Grand Designs Live NEC goes through the roof

First Grand Designs Live NEC show conquers the Midlands

The first Grand Designs Live NEC event took the Midlands by storm this weekend (6-8 October) as a record breaking over 42,000 visitors flocked to the NEC, Birmingham. Like it’s first award-winning sister event in London, the vision for the exhibition was to create an event that celebrates design creativity, ingenuity, determination and aspiration, inspiring visitors to create their own ‘Grand Design’ – no matter how big or small.

Grand Designs Live NEC was launched to meet a huge increase in demand from both visitors and exhibitors outside of London and the South East.

Made up of four distinct but closely related sections – GrandInteriors, GRANDBuild, GRANDKitchens & Bathrooms, GRANDGardens plus, the Design Shopping Arcade – visitors were able to meet over 400 exhibiting companies, each vetted by Kevin McCloud and the Grand Designs Live team.

Visitors were mesmerised by WWF’s One Planet Living feature, stunned by Christian Aid’s environmentally friendly eco-home and enthusiastically took part in the interactive Grand Designers in Residence clinics. Budding cooks indulged their passion for kitchen design in the Celebrity Chefs’ Dream Kitchens.

Grand Designs Live owner, Media 10, was overwhelmed by the response to the show. Lee Newton, Managing Director, Media 10, said: "We conceived the NEC event to cater for the huge number of interested people outside of the South East, but did not expect to be so overwhelmed with enthusiastic visitors and
exhibitors alike in the heart of England. We’re already brimming with ideas for next year’s show."

Kevin McCloud, design guru and ‘face’ of Grand Designs Live comments, "I am so proud of Grand Designs Live NEC. The entire show had a great vibe with an
inspiring blend of architecture, building, design and furnishings, as well as seminars, lectures, live demonstrations and advice clinics. "The NEC event is more than simply a London spin-off, but a purpose-dedicated show where we can share grand ideas and innovations with both a Midlands and a more international audience."

Dates for your diary…
*Grand Designs Live (ExCeL London) takes place on 8-10 June 2007.
*Grand Designs Live NEC takes place on 5-7 October 2007.