Broadside Games Show 2023

It was the hottest day of the year, well it was in London, when I made the half hour trip down the A2 to Gillingham, Kent for the Broadside Games Show run by the Milton Hundred Wargames Club. Yes my second show of the year, but I thought that I should try other shows and see what they can offer. When I reached the Medway Park Sports Centre the car park was full as there was an college Sports day on as well, but I managed to find a parking spot and it was free.

The venue was right at the back of the sports centre and it was easy to find your way there. Paid my £4 entry fee, which I must say is a really good deal, I entered the hall. This was around 11.30am and it seemed busy.

So first thing was to look around the trade stands and there was plenty to offer buyers. After there were no 20mm plastic soldiers on sale at Salute I found a stand that sold mostly plastic figures, called 1-72 Model Figures, so out came my short shopping list and brought myself three boxes of Hat 1/72^nd figures. They are the French in Greatcoats, Brunswick  Avantgarde and Prussian Volunteer Jaegers.

As it was a lovely day, I went outside to have my lunch.  Now the thing here is that there are no facilities for you to sit down and eat/drink which on such a large building seemed funny. But I went outside and watched the athletics while having lunch. Once finished I went back into the hall and boy was it hot in there, but I started to look at the tables layout. There were a hand full of demonstration games and a nice area where people were selling their second hand goods. There were 12 wargaming tables, some really small and some very large. This is where I meet the Posties, Ray and Big Lee. Lovely to see and talk to them again. 

They had a game on called a “Skirmish at St Frances Cove 1784” The game went well for the smugglers I believe.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

I left the show about 1.30pm and I was so glad that I went and to finally spent some coppers. I shall go back again next year all being well.

Retired Wargamers Reloaded "Eagle & Lions at Carenten"