb meets this summer . I have been meaning to to visit the big hubb weekener for long time but have always been traveling when its on :-( So make a point of doing it this year sadly just read its not happening this year :-( so can some one please help me locate a mini hubb meeting ? Many thanks J :-)
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venue site
Just a thought you can check out the Norfolk show ground , large area showers bar infact every thing you might need for a bike event
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http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s-meetings-uk/ Regarding earlier suggestions, I suspect that all of these racecourses, county show grounds and the ilk are always going to be excessively expensive - they cater for, and are designed to deal with, 1000s of people. Smaller places mentioned already are essentially the more middled-sized faciities such as the schools, university halls of residence, training places (such as the fire training college in the Cotswolds) and even the small Counties that have show grounds in proportion to their size. And, yes, scouting facilites, outdoor activity centres + youth hostels! Then there are commercial camping sites. But they are not all central to the UK and some of them take bookings only when it suits them. |
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Why not a meeting for the north, and another for the south in the same year? Or, why not have a single "national" UK meeting and move it around the UK annually so that each year a proportion of the "travellers" have their chance to just pop down the road while others have to put in a few more miles? Just got me pondering for a moment. |
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BUT here's why we do it the way we do: 1: Two events is twice as much WORK for us and the volunteers. :thumbdown: 2: Moving to a new venue is EXTREMELY difficult - you may have noticed the reason we are not having one this year is because we can't find a suitable venue! And even if we can find the right one, getting them trained to understand our needs, and for us to figure out how it will all work, what goes where, maps of the venue, etc etc etc etc is a LOT OF WORK. :thumbdown: Sam and Iain especially over the last few years have put in a staggering amount of work, and we'd really like LESS work for them and others, not more! If we charged another 20 quid or so it might be worthwhile, but as is, no chance. So, we're back to one event, centrally located as best as. The southerners comlain now that it's too far north, and the northerners complain it's too far south already... Still looking for the perfect venue! Remember, we need: :helpsmilie: several presentation rooms good camping good food on site cheap! If you have an idea, please research it a bit first - check their website, make sure it matches the above requirements |
I've suggested it already http://www.shropshirecountyshow.com/...re/index.shtml
Pretty sure it meets your needs - big enough, and small enough. Central - in the midlands. Several onsite venues for talks, plus close to town centre with other venues available. Plenty of camping, but benefit of hotels and b&b in town. Other vehicle clubs have events there. They have good contacts for suppliers for things like toilets / showers, power, catering etc... Dave |
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Don't know how you guys are getting along with your searches, but an idea suddenly came to mind as I was watching a U tube tent demo, ( funny how these things happen!). has anyone tried Stoneleigh ParK events centre? 800 acres smack in the middle of the country, about 1/2 hour from Birmingham/Coventry/Warwick https://www.google.fr/webhp?sourceid...neleigh%20park
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Hi Everyone.
Well, after 8 years of helping to make the HUBB UK happen I’ve decided it’s time to hand over the role to new people. I’m proud to have been able to be involved for so long. The buzz around the HUBB UK has been phenomenal. I’ve loved being around so much inspiration, the constant flow of shared information and the pure fun that always happens at the Meet. It’s been terrific to be with so many overlanding enthusiasts. I’ve met amazing people and made some great friends over the years. Grant and Susan have lots of new ideas for the future of the HUBB UK and it’s going to be brilliant to see all of those things coming to life. If Birgit and I are in the UK at the time of the 2016 HUBB UK then for sure we will be there. In the meantime please PM Grant and Susan if you are available to help with organising HUBB UK. They plan to split my role into manageable sections but they will tell you more. Before I sign off on this I’d like to thank the literally hundreds of people who have helped to make the HUBB UK such an amazing thing each year. :thumbup1: First of all, the Crew Leaders. They all take on a significant amount of responsibility and one of the main reasons the HUBB UK has run so well over the years is because of them. Thanks very much to all of you who have Volunteered. A huge part of the friendly atmosphere comes from so many people mucking in to help. Thanks to everyone who has shared their knowledge by doing Presentations, and to those who so happily put on Demonstrations & Competitions. Thank you also to all the Companies that have come year after year to share their knowledge and products with us all. There are always a lot of ‘unsung heroes’ whose help never really sees the light of day. Why heroes? They have been working away in the background doing such things as collecting firewood, making signs, drafting maps, lent equipment, buying, delivering & sometimes storing equipment, coming early to help with set up, staying on to help with breakdown and so on. Thank you to everyone who has contributed and helped to make the HUBB UK such a friendly inspirational place to be. It’s been a pleasure to work with you. I guess that’s all, though if I have forgotten someone or something I hope you’ll accept my apologies. I wish you guys happy travels and great adventures. Thanks again! See you on the road. Cheers, Sam |
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All the best with the future Wayne |
Thanks Wayne. Chuffed you enjoyed the HUBB UK last year!!! Hopefully, if you aren't on the road, I'll see you next year.
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You will be sadly missed Sam. Good luck to you and Birgit wherever your wheels take you.
Margaret & Mike |
End of an era
You'll be a hard act to follow Sam.
Nik and I have certainly appreciated all your hard work ever since our first meeting at Ripley in 2007. All the best for whatever you do next, hopefully we'll catch up at an event somewhere this year.....:D Gus & Nik. |
Good luck Sam, and thanks for your input at Donnington last year. With the France event starting to grow rapidly, I understand first hand the dedication you have given to carry out this role. I hope you and Birgit have some excellent adventures, and maybe you'll come and tell us about them one day! Bonne chance et courage!
