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Hi this Saturday there will be one of the biggest events in the UK for wargaming.

Salute 2023 its usually quite busy and mostly smaller, medium companies trying to get your attention for their stands and games.
Also this year they turn 50! Amazing!

I haven't been since Covid happened but I was a regular for many years and there was always some kind of online excitement building up towards the event.

I can find very limited news about it ( mostly only at own Salute Facebook page) but... whats happening? Loads of companies are so silent/quiet theres nothing I could find about promotions, event sales etc etc.
It's almost like competitors lost drive and dont post anymore.

Im happy to be wrong here so please if you find any channel bursting with these companies news and things that should be happening in just a few days please share.

Anyone going?

I am running a display game. No idea as to trader take up, last year wasn't good. They seem to be promoting 'celebrities' on their social media feed. Honestly I have no idea who these young 'uns are...

The_Real_Chris wrote:
I am running a display game. No idea as to trader take up, last year wasn't good. They seem to be promoting 'celebrities' on their social media feed. Honestly I have no idea who these young 'uns are...

Sorry to hear that I wasn't in last year... This year alone I can find several "regulars" stands dropped out from the traders list.
I'm with you on the celebrities thing, I dont really care much about YouTubers and surely didn't buy a ticket for a wargaming event to hear someones ramblings XD. I go there to check the new games, new minis, promo releases, event exclusives etc. But there's nothing about that mentioned on socials.
Before Covid happened the event was mostly packed with miniatures/games content.

Good luck with your table Chris what games are you displaying?

Really looking forward to the show as I haven't been since before Covid.

This should probably be in the N&R section!

It is now.

The traders list is quite impressive this year;
7th City Collectibles / TN08 / https://7thcitycollectables.com

