Question for those in the UK

[iamsuperdan]

I have a question for those in England.

 

I'm heading over at the end of September for a few weeks. 

What are some good hobby stores in the south?

I'll be mainly in Southampton, but have a car, so will be mobile. I know we'll be visiting family in Reading, Burley, and Wokingham. And we'll be at Brands Hatch on Oct 7.

 

Any suggestions?

 

I know Beaulieu had an awesome gift shop back in the day, and I picked up a few kits there, but that was literally 35 years ago!

 

 

 

[Rockford]

Enjoy your time over here. I'm the other end of the country I'm afraid. Hope you find something interesting. 

[PatW]

Do a google search, we are in the East Midlands only Hobbycraft here with Tamiya and Revell kits. Most actual stores have closed and gone online, sorry!

[iamsuperdan]

Yeah, I noticed there was a Hobbycraft in Southampton.

I remember when we used to come over when I was a kid, and I remember the Beatties that was in Southampton. It was around 35 years ago or so, but wow do I remember that store as being awesome.

 

 

[Pete75]

3 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

I remember when we used to come over when I was a kid, and I remember the Beatties that was in Southampton. It was around 35 years ago or so, but wow do I remember that store as being awesome.

Beatties ruled! Those shops were like somekind of wonderland. Alas, as has been noted, physical stores are largely just a part of a bygone age now ?

[Spottedlaurel]

On 8/23/2023 at 10:13 PM, iamsuperdan said:

I have a question for those in England......

I'm not that far south so I can't say what's down that way. I'm across in the lumpy bit that sticks out into the North Sea north-east of London.

If you find yourself in East Anglia, there's a nice little shop called Model Junction in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Not a vast range of car kits (and the last AMT/MPC sealed reissue I attempted to buy there was warped!) but it's in a town that is well worth a visit in its own right.

Further across on the coast, there's the Hannants wholesale warehouse. It's also open to the public, and you can wander around the aisles while they make up orders for shops and online customers. It's a little daunting, I tend to get some ideas of what they have on special offer before I go and try not to get tempted by the rest.

If you're here for a while I'd take a look at what the online retailers like Hiroboy, Kent Models and Jadlam have - the former two are where I buy most of my kits. You're certainly not going to find them in supermarkets and even what toy shops there are don't have many/any.