NEC / July > Reviews > excellent venue

Author's product rating:   

Prices
Is it worth visiting?
Transport links
Family Friendly

Advantages:	very organised, easy to find
Disadvantages:	expensive food and drink

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Birmingham NEC is probably the nearest (half decent) venues near me. When I say the nearest it's still four hours drive away. That's what I get for living out in the sticks.

I have lost count of the amount of times I have been to Birmingham NEC so I shall just list some of the times I can remember.

Motorshow 2000
Max Power show 2000
Autosport show 2000
Metallica (some years ago)
Clothes Show 1998

So what's it like? Well, big, I suppose, big compared to anywhere in Cornwall anyway. I have always found every show that I've been to very organised.

So the real test - the toilet queue. Obviously every show is different. No queue at all for the Max Power or Autosport show because it was all men there and hardly any women. Result - men having to queue for a change!!! Bonus. Metallica, I had to queue for about twenty minutes but only because everyone was taking their time putting all of their piercing straight and making sure that their dog collars were not too tight (only joking there - you can't write in a sarastic accent can you?).

The NEC is made up of lots of rooms, all joined together then the big concert room where, obviously, it all happens. I have no idea how many people fit in the NEC, depends on the concert I suppose and if there are standing places or not. The stage at the front has the usual flat surface then raised seating all around it so that everyone can see. If you are sitting right at the back the person on the stage will only be two inches high. With Metallica the stage was set up different, on the flat surface where people usually sit. Standing was around the stage and then the normal seating. Tip: people do not stay seated at a Metallica concert. Another tip: do not put seat cushions on the seats at a Metallica concert, they will get thrown into the flames on the stage and will be no more.

I would say that you have a good view of the stage from where-ever you are sitting, even if it's miles away - make sure your eyesight is good here.

So, enough of the music side of things. The Autosport Show, Max Power and Clothes Show also spread into the surrounding rooms, and there are quite a few of them. Find out before you go how many rooms the show is going to be in. If it's using all of them get there as soon as it opens because you will need all day to get round them.

Food, take your own unless you have recently won the lottery. Food and drink is VERY expensive in the NEC, an example...let me think....breakfast was £7!!!!! After paying two quid in Woolworths I was not happy about paying £7, and no, the quality of it wasn't any better.

Parking, well, car parks are set out all the way round the NEC and are all numbered so as long as you can remember the number you are in there will be no problems. There are buses from all car parks to the main doors - very handy for us lazy people. You will always have to pay for car parking extra to your ticket - I think it's about £4???

I think that the NEC is placed in a very convenient place, no miles of roads to trail round before you find it. It's signposted from the motorway and is just off it so no chance of getting lost.

I would definately recommend the NEC for any show or concert and it's got the added bonus of being inside so if it rains, which it normally does in England, you won't get wet. Unless of course you get a really sweaty bloke in front of you.