(Last updated 12th June, 2024)
The majority of these events are ‘Mini-Ship Shows’ – for collectors of 1/1200 & 1/1250 scale ship models to meet, buy and swop. There will usually be booksellers, dealers in collectables & ephemera, etc., present and sometimes there will be a ‘demonstration’ wargame. Other events are advertised as ‘Ship Shows’ and although model dealers may be present it is not guaranteed that there will be. I have attempted to be accurate in this but, if in doubt, check with the organiser!
(UK Dealers also attend other ‘Collectors Fairs’ – please contact them direct for details of these. Some organisers of UK Fairs are: J J Webb Toyfairs, BP Fairs, & Bulldog Fairs)
This page is provided free by Tim Hudson of ‘Photrek’ – it has no connection with any other UK supplier or dealer. I organise the events in the Lincoln area whilst the others are organised by my good friends at Waterline Ship Enthusiasts. If you have been brought here by a link to this site from another event – please remember – its not one of mine!
Some of these shows are some distance ahead, but can be reasonably sure that these events will take place. You are asked to respect the copyright of this page.
(As much for my own interest as anything I’m putting together a retrospective list of ‘Ship shows’ in the UK TJH 31/12/2006)
2024 UK Mini-Ship Shows (including ‘Ship Shows’)
(Events are generally held on Sundays, except where noted)
7th April Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
12th May Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
8th June (Saturday) Not UK but: Kassel International Collectors meeting, Kassel, Germany. Report & illus.
7th July Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
28th July Lincoln – (Dunholme Village Hall, LN2 3SU) Tim Hudson (01522 524672) NB New Location
17th August (Saturday) Sharpness Docks, Gloucester – Sharpness Docks 150th Anniversary – A ‘Maritime Enthusiasts Day’ organised by Iain McCall of ‘Coastal Shipping Publications’. (Sharpness Social Club, GL13 9UN)
21st September (Saturday) North- West Ship Show, Old Christ Church, Waterloo, L’pool: L22 1RE . Organised by the Merseyside Branch of the WSS.
27th October Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
16th November (Saturday) – Ocean Liner Society (New location: Alton Community Centre, nr Southampton: GU34 1HN)
17th November Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
2023 UK Mini-Ship Shows (including ‘Ship Shows’)
Spring 2023 – Bristol Ship Show – did not take place.
26th March Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
16th April, 2023 Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Stuart Barnes-Watson
16th July Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
30th July (Sunday) Lincoln – (Faldingworth Meml Hall) Tim Hudson (01522 524672)
23rd September (Saturday) North- West Ship Show, Old Christ Church, Waterloo, L’pool: L22 1RE . Organised by the Merseyside Branch of the WSS (Confirmed 01/02/2023)
29th October, 2023 Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks, Clive Newman, Roger Dawson (More details to follow)
November – Ocean Liner Society (Southampton) – NOW CANCELLED FOR 2023 Details TBA – date awaited – possible new location. 27/08/2023
19th November Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
2022 UK Mini-Ship Shows (including ‘Ship Shows’)
2nd April, 2022 (Saturday) Bristol (South West Ship Show) – Coastal Shipping
24th April, 2022 Wellow VH (West Wellow nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) 22nd May, 2022 Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Stuart Barnes-Watson28th May, 2022 Kassel (Germany) – As of 15th May: Confirmed – see: Dockside or Facebook
31st July, 2022 Lincoln – (Faldingworth Meml Hall: LN8 3SE) Tim Hudson (01522 524672) 31st July, 2022 Wellow VH (West Wellow, nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (Two events on same day) CANCELLED – ILL HEALTH
24th September, 2022 (Saturday) North- West Ship Show, Old Christ Church, L’pool: L22 1RE . Organised by the Merseyside Branch of the WSS
2nd October, 2022 Theale Village Hall (Reading: RG7 5AS) Stuart Barnes-Watson (Please note correct date)
5th November, 2022 (Saturday) Ocean Liner Society (Masonic Hall, Albion Place, Southampton, SO14 2DD ) (Contact email) (Note change of date)
27th November, 2022 Wellow VH (West Wellow, nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
2021 UK Mini-Ship Shows (including ‘Ship Shows’)
Ocean Liner Society – Southampton 15th May – CANCELLED – now 20th NOVEMBER, 2021 (Details below)
WSE Shows – (Dreadnought) are as listed below – the March 21st event is cancelled.
