hidden Earth 2022 - is there going to be one?

cap n chris

Well-known member
It would be nice to think so but perhaps, like many other pastimes, people just "don't do that anymore".
 

JoshW

Well-known member
I understood the team were looking into locations/logistics etc already, so assume the plan is that there will be one
 
There is a willingness to hold HE but the problem is finding a venue. The previous venue is being coy at committing due to Covid, Les told me they need a site with 500, 300 and 100 capacity areas for the various activities.
 

Badlad

Administrator
Staff member
Maybe the Hidden Earth format needs changing so that the event fits with more venues. Examine how the event is financed so that more expensive venues can be considered. Perhaps arrange a focus group of caving event organisers from across the country to come up with some new ideas for our annual event (HE, Checc, cavefest, Kendal, RGS etc).

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head. :)
 

Ed

Active member
running our own bar is a big killer for many venues. Generally, a bar is part of the provided facilities.
 

Badlad

Administrator
Staff member
Would it be the end of the world not to run your own bar? I know Kendal didn't work out so well but I have been to loads of other events at Kendal and have never wanted for a drink, similarly many other events elsewhere. I sometimes get the impression that this is something the organisers care more about that the punters.
 

PeteHall

Moderator
For me, one of the best things about Hidden Earth is catching up with friends from across the country (there have been years when I haven't attended a single lecture), to this end, the bar is a really important part of the event. There's also something nice about it being our own event, where even the bar staff (and DJs) are cavers. :beer:

I suppose a bar provided by the venue wouldn't be the end of the world at all, but it would be a lot more expensive and there wouldn't even be the feel-good factor of profits going to a good cause. I'm sure people would get over it, but it definitely seems worth making the effort to find somewhere where we can do our own if at all possible.
 

nearlywhite

Active member
I understood the finances were substantialy transformed from a loss making event by the team running a bar and thus taking the profits. :eek:
I'd be happy to personally underwrite any losses if we could get it back - I don't think that's what's stopping them!
 

Rob

Well-known member
Agree reviewing the format is not a bad idea, especially as venue location seems to have been a challenge for many years. A dialled down version of Eurospeleo at Dalesbridge seems like it could work, based around hiring a few big marquees.
 

moletta

Member
Wasn't there a problem with the bar being run by various venues because they didn't believe how much beer we needed?

Dalesbridge was great but when the weather turned it all got a bit damp and muddy. Indoors is probably more practical. Are there places out there if we did pay more?
 

Ian

Member
The bar is run by volunteers so there are no overheads or staff to pay. Means that the price we pay is trade plus a small margin for Hidden Earth etc. If we switch to a commercial offering then prices would rise significantly to pay for those extra costs. Hopefully there wouldn't be any complaints if they went that way.
And yes, previous commercial venues have ignored us when we tell them how much beer they need. Kendal Brewery ran out of bitter!

Having said that I'm sure H. E. would select such a venue if its the only one or its the best available. I guess the problem is finding ANY venue. We obviously don't want it on Mendip again if at all possible so suggestions please.
 

moletta

Member
The last one was in Wrexham....about half way between Mendip and the north?
Could go either way but getting going again is more important
 
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