ABC Brushes / TA21 / www.abcbrushes.com

All Rolled Up / TH01 / www.allrolledup.co.uk

Barrel of Dice (Anomalia Games) / TC07 / www.anomaliagames.com

Anschluss Publishing / TA02 / www.anschlusswargames.com

Anvil Industry / TH10 / www.anvilindustry.co.uk

Asmodee / TK09 / www.asmodee.co.uk

Baccus 6mm / TB09 / www.baccus6mm.com

Bad Squiddo Games / TD08 / www.badsquiddogames.com

Battle Foam / TB11 / https://uk.battlefoam.com

Battle Systems / TH07 / www.battlesystems.co.uk

Battlezone Miniatures / TF03 / www.battlezone-miniatures.co.uk

Bicorne Miniatures / TH03 / www.bicorne.net

Black Scorpion Miniatures / TJ11 / www.blackscorpionminiatures.com

Blotz / TH08 / www.blotz.co.uk

Blue Giant Studios / Atlantis Miniatures / TD19 / www.bluegiantstudios.co.uk

Brigade Models / TE14 / www.brigademodels.co.uk

Brushes 4 Models (Artmaster) / TE12

Caliver Books / TD02 / www.caliverbooks.com

Cerberus Studios / TC13 / www.cerberus-studios.com

Colin Mathieson Comics / TE05 / www.momentofadventure.blogspot.com

Conquest Games / TJ03 / www.conquest-games.co.uk

Corvus Belli / TN11 / www.corvusbelli.com

Crocodile Games / TL01 / www.crocodilegames.com

Crooked Dice Game Design Studio / TD17 / www.crooked-dice.co.uk

Cubicle7 / TH01 / https://cubicle7games.com/

David Lanchester Military Books / TA22 / www.davidlanchestermilitarybooks.co.uk

Debris of War / TJ12 / www.debrisofwar.com

Deep-Cut Studio / TF01 / www.deepcutstudio.com

DMB Games / TK07 / www.dmbgames.co.uk

Element Games / TK16 / www.elementgames.co.uk

Elite Wargames & Models / Sgts Mess / TJ09 / www.sgtsmess.co.uk

Ellis Accessories / TD16

Empress Miniatures / TM13 / www.empressminatures.com

Encounter Terrain / TN11 / www.encounterterrain.com

Entoyment Wargaming and Hobby Centre / TD21 / www.entoyment.co.uk

Encounter Terrain / TN05 / www.encounterterrain.com

Eureka Miniatures UK / TK14 / www.eurekaminuk.com

Essex Miniatures / TN05 / www.essexminiatures.co.uk

Exit 23 Games / TA01 / https://exit23.games

Fenris Games / TD06 / www.fenrisgames.com

Fizzer Johnson's Men of Metal / TA20 / https://fizzerjohnson.com

Flag Dude / TN07 / http://www.flagdude.com

Forged in Battle / TM06

Gamers Grass / TK02 / https://gamersgrass.com

Games Quest / TE03 / www.gamesquest.co.uk

GCT Studios / TB05 / www.gctstudios.com

Geek Villain Limited / TM14 / www.geekvillain.co.uk

GloForce / TD03 / www.gloforce.com

Goblin King Games / TA16 / www.moonstonethegame.com

Great Art / TM10 / www.greatart.co.uk

Great Escape Games / TJ05 / www.greatescapegames.co.uk

Green Stuff World / TF12 / www.greenstuffworld.com

Gringo 40's / TJ08 / www.gringo40s.com

Hasslefree / Artemis Blacks / Red Box Games / TM19 / www.hfminis.co.uk

Helion & Company Publishing / TH04 / www.helion.co.uk

Heroics and Ros / TA08 / www.heroicsandros.co.uk

Hobby Hive / TJ07 / https://hobbyhive.uk

Illusionary Terrain / TF02 / www.illusionaryterrain.com

Instant Armies / TE08

Institute of Cancer Research / TC18 / www.icr.ac.uk

Iron Gate Scenery / TM15 / www.irongatescenery.co.uk

KR Cases / TB07 / www.krcases.com

Kurpa Miniatures / TE10 / www.myminifactory.com

Last Man Last Bullet / TE02 / www.lastmanlastbullet.co.uk

Leisure Games / TM03 / www.leisuregames.com

Loke Battlemats / TC04 / www.lokebattlemats.co.uk

Mad Gaming Terrain / 4TK Gaming / TK06 / www.4tk.co.uk

Magister Militum / TF06 / www.magistermilitum.com

Mammoth Miniatures / TC14 / www.mammouth-miniaturesonlineweb/shop

Mantic Games / TH12 / www.manticgames.com

Marquee Models / TM02 / www.mmodels.co.uk

Master Crafted Miniatures / TB06 / www.mastercrafted.co.uk

Masterstroke Games / TH07

Micro Art Studio / TC16 / https://shop.microartstudio.com

Mighty Lancer Games / TL14 / www.mightylancergames.co.uk

Mili-Art / TJ10

Mitches Military Models / RDG Miniatures / TE09 / www.mitchesmilitarymodels,co,uk

Modiphius Entertainment / TB10 / www.modiphius.com

Modular Worlds / TA11

Monkstone Miniatures / TL07 / www.monkstoneminiatures.com

My Mini Factory / TA15 / www.myminifactory.com

Oakbound Studio / TM05 / www.oakbound.co.uk

Oathsworn Miniatures / TJ02 / www.oathsworn.net

Offensive Miniatures / TD04 / www.offensiveminiatures.com

Olmec Games / TB04 / https://thedrownedearth.com

Oshiro Models / TC06 / www.oshiromodelterrain.co.uk

Osprey Games / TJ13 / www.ospreygames.co.uk

Parable Games / TH02 / www.parablegames.co.uk

Paul Meekins Books / TD23 / www.paulmeekins.co.uk

Pendraken / Minibits / TH11 / www.pendraken.co.uk

Perry Metals / TA13 / dave.thomas103@ntlworld.com

Perry Miniatures / TE06 / www.perry-miniatures.com

Phalanx / TB03 / www.phalanxgames.co.uk

Plastic Soldier Company / TF04 / www.theplasticsoldiercompany.co.uk

Products For Wargamers / TM12 / www.productsforwargamers.co.uk

Realm Runner Studios / TL13 / www.realmrunnerstudios.com

Red Eagle Miniatures/Big Battalions / TN07 / www.redeagleminiatures.co.uk

Renedra / TE04 / www.renedra.co.uk

ROK Minis / TD15 / www.rokminis.com

Rubicon Models / TL05 / www.rubiconmodels.com

Sarissa Precision / TK18 / www.sarissa-precision.com

SHQ Miniatures / TA06 / www.shqltd.com

SMS Paints/Frome Model Centre / TB01 / https://fromemodelcentre.com

Spellcrow / TL12 / www.spellcrow.com

SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity / TG01 / www.ssafa.org.uk

