Shop ’til you drop at HOYS
Visitors to this year’s Horse at the Year Show at the Birmingham NEC (12-16 October) will have even more opportunities to crucify their credit card, thanks to an extended shopping village.
Measuring around 8,000sqm, the retail village will be packed with top brand names offering fantastic special offers, as well as all the latest products to hit the shelves, making it a horsey shopping heaven.
The uninterrupted shopping experience will be available to visitors throughout the day and into the evening, with special weekday “shopping-only” tickets being introduced for the first time this year.
The extra space will enable wider aisles to be left between the trade stands, which should help to cut down on the inevitable crush, especially as the daily opportunities to meet and greet celebrities are likely to entice even the most avid of spectators out of their seat in the International Arena.
Situated between the 8,000-seat International Arena and the retail village will be the reformatted HOYS Pavilion, which will host a variety of interactive visitor enhancements for the whole family, including a rider interview area, a new VIP reception area and improved catering facilities.
The Pavilion will also have a collection point for bulky purchases, enabling you to pick up your shopping at a convenient time before heading off home, rather than cart it around with you all day. Horsebox displays and the popular equine feature area, where visitors will have the chance to come face-to-face with a variety of horses, will also be located in this area.
Grandstand Media director Mark Wein says: “For exhibitors and visitors alike, 2005 will be the biggest and best HOYS ever. The addition of the new retail village, the enhanced facilities and a stunning line up of top competition and spectacular displays will make Horse of the Year Show an unmissable event for the entire equestrian world.”
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For Horse of the Year Show tradestand enquiries, please contact Grandstand Media (tel: 0870 777 4567) or email: tradestands@hoys.co.uk.
Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.