I live near Southampton and was wondering if anyone of you incredibly well informed people might know where there is a place I can see tents such as the Gelert and Sunncamp 6-ish berthers erected? 50 odd miles is OK when you're about to spend serious money on a long term investment, I reckon!
Take a visit to our Tent Show and save £££'s on your new tent.With over 30 tents on display See the new 2006 range CABANON,C OLEMAN, ROYAL, VANGO & WYNNSTER.
Free cooking Demonstration by CADAC, the best selling BBQ on the market. (SAT & SUN)
I live in Southampton too and have been looking for places to see tents up. The tent show shown above is actually just one shop showing their ranges and are not doing the brands you are looking for. They have a shop in Southampton - down near Haskins/Hobbycraft and another near (or on) the campsite where the show will be. The benefit of the show is you will get to see the ranges from both shops without visiting both. Also they have said they may be doing some discounts or money off vouchers. They have quoted me a price for one tent we are looking at and I can't beat it looking on the net.
I have heard there is another tent shop within spitting distance of the show, so might be worth a trip that weekend and check them both out. If I can find out the name of the other shop I will let you know so you can see if they do the brands you are looking for.
I have also heard of a place in Frensham (think it's Reed Garden Centre) where they have quite a few tents up but again not sure of brands.
There is also Leisure Fayre in Lymington, they have 3 shops on/near the High Street. One does camping equipment/clothes etc but beware we have found it expensive. One of the other two has tents up out the back, we went a little too early but they should have more up now. Again not the brands you are looking for though.
Hope that's not too much information!
We are still trying to make our tent choice too - it is sooo difficult. If you hear of any more let me know. Good luck.
The other shop near the show is Campers and Leisure - see www.campersandleisure.co.uk in St Leonards near Ferndown. The website has your brands and in fact the widest range of brands I have seen! Don't know what they have up but will be calling them tomorrow - might be worth you checking before you go down.
Thanks very much! Incidentally, a local camping shop owner I spoke to about having Gelerts sniffily told me "We don't deal with them anymore since they cheapened their range and started selling to Halfords"..So there!
Don't know much about tents but seems loads of people on here have Gelerts and I would rely on these knowledgeable people more than any sniffy camping shop bloke. Which one was it? Might just have to avoid them. Although may all be the same I was told by the people holding the tent show above that they were only holding it there to wind up the bloke at Campers and Leisure! Which reminds me, I have not phoned yet to find out what tents he has up - will let you know if I find out in next few days.
Leisure Trail (the company holding the tent show) also own another camping shop in Verwood where i understand they have some different tents on display to Southampton.
They are very helpful, if you email them they will tell you if they have a particular tent on display and whether it will be available at the tent show.
Back again. Agree with Mayfair - Leisure Trail are good and their shop seems good value too eg campingaz double burner with grill is £40, everywhere else its £50. But I asked about what other tents will be there and the Verwood shop do the same brands but will have more styles.
Spoke to Campers and Leisure today they "stock" folowing brands; Wynnster, Royal, Gelert, Sunncamp, Outwell and Aztec...might have been a few others but I could not write quick enough. They have just started getting 2006 stock and have about 14-16 tents up at the moment which are mostly 2005. The 2006 tents will be going up over the next couple of weeks. Barry seemed to know his stuff (but remember I am novice at tent buying) and said go this week if you are looking for a bargain and next week on if you want 2006 ranges. Might tie in nicely with Leisure Trail's tent show if you do want 2006 ranges. Think this is what we will do - just want to see more tents up - so difficult to choose by picture especially when no current tent to compare to.
Went to Campers and Leisure and 3 legged cross (it's the Verwood half of Leisure Trail near Haskins in Soton who are doing the Tent Show.
Tent Show is definitely not doing the brands you were looking for. They confirmed they will be doing some discounts at the show, their prices are pretty good anyway so may be some bargains.
Campers and Leisure - quite a few tents of all sizes. Obviously in state of flux between 2005 and 2006. Only realised after we left that they did not have any Sunncamps on display, there were a couple of Gelerts but not 6 berthers. So would def call before going if you are set on these brands.
We still have not decided but leaning towards Pegasus 5 so will probably be going down there again for tent show and 2nd visit to C&L.
Tent shopping - happy days.....
PS Tell me when to stop sharing info because I could go on forever
I went to the camping shop in St Leonards yesterday. I can honestly say the man we spoke to was both the nicest and most knowledgeble shop assisstant we have ever spoke to. he was so helpful and we actually only came to see a tent we had brought but not put up. unfortunately they hads taken down that tent an hour before but he showed us all the similar size tents. was a brilliant chap i would def reccomend the show!
It may be a bit further away, but still within 50 miles and that is SK Leisure, at Godalming - not too far North of East Grinstead on the A22. They have a really good tent display all year around and a really well stocked shop. Staff are really friendly and knowledgable too.
We bought our latest frame, Sunncamp Palace SE (Special Edition - has a sewn on sun awning) there about three years ago, and are delighted with it.