Syborg 3D Printing / TA19 / www.syborg3dprinting.co.uk

Table Top Tyrant / TA04 / www.tabletoptyrant.co.uk

Tangent Miniatures / TF05 / www.tangentminiatures.com

Taro Modelmaker / TH05 / www.taromodelmaker.com

The Cultural Experience / TN09 / www.theculturalexperience.com

The Last Valley / TM01 / andrewworsley@yahoo.com

The Pit Gaming Shop / TM17 / https://thepitgamingshop.co.uk

The Square / TE13 / www.thesquare-wargames.co.uk

Titan Wargames / TB02 / www.titanwargames.com

Too Fat Lardies / TM11 / www.toofatlardies.co.uk

Trans Atlantis Games / Duncan Rhodes Painting Acadamy / TF11 / www.transatlantisgames.co.uk

Triple Ace Games / TE01 / https://tripleacegames.net

Tritex Games / TE11 / www.tritex-games.co.uk

TT Combat / Troll Trader / TK12 / www.thetrolltrader.co.uk

Twilight Miniatures / TK04 / www.worldoftwilight.com

Uncertain Scenery / TC02 / www.uncertainscenery.com

Urban Construct / TH09 / www.urbanconstruct.co.uk

Vanguard Tactics / TD12 / www.vanguardtactics.com

Warbases / TE07 / www.warbases.co.uk

Wargames Foundry / Warmonger Miniatures / TH06 / www.wargamesfoundry.com

Wargames Illustrated / TL03 / www.wargamesillustrated.net

Warlord Games / TB08 / www.warlordgames.com

WarMag - The Magnet Shop / TN10 / www.themagnet.shop

Warp/Warploque Miniatures / TN06 / www.warploqueminiatures.com

Wayland Games / TF07 / www.waylandgames.co.uk

West Wind Productions / TM06 / www.westwindproductions.co.uk

Word Forge Games / TA17 / www.wordforgegames.com

Zinge Industries / TA18 / www.zinge.co.uk

That's a good long list of traders, thanks for posting Ingtaer

I have to say I am not too worried about celeb YouTubers (although good that the show is moving with the times and trying to pull in more punters), but the tables and displays that attendees have spent months (or sometimes years) is usually the highlight for me! That and trying to smuggle bags of stuff in through the front door that evening without getting rumbled

Same here, the show is all about celebrating the hobby and thats why I make the point to attend as much as possible, I think in total I'm close to 10 or so shows.
This year so far Im marked safe from wife rage since 5 of the major stands I usually buy from are not in this year.

I'll be there at table GM18 running demo games of Wild in the Streets with some other folks from Random Platypus.



We will also have games of Xeno: All out war - join the survivors fending off the alien aggressors (using Mantic's TWD All out war rules).

Come over to say "Hi" and roll some dice with us.

Wargames Illustrated have a bunch of special offers
https://www.wargamesillustrated.net/salute-50-special-offers/

We have about 10-15 from our gaming group going, everyone seems pretty excited for it. I'm hoping for some decent show deals and some decent looking tables. Will agree things have been pretty quiet in the run up though from the vendors though.

I normally do create a post with a round-up of offers and new releases for Salute, but not had time or motivation this year...

I think the panels though are a great idea, creates more of a convention feel and less a market place, although that's mainly what I go for... can't hurt to pull in a few more punters who wouldn't normally attend, especially if trader numbers may be down this year?

I saw Duncan Rhodes was announced for a panel though, so may give that a listen. Be a good chance to sit and have a sarnie at least.

Salute 2023 - Promotion
Hi Everyone,
I , like many of you cannot make salute this year. So to give you all a chance of some new toys from the comfort of your own armchair. I will be holding a 48hr sale. From midnight tonight until midnight Sunday anyone with a shopping cart of £50 or more can get an extra 10% discount. Just enter the code Salute 2023 at checkout and that's it. Couple this with free postage and you will get yourself a bargain.

Have a great weekend. Remember SALUTE 2023

Kind regards,
Steve - The Sprue Shop

https://thesprueshop.co.uk/

 NAVARRO wrote:

Good luck with your table Chris what games are you displaying?

I am with real time wargames (unless Bernie's has renamed it without telling me), I believe it is the Indian mutiny/rebellion/1st war of independence (etc.) that we trialled at Gillingham so should trot through the actions of the relief column all the way to Lucknow.

Salute Online And Live!
Dear Customer,

Our virtual salute is now live! It ends this Sunday 11pm UK time. Please note theres a countdown timer on the site but it doesnt adjust for time zones, so if you're overseas better to order early to be sure.

