The 2010 Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show opens on Friday 8 January until Sunday 17 January. More than 500 exhibitors will be showcasing the best of the marine industry at the ExCel hall in London’s Docklands.

Exhibitors to the London Boat Show are trimming their sheets to harness the fickle winds of the
recessionary climate. So it’s no surprise to discover there will be 10 per cent
fewer of them setting up shop at the 56^th edition, using 15 per cent
less space than last year.

Even so there are still more than 400 exhibitors
paying around £140 per square metre for their ExCel stands. Many have made the
most of deals offered them by National Boat Shows – a 30 per cent discount for
booking early.

So how does this affect the visitor?

Well there will be no more sitting on the floor to eat
your sarnies in the central boulevard as all stands will be shoe-horned into
the North and South Halls instead to maintain ‘intimacy.’

NBS have received complaints from visitors every year
since the show moved to ExCel from Earl’s Court, about lack of seating in this
area. Now there will be dedicated banks of seats.

The one concession in the boulevard will be a special
dedicated area for six branded owner’s associations including Moody, Westerly
and the Old Gaffers. NBS are running this as a ‘pilot’ and, if successful, more
OA space will be provided next year.

While Oyster and Northshore will have their normal
dedicated stands in the North Hall, 18 other marques including Hanse, Moody,
Bavaria, Legend and Najad will share a raised boardwalk in the North Hall paid
for by NBS to save these exhibitors their stand costs. Meanwhile in the South
Hall Beneteau and Jeanneau are cutting costs by combining both sailing boats
and power boats on their stands. It will be the first time sailing boats have
been on show in the South Hall.

Also visitors will now queue for tickets inside the
ExCel centre as the entrance will be part of the South Hall to allow the glass
lobby to accommodate queues. Again this is a benefit to the visitor by default:
part of bringing ‘vitality’ to the show, by shrinking what’s available and not
making it look too abandoned.

The Marine Trades Association will have an unusual
stand in the south east corner of South Hall with the display of Barangoola a
36- year- old Hunter 19, which has been rebuilt for under £5,000.  She will help raise funds for RNLI
through a £5 per ticket raffle to win her. This and the Owners’ Association
feature are territory one would have expected from the failed Sail, Power &
Watersports Show which was held at Earls Court, and a bid to see them off for
good!

By the 2011 London Boat Show, the ExCel exhibition
centre will have expanded by almost half – at 44 per cent – as the eastern end
of the venue is developed. NBS say they are considering using the extra space
for a conference area, forums, and training.

Located in the North Hall of ExCeL, the Show Stage
powered by Fairline has undergone a redesign and will be packed with non-stop
entertainment throughout the 10 days of the Show.  Each day the dance explosion ‘Rock the Boat’ will showcase fashion, as graduates of the
Brian Rogers Dance School perform a series of dance spectaculars incorporating
jazz and tap moves. Presenters include Giles Vickers-Jones,
host of ITV at the Movies for ITV1 and Torie Campbell, host of the Honda
Formula 4 stroke offshore powerboat series for ITV4. 

Visitors can hear inspirational stories from Boating
Heroes such as Geoff Holt and Hilary Lister, sailing legend Dame Ellen
MacArthur, and youngest ever round-the-world sailor Mike Perham.

Our sister magazine Classic Boat’sstand will feature a working boat yard,
experts on gaff rig and a fun feature: learning how to climb into a hammock.  

At the Brokers Village experts from the Boat Retailers and
Brokers Association and the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents will be on
hand to advise on VAT, insurance and documentation for visitors looking to buy
a boat.

And world-famous yachting cartoonist Mike Peyton, now in his 90th year,
will be signing copies of his biography, Peyton, at the Adlard Coles
stand on 16 January.

 Outside in the
Royal Victoria Dock the Army will display amphibious warfare craft.

The title sponsor this year is Tullett Prebon, Citybrokers  who buy and sell shares for
commercial and investment banks. Many exhibitors will be hoping to snare their
bonuses.

Tickets and Show information

For all the latest information on the Show itself,
including opening times, ticket prices and sales, news, feature information and
exhibitors, log on and check out the Show’s website at www.londonboatshow.com. 
Visitors purchasing tickets in advance will enjoy a discounted rate,
which is available through the Show’s website, or by calling the ticket hotline
on 0844 209 0333.