Event: The National Honey Show The National Honey Show
Event Date: 26 – 28 October 2023
Number of delegates: 3,000+
Meeting spaces used: The Surrey Hall, The Gold Cup Suite, smaller suites and boxes for lectures and meetings.

The event:

First held in 1923 at the original Crystal Palace, The National Honey Show is the UK’s premier honey show with international classes, lectures and workshops. Since 2016, the event has been hosted at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey. Last year, The National Honey Show celebrated its centenary event at the racecourse, which was opened by HRH The Princess Royal.

Event setup:

The National Honey Show, the largest honey show in the world, attracts more than 3,000 people and exhibitors from the world of beekeeping each year.

It has a large educational programme as part of its show as well as almost 250 competitive classes, for beekeepers to test their skills and compete for coveted trophies and prize cards.  The majority of these events take place in the Gold Cup Suite and the smaller suites at the racecourse.

The National Honey Show also hosts a large trade hall, which takes place in the racecourse’s largest event space, the Surrey Hall, where attendees can purchase equipment, specialist honeys and food items, wax related cosmetics and accessories.

Event solutions:

After hosting the National Honey Show at Sandown Park for eight years, the organisers and venue team know exactly what is needed for the event and work seamlessly together.

Whilst there haven’t been any major challenges, small things do crop up on the show days but, the Sandown Park team are incredibly proactive in finding solutions.

Venue selection:

Sandown Park was selected over other venues for several reasons: the sizeable event spaces within one building; easy access to all corners of the UK and close to major transport hubs for international attendees; ample parking for guests and exhibitors.

“The venue has consistently met the event’s needs better than previous locations used over the past 100 years.” Bob Maurer, Chair, National Honey Show

Accommodation:

On-site Sandown Park Lodge was block-booked for key staff for convenience in the lead up to the event and across the show days.

For members and attendees, the Sandown Park team provided a list of recommended local hotels which included The Bear Hotel in Esher and The Ship Hotel in nearby Weybridge.

Testimonials:

Bob Maurer, Chair, National Honey Show said: “The National Honey Show has been held at Sandown Park since 2016 and in our 100-year history, it has proved to be an exceptional venue for the National Honey Show, meeting the event’s comprehensive requirements and providing a supportive environment that enhances the overall experience for both organisers and attendees. We look forward to holding our show there for many years.”

The next show will take place at Sandown Park Racecourse from Thursday 24th October until Saturday 26th October 2024.