Also note order wont be shipped until the start of May as we're away until then.

We've started the event early as we're leaving for the real Salute in London today! If you're there the same model below is also FREE when you spend £30 or more!

Virtual offers,

Spend £30 or more and receive the Civilian with Pipe FREE plus worldwide shipping is FREE when you spend £30! We'll add the model automically.

https://www.blackscorpionminiatures.com/


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Wargaming weekend special offer!
Get 20% off top Wargaming Creators
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Back! Oh My theres so much to talk about that I dont know where to even start! I need to structure some post that makes some sense. IT WAS MENTAL!

Im a seasoned Salute attendee and I was afraid and concerned for this year, a lot has changed, the industry is moving and I will try to report it better maybe tomorrow since I need put my feet up and look at my loot XD

I dont want to shameless plug things but I did my first instagram story picture review with what I have seen on the day if you care for that kind of stuff...Stories on insta are a bit bad since they only last 24h though. In the past I had a blog where I posted Salute report and news for everyone to check but that blog is no more.
Not sure where and how to upload loads of pictures or even if people are even interested in that.

For now will just say - people start saving for next year since this event needs to be part of your calendar.

I was also at Salute today, thought it was one of the best shows for a long time. Good selection of traders and games on show. Crowds were way up with pre-covid levels and while I managed to keep my wallet in my pocket, it looked like many, many purchases were being made. Stopped by the panels for a couple of the sessions and pleasantly impressed with the guest speakers and hosts asking questions. For a Salute debut, this was a great addition to the show and I hope the SL Warlords build on this in future shows.

Time to sleep now, exhausting day walking around excel

Any new plastic 3-Ups from the Perry brothers? I feel like they've always used the pre-Covid Salutes to show off what they had in the pipe.

Overall a great day, minus the dreadful line to get in and the racist bigot behind me in the line making exceptionally offensive and racist comments about people from other ethnic minorities - kindly GTFO of my hobby!

Beyond that a very good day - best salute for many years.

Not long back too, agree with the above that it was probably the busiest I have seen it for some time.

Really encouraging to see how many younger people there were especially - you still had a lot of elder gentlemen certainly, with the usual array of historicals, but much more of a mix (and a lot more women there too). Felt like a lot of newer, more varied games (some really great sci-fi and fantasy stuff that I hadn't heard of before) and things like 3D printed miniatures, all of it combined for probably the freshest-feeling Salute I have been to. Actually gives me a lot of hope for the hobby!

Das_Ubermike wrote:
Any new plastic 3-Ups from the Perry brothers? I feel like they've always used the pre-Covid Salutes to show off what they had in the pipe.

Saw something about them displaying a new Duchy of Warsaw plastic infantry kit. The pics looked fantastic.

I’ve not missed Salute for a fair few years, this year I’d say traders and gamers tables were down in numbers, not as bad as the one held just after lockdown but certainly less than before.
Attendance was massively up though, meaning the stalls that were there were mega busy. Which made it difficult to casually browse, I wish the stalls could be spaced out a bit more. In fact I’d say I would have definitely spent more if it was easier to browse.
No really standout attendees either, gaming tables were all nice but nothing amazing.
Good show though, we’ll worth the visit.

This report is just based on my personal very limited opinion of the show. I have been covering Salute events for more than a decade ( only missed last year covid one) and the show is so big that unfortunately I only manage to scratch the surface of whats there.

Attendees - Got there a bit before 10am I found that theres no point in getting there much earlier since queues do not move with the doors closed, so this year the queue for me started around N7 area and the show was on the N10. Around 10:15 or so I was in. At this point not as many people has I was used to see. In regards of attendees there was a shift of the type of people I would meet there. Usually it was wargamers with their buddies, plenty of visitors from other countries but this year it was less people from other countries instead more families with their kids and partners, young people and more women. I also noticed that unlike the gigantic flush of people when the show starts there was a constant renew of people coming in with their families. I believe this year was a lot more family orientated than ever. Around 14:00 or so trader was talking saying 6000 or something.

