After making their proposal to bring the maritime showcase to Liverpool public in November, Carnah Events has been flooded with applications from exhibitors and attendees that want to be a part of the Northern Boat Show.
The Northern Boat Show will form part of the 2015 International Mersey River Festival, running from 5 – 7 June and is expected to draw in 150 exhibitors and 60 boats, attracting a predicted 25,000 visitors.
Clipper Marine were an early sign-up, taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase their series of Bavaria yachts and motorboats. Other early adopters included Hamble Point Yacht Charters, Pantaenius boat insurance, Marine Teak, and WiFi Onboard.
Carnah Event Director, Richard Milbourn, said:
“Since we announced the boat show we’ve had a fantastic response which just goes to show that there is a real appetite for this show in the north.
“Those from the industry who have approached me so far are massively excited at the prospect of showcasing their product in Liverpool which is world-renowned for its majestic waterfront and maritime heritage.
“It’s also really important that the event will be part of an already fully established and hugely popular maritime event. We will hopefully add to the buzz around the city and make the festival bigger and better for 2015.”
The showcase will see a fleet of world class sailing and power boards taking to the Mersey to attract buyers from all over the UK, all featured against the historic backdrop of Liverpool’s famous waterfront features. The Albert Dock will play host to many of the vessels on show, while a land-based exhibition will take place next to Salthouse Dock.
Councillor Wendy Simon, assistant mayor and cabinet member for culture, tourism and events said:
“We’re delighted the Boat Show is definitely going ahead, and we’re obviously pleased, but not surprised of course, about the positive response to Liverpool as the host city.
“We know as a city we excel when it comes to staging outdoor events and we’re always keen to look at ways in which we can enhance our events and make them appeal to a wider demographic. The Boat Show will add a different dynamic, bringing in a wider audience who can not only experience this new offer but see first-hand how Liverpool puts on world-class, free events.”
Peter Cronin, director of development and marketing for Albert Dock Liverpool, added:
“Albert Dock, along with our Waterfront partners, Canal & River Trust, are very supportive of the developing plans to bring The Northern Boat Show to Liverpool. The River Festival is a well-established and amazing event for the economy of the Dock and the city, and we look forward to working with Culture Liverpool and the event organisers as the Boat Show will be a brilliant addition to this annual event.”
Chantelle Seaborn, waterway manager with the Canal & River Trust which looks after the dock waterspace, also commented:
“We are delighted to welcome a new boat show to Liverpool. It will certainly add to the vibrancy of the River Festival and be a fantastic attraction for boat enthusiasts.”
Carnah Events has a strong track record of delivering highly successful consumer shows including The Northern Home Show in Manchester and The Southern Home Show held in North London’s Alexandra Palace.
Event Manager for the International Mersey River Festival, Julie Turner, said:
“Richard initially approached us back in September about including the Boat Show in the 2015 festival programme and it’s fantastic that we are now in a position to announce it’s going ahead.
“We’re always looking for ways in which to grow the festival at no additional cost to the city, and this has been a great way to achieve this. It’s also a really good example of how we can work in partnership with the private sector to bring new and exciting elements to our events programme.”
The event is supported by the Albert Dock, Gower Street Estates and the Canal & River Trust.
Early Bird tickets for pontoon access to the boats are just £2.50 per day, with the price going to £5 from Friday 1 May. The land-based part of the exhibition is free to all visitors. To book tickets, visit http://www.northernboatshow.co.uk/.
To find out more about the International Mersey River Festival visit http://www.liverpoolonthewaterfront.co.uk/ or follow On the Waterfront on Facebook or @lpoolwaterfront on Twitter.
Words: Peter Cribley