The Blackpool Rally this year is held on April 28th at Norbreck Castle. This is one of the premier UK amateur radio rallies (hamfest) and there will be a SOTA stand as usual.
We want to save money on shipping goods backwards and forward between Barry’s stock and the people manning the stand. Barry will be down in Central Belt this coming weekend and will be bringing me some stock to sell at the rally. Typically there will be the usual small stuff, badges, patches, car stickers etc. and a fewT-shirts, flags, caps. However, the overall amount will be limited unless you know you are coming to the rally and you let me know you want a specific item.
So if you know you will be at the rally and that you want something (especially bulky things) then either PM me or email me with what you want. That way Barry can pack items we know we will sell along with some extras for sale on the day. You can look at the merchandise on the Shop website (there’s a link at the top of the webpage), decide what you want and let me know. You can pay on the day.
You have till Friday late afternoon to let me know.
Off topic=on
Back in 1978, i leaved 18 Rakes Parade in center of Blackpoll; i was a young fellow and used to work in a place not too far from Nordbreck Castle, i guess; it was called Castle Casino, right on the sea side!
i just Wonder if that place still exist. May be if XYL aggrees we could be there next year.
Off Topic=off
73 Gerald F6HBI
OH Yes it is, and it disurbed his name “Castel”.
I used to park on the left where the wind from irish sea was blowing strong!
Sometimes in winter i had to put a candle Inside my old “Singer” to make the
ice melt off the windchield.
Thank for the photo Steve, i’ll show that to my son!
73 from Gerald
To quote from the review of one customer: “The exterier of the hotel was a total catfish from the pocturea we seen.” I think that says it all - really.
G0FEX
From my one and only experience of the Blackpool Rally, is my feet sticking to all the carpets, and making sure nothing fell on my head.
Not Good
Ken
I don’t even understand why the rally is being held at Norbreck yet again this year rather than finding a different venue that is a lot nicer. Norbreck has never been nice venue itself, the only thing good about it is the actual rally. My dad Tom M1EYP stayed overnight last year the night before the rally and from what he said about it, it sounds to me that it was the worse ever accommodation that he stayed at, so best avoid at all costs staying there if you are thinking about doing this. My dad also mentioned that venue for the actual rally was worse than what it had been over the years the rally has been held there and apparently there was loads of talk from radio amateurs in favour of it being moved to a different venue for this year. This is why I don’t understand why the rally is being held yet again at Norbreck, there must have been loads of people in favour of keeping the rally there, I don’t understand why they would be in favour as it is a horrible venue.
Only NARSA can answer the question of why Norbreck again Jimmy I guess. The place is a total dump and I recall your dad’s description on the reflector of the accommodation from last year. Most YHA youth hostels are of a higher standard!
Maybe it is cheap to hire and that is why NARSA like it.
I’m privy to the NARSA minutes and it’s as Andy says, price and availability. They have been earnestly looking and their minutes lists numerous places they have tried. It’s a bit of a pointer when they say that their on-going rally publicity will give less prominence to “Norbreck” in big red letters.
That’s what I expected to hear David. I was sure NARSA committee members will have been doing plenty of research but you need to find somewhere that is available, accessible and affordable.
That’s understandable if NARSA cannot find anywhere else that is nicer and affordable, hopefully their search for new venue will continue to find somewhere nicer and affordable to hold the rally next year.
Both myself any my dad Tom M1EYP won’t be at the rally this year, my dad has a gig in Workington that evening.
Indeed. I didn’t really know about youth hostels until I was introduced to them on the inaugural SOTA YHA weekend at Grasmere Butterlyp Howe. I became a member there and then and have been so ever since.
It can be quite hard to secure bookings in them in exactly the locations Jimmy M0HGY and I need for our SOTA agenda, so we’ve used them increasingly less for SOTA trips. But I’ve found them a really useful option for accommodation while on tour with the band. This wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago with the 11pm curfews, but nearly all hostels provide a late key now, so as long as I’m checked in before the gig, I know I’ve got a clean and comfortable bed waiting for me afterwards.
They tend to be in pleasant and quiet locations, and whatever facilities are provided are usually excellent, as is the food where available. Most hostels have decent Wi-Fi now too.
A stay at Norbreck Castle hotel is, on average, cheaper than a stay in a youth hostel. There’s a reason for that.
A decent breakfast at the Bispham Kitchen cafe should see you through the day without recourse to to on-site catering… well, perhaps a drink or two. Worked for Paul and myself last year.
We’re staying at the Briardene Hotel with a lot of the WAB and BYLARA people. We’re having the usual long standing informal fish and chip supper at the Bispham Kitchen, 6.00 pm the day before the rally and we then QSY to the Bispham Hotel just down the road for a natter. Here they serve beer and other drinks in glass glasses with no loud background music. All are welcome to join an we hope such notables such as Allan, GW4VPX will again join us this year.