Stands- I work for some companies there so we always have chats about the industry and the show and how well they are doing. I will open a bullet point about the industry debate further down. There was plenty of new stands but also plenty of old established traders not there at all.
In the end the balance overall was less. Also I did not find that the majority of the new stands were remotely comparable in their offers with the old traders amazing stocks, the quality was a bit down.
At previous salutes you had also 3 or 4 stands that would be amazing / huge or new big range/game, the show stoppers... this year all was smaller and more modest.
Not as many companies from outside UK as it used to be and that cascaded in a drop of new original ranges.
A few more 3d printing only stands but the quality there was average to not that great. Bigger companies also downsized and had smaller presence/stands.
Some neat surprises though, A big high quality new range for painters, a new range from a small upcoming company, an old school American company came over Crocodile games and that was nice to see. There was at least 3 new paint ranges stands.
Not as much MDF spam stands or "kickstarter only" stands of the past and that was good to see.

Celebrities and Painting Competition- Painting comp was good to see some really good stuff there and a buddy of mine won. Celebrities I totally avoided that since personally it does nothing for me... but was popular and did bring a new kind of attendees, I think it was a positive thing to add to salute and did fill the empty spaces left from the missing stands. Duncan, Peachy and more, all interacting with peeps and fans.

Tables- Some nice tables but again a reflection of the stands, not many new amazing tables, still busy though but I have seen more memorable tables in the past.

Paint alongs and activities- Not has much but some fun things to do.

Industry and conclusions- There is a shift at salute, some good things while some not so good.
I missed a lot the Huge show stopper stands and the Established Stands with their rich ranges. Talking with stand owners, Brexit and covid has killed or crippled companies, UK companies are not exporting and a lot less money to invest on ranges or events, Non UK companies not coming at all. This event was smaller than it used to be.

With the bad out of the way lets talk why Salute 50 was so good:

The crowd changed for the better, a lot more inclusive for families and women. Industry needs these new people and the youngsters.
The 3d still needs to find a better quality balance and its way in, but good to see them growing.
An overall Positive excitement attitude from everyone, This salute marked a solid starting point for the next ones, I think covid was out of the way and people were socialising and talking again with friends and stands and celebs etc.

Sorry for the wall of text XD

I wish I'd gone this year because it sounded great but I couldn't be arsed to travel all the way down.

Salute was pretty darn good this year.

Busy, bustling and a great mix of people.

Picked up plenty of goodies to keep me going and lots of ideas and potential games and companies to keep an eye on.

Deffo got my interest piqued in some historical action, thanks to some of the display games and tables.

As always Salute reinvigorates my interest in the hobby!

The minis and paint jobs over on the Moonstone stand had me hooked.

Tiny Conflict has me grabbing sprues for starship conversion!

Fenris doing awesome work as always.

Hopefully there will be more wow factor next year but what was there was strong enough so I'll be back next year.

Some photos from the event

This Mordheim table was incredible, had many of the original warbands and other classic fantasy miniatures


A large scale (40mm?) Aliens game. Some marines had disembarked from an APC and we're heading down in a lift, where aliens and facehugger eggs were waiting for them


There were so many more cool big battles going on and wish I had taken more photos!
Some other random miniatures that caught my eye including some of the painting competition entries

I had the best time, living the high life under the balloon arch. It seemed extra busy, right up until the end, sold a bunch of things and saw some brilliant people, I'm so buzzed now!



our colouring stand was a massive hit as always too and warmed my heart!

So I have attended many Salutes from Earls court onward, sometimes as a punter, sometimes doing a demonstration or participation game.

The number of stands/traders was down compared to a 'normal' salute. One reason, other to the ones above about economic climate and UK Brexit decisions, was last year a number of clubs and traders simply didn't come. They didn't cancel, just didn't turn up. They were not invited back.

The layout didn't take advantage of the space, so some stands got quite crowded while they could of spaced things out to enable easier management.

Some punters had mixed views on companies running participation games to hawk their products. Personally I thought it was good.

Anecdotal, but me, my fellow demonstration gamers (we were doing 15th century Italian warfare), and the members of the two clubs I go to, didn't buy anything. So 2 dozen people walking out empty handed. The round of of what did you buy in the next door pub was skipped. We may be addicted to the purchasing, but we all found the event to be a bit flat this year.

I got 2 20 minute slots to wander round and view everything. Favourite games were the asteroids and NotTron, with an honourable mention to the Mordhiem table and surprise at seeing a fantastic Space Crusade game.

Quite a few people thought the tractor towing Ukraine game was inappropriate, and I guess that illustrates I must be an outlier from polite society as I thought it was quite amusing.

I will see if I can link my phone up to this and dump some of the pictures here.

Some Salute pics

Some more

And more