I am going to BBC Good Food Show, NEC Birmingham - anyone ever been???

[Fizzylemonade]

We are going on the Thursday and staying over night at the Crowne Plaza (have stayed there before for another NEC event)my fantastic Mum is having my 2 boys overnight so it is just me and dh.

Have you ever been? Will we (as we hope) sample lots of delicious food? We are hoping that we can buy some really nice food and have a picnic back at the hotel for dinner. The restaurant at the Crowne Plaza is really expensive so we don't want to eat there. So it is either the picnic or finding a restaurant nearby.

I am fully prepared for my credit card to take a beating [licking lips emoticon]

i very much doubt you'll want to leave for a picnic- i went (i think) 6 years ago and we came home with 2 bags full of food related freebies, sampled lots of nice foods, and there's lots of little huts selling different things for lunch, not too expencive!! i never got round the whole lot it was so busy!!! are you going to see any of the celebs?...i saw gary rhodes doing a cooking show/demonstration thing....it was very good, when he was right at the top of his game!!!

you'll have lots of fun, and i bet you'll want to go again and again!! we're hoping to get there next year so i can show my hubby exactly what its like as he thinks it sounds fab!!!

actually i think it was 7 years ago as i'm pretty sure it was the 2000 food show i went to!!- i lied there!!

I went a couple of years ago. Its fab. Theres loads of good food to eat and also loads of wine to sample! Make sure you aren't driving! I was, so couldnt have much, but my 2 friends made the most of it! Enjoy yourself.

Its fab..have a smashing time. Definately don't drive.Been three times and loved it. Lots of celebs, lots of food, loads of drink...

We booked the Thursday as Jamie Oliver was doing an evening show and we had seats in the 2nd row so I was quite chuffed. Then I get a letter saying due to Jamie's busy schedule he now won't be doing that so we are booked into seats to see him in the afternoon.

The picnic is in the evening when it has all finished and we trek with our full tummies back to the hotel.

I am glad you all had fun, we are planning to have a few drinks, that is one of the reasons we wanted to stay in a hotel then we can drink and have a, now what is it called? It's a thing you never have when you have young children, oh yes I remember (dusted the cobwebs from the memory)

it's a LIE IN and an UNINTERUPTED BREAKFAST

Ooo ooo. I am going too on the Saturday! Can't wait. We are booked in to see Gordon Rrrrrramsey. I am very excited.

VanillaPumpkin, hopefully I will have left some food for you

I'll hopefully post on here on the Friday before you go on the Saturday.

We have been checking out the list of stalls, think my bank account will take a hammering

i went in the early days

lots olf chutneys

dip mixes(!)
a nd pepole selling stupid gadgets( par tou etc)

I will try and check in on the Friday to see if you have any top tips . We are at Center Parcs the Mon to Fri before and then I come back to the GFS and leave DH with all the washing. Perfect.

I have been going every year for the last 8 and tbh it is not as good as it used to be .... I'm not going this year (8 mths pregnant) and last year came away a bit dissapointed. Far fewer exhibitors and a lot less wine, spirits and beer stalls than previous years.
More emphasis has been put on the celeb theatres and I'm not knocking them as they are good .... but I made mistake of choosing Anthony Worrall Thompson who just chatted with Phil Vickery so much that it could have been "at home with Phil and Fern"!
This year there is a show in Scotland as well as London and Birmingham. It's too expensive for exhibitors to do all three so they will choose their nearest or rather just London (as it appeared last year!).
If you have never been I'm sure you will enjoy it - look forward to seeing you apres- show posts Fizzylemonade and Vanillapumpkin

I'm going on the Sunday - am looking forward to it, not been before. PLease post on what you think is worth seeing!

Henrietta Green's Food Lovers Fair is good
lots of small independents.

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So did I .... was asleep by the time we got out of the car park!

I shall definitely post on the friday night. Although I shall warn you now that I am easily pleased food wise plus we are away without the children so we are totally giddy about that too. Hmm food, sex, lie in, big breakfast, yep pretty much makes Fizzy a happy girl

Oh I won't be able to trust a thing you say .
Actually I am easily pleased too and the idea of a grown up child free day involving food makes me know it will be great.

I have updated on a new thread in case anyone has this bookmarked.

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Sorry, here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1395/432777

Just above this message in Days Out Recommendations

My friend advises hitting the wine section early so you've sobered up by the time you leave! Also watch what you spend the vouchers on. They got a nice meal this time but previously got stung paying £5 for a cube of salmon drizzled with something exotic that was literally a mouthful & £9 for a glass of champagne.