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Mike and Margaret, Gus and Nik and Pongo, thanks very much for the thumbs up!:thumbup1: Catch you all soon I hope! Happy travels to you guys in the mean time :mchappy:
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We were very sorry to hear the news from Sam too, although we fully understand his reasoning, and hugely appreciate all the work he's done, along with his partner-in-crime Iain, to make the HUBB UK the amazing event it's been for the last few years. They both took on a massive job, each doing multiple jobs that we normally try to split up amongst several, and did it all amazingly well.
Thank you Sam! :D:D:D:D:D:D We wish you - and Birgit - all the best in your future endeavors and we hope to see you at the 2016 HUBB UK! |
lincolnshire show ground
if it helps the first harley davidson rally for 20 years has been held in the UK and 8000 people turned. would this be a good enough venue do you think.
have attached a link if helps Home | Lincolnshire Showground all the best and great website |
This looks great, but I bet it's not cheap!
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Thanks for the thought - maybe someday, but for now Endurodude has it right - VERY nice, but way too expensive. Our numbers are well under 1000, so we end up in a small corner, and they want way too much. :(
Very nice though! Please keep trying, it's really hard for us from across the pond! We're looking for somewhere much much cheaper, well under 1000 people. |
Hubb uk 2016
Ay up mi ducks!
Here we go for a first post. Stumbled across this site by accident, I do most of my travels by bicycle. However, I live in the city of Derby which is the nearest urban area to your preferred location(s). Okay, a few ideas that might help you find what you are looking for. Lea Green - operated by the County Council has accomodation for up to 100 people but do offer additional camping, plus of course full catering facilities, with a quality pub across the road and Matlock Bath just down the road. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/educat...en/default.asp University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington campus. Within 2 miles of junction 24 of the M1. At that time of year there will be no students so could provide the right facilities but at what cost? https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/about/c...toncampus.aspx Likewise University of Derby University of Derby While potentially out of your price range, if you don't ask you don't get. If it is just a venue with services bought in Bakewell Showground in the heart of the Peak District would be suitable. I have many contacts in Derby that could provide the technical facilities for the event. Bakewell Show - Entertainment & Events for All the Family Further afield I attended the inaugural bicycle touring festival at Waddow Hall, Clitheroe, Lancashire, which is operated by the Girl Guides. Perhaps you could get some ideas by talking to the event organisers. https://cycletouringfestival.wordpress.com/ Finally, how about the YHA they have plenty of hostels within the central England area some of which have additional facilities that could be utilised for larger numbers of people. YHA Youth Hostels, Bunkhouses & Budget Holiday Deals As mentioned earlier I live in the area. If it helps I am more than willing to do some basic research using your "needs" list. I've recently thrown myself down the road, falling off my KTM RC8, doh so am a desk jockey at present with not enough to do :lol: Bullittboy P.S. perhaps someone could PM me with a basic budget and I will have a quick chat with both the County Council and City Council to see if there is any funding help out there. |
Hubb uk 2016
Just thought of another one. Derby Rugby Club already hold Motorcycle and scooter rallies. Pretty basic facilities but the city of Derby is on your doorstep.
Derby RFC | supporting Rugby in the Community |
Hi Bullittboy, and welcome to the HUBB!
We are looking at several venues at the moment, but nothing definitive yet. I'll contact you by e-mail with more details of our requirements. Must haves:
We lean towards venues where the establishment generates revenue from the camping, accommodation, food and drink and that is their business, rather than we pay rent to a fairgrounds and have to organise everything ourselves. Lumb Farm in Ripley was very good for a number of years, then we outgrew them. Universities/colleges are definitely possible, especially during their summer holidays, as they usually have the presentation facilities, accommodation and food. Camping may be a stumbling block for them, and they may be too pricey. Here's the colleges we've already contacted:
All the others in the list except Princethorpe College were too small or don't allow camping. After much discussion with Princethorpe over many months, they removed themselves from the running due to no availability. Various racecourses, Hangar 42, all too expensive. Most of these venues assume that we'll have thousands of people, which isn't the case, or that we're charging hundreds of £££s for a business-type conference, which is also not the case. It's been a frustrating process, but we haven't given up, and we'll be grateful for any help we can get! Cheers, Susan & Grant |
Hi Susan.
Thanks for the additional information. I am initially going to concentrate my search within the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire area and think that I have found a potential site already that ticks 95% of the requirements for the HUBB with selected dates available within June, July and August. Would HUBB be interested in additional sponsorship from an organisation that is not connected to overlanding? Will make sure further discussions are kept to PM's Cheers Bullittboy |
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Sponsorship - automatic answer is no, but always willing to have a look. Insurance companies are an example - travellers need insurance so they're ok, even though not "connected" to overlanding. |
Has anyone in the UK visited Baskerville Hall recently?
Baskerville Hall Hotel, Hay on Wye accommodation near clyro mid wales & Hay festival of Literature Guest house style It used to be a bit run-down and catered mainly for stag & hen paintball/quad weekends etc. but I understand it has improved its facilities recently... Certainly they have a lot of what would be required for a HUBB meet - five conference rooms (the largest holding 250 people), plenty of space for tent camping together with various room options, plus catering and a bar on site. It is also located on the English/Welsh boarder in some wonderful trail-riding countryside - so perfect for any group ride outs; and regarding access from the rest of the country, not a million miles away from Hereford and the M5 at Worcester. I'm not saying it would be perfect, but I trust it ticks many of the boxes? I will endeavour to drop in there next time I'm passing and check it out in person, but in the meantime, does anyone have any recent (ie. this year) experience of the place? Hope that helps... Jenny xx |
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Baskerville Hall
Not sure what / if there was an issue with Baskerville Hall, perhaps not enough capacity. I've sent an e-mail with our requirements today, will advise what the response is.
We're in discussions with a couple of potential venues, still hopeful for 2016! |
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