A Brill Facility In Birmingham (National Exhibition Centre (Birmingham))

Member Name: CheekyCharlie08

Product:	National Exhibition Centre (Birmingham)
Date:	04/09/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Loads of different things going on; All the top bands

Disadvantages: It can be hard to get a parking space

I live in Birmingham and have been to loads of things at the NEC including concerts, shows and events. My uncle was a security guard there and he used to give me free tickets to stuff so lots of times I went even though it was something I wasn't very interested in just for something to do.

The NEC is a massive complex and has loads of different halls inside for different events. To give you an idea of the size of the building when Birmingham used to have the Motor Show there would be hundreds of cars arranged inside with loads of room between them so you could walk round and thousands of people visit every day.

Another regular event at the NEC is the Crufts dog show and that is wicked even though it gets a bit smelly. I have been to this loads of times and always had a good day watching the dog shows and talking to the handlers and I nearly brought an English Bull Terrier puppy from someone once but my dad wouldn't let me have it even though I was going to pay for it and look after it myself! The cruelty of it!

Me and my mum go to the Good Food Show every year and that is good as well but not as good as Crufts I don't think, but my mum disagrees because she doesn't like dogs! You get loads of free stuff at the Good Food Show because there are samples been given out at most of the stalls and because its at the end of the year my mum always stocks up on the Xmas booze and munchies because of how cheap it all is. I always feel sick when I leave though cos the stalls give out samples of hot food as well so you have a sausage one minute then a handful of nuts from the next stall then a bit of ice cream and then a pork pie and its too much food after a bit!

For concerts this is the main venue in the West Midlands and all the top bands come here unless they're the arty farty ones who would rather play the smaller venues. Theres loads of different genres from classical to rock and everything in between. It's dear to go to a concert here though and tickets are usually over £30.00 and then the band merchandise inside is a proper rip off and so are the drinks.

The disabled access is brill at the NEC and when i went with my cousin who'd broke his leg we were able to get round the building even though he was using a wheelchair at the time and had his leg stuck straight out in front of him. There's loads of toilets as well but the queues get massive when there's a concert on so I try not to drink too much and then run down to the loo when a song comes on that I don't like.

There's a massive car park at the NEC and because its right by the motorway its easy to get to and is signposted from the other side of Birmingham. When there's a popular event on the car park does get full and then its a game finding somewhere to park. Last year me and my mum went to the Good Food Show and we ended up having to take the car back and parking it in Town then getting the train to the NEC and that annoyed my mum because parking in town in a proper rip off but the charges aren't too bad at the NEC.

If you get the train you can get off at Birmingham International train station and then you can either walk through or get the shuttle bus that runs about every 20 minutes. There's hotels close as well so if your fave band is playing the NEC you can go and see them even if you live in Scotland and stay over in Birmingham.

Summary: An Event's Not An Event Unless It's At The NEC!