21st March, 2021 Theale (Reading:
RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) now CANCELLED
May, 2021 Bristol Ship Show – now scheduled for 11th September.
15th May, 2021 (Saturday) Ocean Liner Society (Masonic Hall, Albion Place, Soton, SO14 2DD ) (Contact email) (EVENT RESCHEDULED FROM NOVEMBER, 2020) (NOW CANCELLED – RESCHEDULED TO 20th NOVEMBER, 2021)
23rd May, 2021 Wellow VH (nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) CANCELLED
11th July, 2021 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) CANCELLED
25th July, 2021 Lincoln – confirmed subject to COVID – please contact Tim Hudson (01522 524672)
11th September 2021 Bristol (South West Ship Show) – Coastal Shipping: (Due to the untimely death of Bernard McCall, this event is now cancelled – it is now rescheduled to 2nd April, 2022)October, 2021 Liverpool (L’Pool Ship Show) Now cancelled- Coastal Shipping: See note above.
10th October, 2021 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) CONFIRMED (Stuart Barnes-Watson has taken this on)
20th November, 2021 (Saturday) Ocean Liner Society (Masonic Hall, Albion Place, Soton, SO14 2DD ) (Contact email) (EVENT RESCHEDULED FROM MAY, 2021)
28th November, 2021 Wellow VH (nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) CONFIRMED Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
2020 UK Mini-Ship Shows (including ‘Ship Shows’)
15th March, 2020 Theale (Reading:
RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383)
9th May 2020 (Saturday) South-West Ship Show, Bristol, BS34 7RG (NB not Portishead) Bernard McCall POSTPONED UNTIL 20TH SEPTEMBER
24th May, 2020 Wellow VH (nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (RECHEDULED TO 23rd AUGUST)
5th July, 2020 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (RESCHEDULED TO 9th AUGUST)
26th July, 2020 Lincoln (This was formerly the Welton event- now in a new location: Dunholme VH: LN2 3SU) Tim Hudson (RESCHEDULED TO 4th OCTOBER – NOW CANCELLED)
9th August, 2020 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (RESCHEDULED FROM 5th JULY). Please see this Dockside page (and this one) for details of Social distancing, etc. at this and the Wellow event in August.
23rd August 2020 Wellow VH (nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (RESCHEDULED FROM 24th MAY – CONFIRMED). Please see this Dockside page for details of Social distancing, etc. at this and the Theale event in August.
20th September, 2020 (Sunday) South-West Ship Show, Bristol, BS34 7RG (NB not Portishead) Bernard McCall (CANCELLED)
3rd October, 2020 (Saturday) North-West Ship Show (Old Christ Church, L’pool: L22 1RE) Bernard McCall (CANCELLED)
4th October 2020 (Sunday) Lincoln (This was formerly the Welton event- now in a new location: Faldingworth VH: LN8 3SE) Tim Hudson (EVENT RECHEDULED FROM 26th JULY – DUE TO RISING COVID CASES & THE GENERAL UNCERTAINTY I HAVE HAD TO CANCEL THE EVENT)
11th October, 2020 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) NOW CANCELLED: EVENT RESCHEDULED TO 6th DECEMBER, 2020)7th November, 2020 (Saturday) Ocean Liner Society (Masonic Hall, Albion Place, Soton, SO14 2DD ) (Contact email ) (EVENT RESCHEDULED TO 15th MAY, 2021)
29th November, 2020 Wellow VH (nr Southampton: SO51 6BR) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) CANCELLED
6th December, 2020 Theale (Reading: RG7 5AS) Dave Willcocks (02392 352383) (EVENT RESCHEDULED FROM 11th OCTOBER, 2020) NOW CANCELLED
A ‘Retrospective List’ of Mini-ship Shows.