GAME ON

Making a mark

The inaugural GWCT Welsh Game Fair took place at the Vaynol Estate, Bangor. Read on, as Stable Events’ James Gower and Catherine Bishop discuss evolution, vision, and operations

When you launch an event and create a new show on an as-yet unfamiliar site, it’s easy to forget just how much signage you need. Now imagine your new show is in Wales and you need all signage to be in two languages. It’s the exact scenario faced by Catherine Bishop, operations director of the Welsh Game Fair, owned and operated by Stable Events in partnership with the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and Vaynol Estate, Gwynedd.

StandOut is talking to Bishop as she paints some large lettering, gold. It’s all hands to the pump as the operations team makes one final push to get the site ready in time for tomorrow’s grand opening.

Bishop has been responsible for delivering several editions of The Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. Previously, she has inherited site plans from her predecessors, but this is the first time that she has been able to put her stamp on a site from the beginning; it’s an opportunity to make her mark.

“It’s the most emotional and the most challenging event I have worked on,” explains Bishop. “I know Ragley Hall like the back of my hand. Organising the Welsh Game Fair, it’s been like walking into a dark room, blind. But I am excited to think that this event could be around in 50 years’ time and that I did the first one.”

She continues: “I still don’t know if things are in the right place and I won’t until the gates open tomorrow, but when you work in operations, you’re a control freak and so that thought is terrifying.”

James Gower, managing director of Stable Events, concurs. As he talks onsite, on the last day of the build, he is visibly excited for what’s to come. “I have butterflies and I can’t wait to see it come to life and to see how the site flows,” he says, turning his head to take in the vista.

PERFECT LOCATION

Event Site Design has marked out the estate, including trader and exhibitor positions. It’s one example of continuity. The company also marks out The Game Fair site at Ragley Hall. The process is in keeping with other events in the Stable Events’ portfolio, and this same format aids the sales team.

It is just six weeks since Bishop, the ops team, and contractors left Ragley Hall; she describes the support for the GWCT Welsh Game Fair as “insane” especially as “trusted” relationships with some new suppliers are forming quickly and quite frankly, “you have to get on”.

JAMES GOWER

CATHERINE BISHOP

Bishop has worked closely with the Vaynol Estate team, which has plumbed in 11 standpipes for the show and laid new internal roads. The benefits of such infrastructure improvements will be reaped, as the estate is looking to develop a larger calendar of events; growing a portfolio that will put the North Wales estate on the map.

But how did the event come about? “Myfyr Wynne Jones, owner of the estate, saw an interview that I did in StandOut magazine,” explains Gower. “So, you’re kind of responsible. That’s how he found out about me, and we arranged to meet at the GWCT Scottish Game Fair.”

The Vaynol Estate has hosted events before. Yet, it wishes to capitalise even further on the vast grounds. Gower continues: “The estate is passionate about the countryside and conservation and gets what The Game Fair represents. I said that we were looking to expand and were looking for new things to do.

“When we met on the estate, there was snow on the hills and the sun was shining. Myfyr wanted to do it, I wanted to do it, and at almost the same time, the GWCT in Wales said that they were thinking of doing a game fair. I said: ‘I think I know the perfect location’. There was this embryo of an idea and so it went from there and here we are.”

VISITOR FIGURES

Stable Events owns the show, and each party has a “commitment” to the other. GWCT and Vaynol Estate bring the science, research, and knowledge around land conservation and Gower and his team have the event expertise.

Gower adds: “It has been six years since there was a game fair in Wales. There was not enough consistency in terms of frequency or location, so I feel there has been a big enough gap since the last event for this to work.”

Gower hopes to attract 20,000 people but as the finishing touches are put to the show, the team learns that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed. This will impact visitor numbers, as the show is semi-reliant on walk-ups.

CHALLENGES

The Queen’s passing was just one of the challenges faced by Gower and his team. The supply chain, the rising cost of red diesel, finding good staff, and inflation were others. “Working in a new venue has been challenging,” Gower comments

further. “But we’ve all done that before. We have already learned what we would like to do differently next time, and I know that Catherine [Bishop] has made notes about where we can make lots of efficiencies.

“In terms of budgets, we planned for a lot of increases but there have been some surprises. I knew costs would rise but in terms of VIP hospitality and VAT, we used to be able to hold on to 95 per cent of the ticket price,” Gower adds. “Now we can only hold onto 80 per cent. Suppliers have put prices up by 10 to 15 per cent and so the net difference is 30 per cent. Consumers are not ready to pay 30 per cent more. Event organisers will have to find a way to deal with this scenario. I don’t want to compromise on quality.”

As ever, Gower is candid. He is keen to talk to organisers that utilise the same venues. For example, more than one organiser uses Ragley Hall so is it possible for one traffic plan to be commissioned? Time will tell.

Gower concludes: “I want to see how this event goes but I’m thinking we’ll be here in a year’s time. It’s certainly been in my mind that it’s a long-term project. Imagine trying to create this event in ExCeL – it wouldn’t work. This estate that we are standing in is a blank canvas and it’s stunning. I can’t wait to see it come to life. You can guess how the site will flow, but only the public will tell you and that’s what I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

SUPPLIERS LIST

Radios – DCRS Marquees – Tents and Events and Marquee Nation Toilets – Waterloo Hire Health and safety – The Event Safety Shop Trackway – GT Trax Ticketing and Wi-Fi – RedBox Events Traffic management – Corvus Portable buildings – Glyn-OEvans Power – Templine