Cycle Show to leave city’s NEC after nearly a decade

ONE of the largest consumer sports shows in the UK has left the National Exhibition Centre after almost a decade. The Cycle Show, which was first established in 2002, moved from London’s Earls Court to the NEC in Solihull in 2011 where it ran for nine consecutive annual events.

But this year’s show, due to be held in September, has been cancelled due to coronavirus so has shifted to Alexandra Palace in London where it will be held alongside the London eBike Festival next April.

It is not clear at this stage how long The Cycle Show will stay at its new home in north London and whether it will ever return to the West Midlands. The show, which is said to be the UK’s largest and longest-running bike show, is held over three days every autumn and attracts around 30,000 visitors to the NEC. Major household names from the cycling world, including manufacturers of bikes, clothing and accessories, food and drink brands and sports scientists and injury clinics all book stands while visitors can try out new bikes on test tracks and watch demos.

Nicola Meadows, portfolio director with the show’s organiser Upper Street Events, said the firm would continue to use the NEC for some of its other events including two BBC Good Food shows, Gardeners’ World Live and the Festival of Quilts. “We look forward to working with the NEC on these in the future, alongside many successful years at Alexandra Palace,” Ms Meadows added.