BHGS Events and Coronavirus: May 15th Update:
Following the UK Government's announcement earlier this week of a provisional timeline for easing the UK-wide lockdown, it has now become apparent that any easing of social distancing rules in the UK will be a lengthy and gradual process.
The "best case" scenario laid out this week would still only see limited, socially distanced openings of non-essential leisure facilities by July at the very earliest - a scenario which makes it impossible to envisage how an event like Britcon, which relies upon large numbers of strangers travelling from across the country to spend many hours in an enclosed space interacting face-to-face with one another from a few feet apart across a gaming table, would be permitted (or indeed would be safe to stage) just a few weeks later in early August.
As a result the BHGS Committee have taken the decision to cancel this year's Britcon.
The event will not be rescheduled to later in the year, so our next edition will be held in Summer 2021 - most probably in a new venue, as the Barnes Wallis building is (currently) due to be demolished at the end of July 2021.
The BHGS does fortunately have cash reserves sufficient to take the financial hit of cancelling the event and so we will be issuing full refunds to all of our registered players over the next few days. Registered players should therefore be seeing email notification of refunds coming through soon, and then the refund amount hitting their credit cards a few days later just as soon as we can work through the admin involved in doing so.
We had also delayed sending out any invoices to any of our traders for stand space this year's event, so none of those traders will end up out of pocket either as a result of the cancellation.
Our next events are at the LGT in September and the rescheduled Roll Call in October, and so if there are any updates on either we will make sure to let you know as soon as possible.
Do let us know if you have any questions which we've not managed to answer here already, otherwise we sincerely hope to see you next year at Britcon 2021.
Regards
The BHGS Britcon Team
Following the UK Government's announcement earlier this week of a provisional timeline for easing the UK-wide lockdown, it has now become apparent that any easing of social distancing rules in the UK will be a lengthy and gradual process.
The "best case" scenario laid out this week would still only see limited, socially distanced openings of non-essential leisure facilities by July at the very earliest - a scenario which makes it impossible to envisage how an event like Britcon, which relies upon large numbers of strangers travelling from across the country to spend many hours in an enclosed space interacting face-to-face with one another from a few feet apart across a gaming table, would be permitted (or indeed would be safe to stage) just a few weeks later in early August.
As a result the BHGS Committee have taken the decision to cancel this year's Britcon.
The event will not be rescheduled to later in the year, so our next edition will be held in Summer 2021 - most probably in a new venue, as the Barnes Wallis building is (currently) due to be demolished at the end of July 2021.
The BHGS does fortunately have cash reserves sufficient to take the financial hit of cancelling the event and so we will be issuing full refunds to all of our registered players over the next few days. Registered players should therefore be seeing email notification of refunds coming through soon, and then the refund amount hitting their credit cards a few days later just as soon as we can work through the admin involved in doing so.
We had also delayed sending out any invoices to any of our traders for stand space this year's event, so none of those traders will end up out of pocket either as a result of the cancellation.
Our next events are at the LGT in September and the rescheduled Roll Call in October, and so if there are any updates on either we will make sure to let you know as soon as possible.
Do let us know if you have any questions which we've not managed to answer here already, otherwise we sincerely hope to see you next year at Britcon 2021.
Regards
The BHGS Britcon Team
Britcon 7th-9th August 2020
What is Britcon?
Britcon ...
Yes, the largest event in the BHGS calendar will be returning to the now-familiar surroundings of UMIST in (always-sunny) Manchester over the Friday-Sunday of 9-11th August.
As well as competitions you are welcome to come along and visit the Britcon Trade Show at the weekend
Reserve a ticket in advance via our website and we will let you in for free - yes, that's right, no entry cost at all! We want you to be able to spend all of your hard earned cash with our loyal traders. You can then also visit our demo games, browse the bring and buy and see the competitors in action as well in our competitions.
You can also just turn up on the day and get in for free too, but by registering in advance we will be able to send you up to date information on who will be there, what new products they will have on show, and whether they have any Britcon special offer at the show as well - so not only do you not have to pay to get in, the stuff you buy may even be cheaper too !
(I already know I'm going - just take me to the booking form!)
What's happening this year?
What else to look out for...?
(I've read enough - sounds brilliant - take me to the booking form now!)
Britcon ...
- ... is the UK's biggest residential multi-period, multi-ruleset historical wargames competition
- ... has events in over a dozen different rulesets and periods for you to take part in
- ... offers onsite Student accommodation and an onsite bar all priced at discounted "university" rates
- ... includes one of the North West's largest 2-day wargames tradeshows
- ... is held in Manchester only steps away from from Piccadilly Station
Yes, the largest event in the BHGS calendar will be returning to the now-familiar surroundings of UMIST in (always-sunny) Manchester over the Friday-Sunday of 9-11th August.
As well as competitions you are welcome to come along and visit the Britcon Trade Show at the weekend
Reserve a ticket in advance via our website and we will let you in for free - yes, that's right, no entry cost at all! We want you to be able to spend all of your hard earned cash with our loyal traders. You can then also visit our demo games, browse the bring and buy and see the competitors in action as well in our competitions.
You can also just turn up on the day and get in for free too, but by registering in advance we will be able to send you up to date information on who will be there, what new products they will have on show, and whether they have any Britcon special offer at the show as well - so not only do you not have to pay to get in, the stuff you buy may even be cheaper too !
(I already know I'm going - just take me to the booking form!)
What's happening this year?
- Periods being played
- Venue and onsite accommodation
- The Britcon Trade Show - full trader details
- Britcon Bring & Buy
What else to look out for...?
- Prices Frozen - astonishingly yes, after another good year we are able to keep the entry prices flat yet again.
- The return of the Britcon Fiver - we will hand back £5 per player (for all of the 2-day periods) in the form of the very popular "£5 off any £10 purchase with any trader" deal. Competitors will also get a drinks voucher to spend at the bar or cafeteria
- Accomodation still optional - We've negotiated some great rates at UMIST for a variety of standards of rooms - all still in stumbling distance of the venue and bar as usual, but you are totally free to book and stay elsewhere if you wish - if you are prepared to walk 10 minutes we heard of hotels with rates as low as £17/night last year, so look around. If you do want to stay onsite there will soon be a separate booking portal to book the UMIST rooms that you will be taken to once you confirm your Britcon entry.
(I've read enough - sounds brilliant - take me to the booking form now!)