The Ideal Home Show is coming back to Scotland, with original concepts and intriguing products. What it offers those eagerly anticipating its return is a taste of the good life, says Ruth Allen
When the second Ideal Home Show Scotland opens at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, on Saturday, September 23, it will give Scottish home-lovers their new annual glimpse of living in the future.
It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since the Ideal Home Show first opened at the SECC, when more than 70,000 visitors took the opportunity to enjoy a great day out over the nine action-packed days. Organisers dmg world media surveyed last year's visitors to find out what they thought of the show, and this information has helped to build a bigger and better event for the year 2000. As you would expect for the first show of the new millennium, there are even more futuristic surprises, more exhibitors, more products, new visitor attractions and a host of celebrities waiting in the wings for the grand opening of Scotland's biggest home show.
''We were delighted with the success of the launch event last year which, as a company, gave us a good foundation to build on,'' says show director Jason Franks. ''Since we closed the doors last year, we have been listening to our exhibitors, visitors and media partners and exploring all sorts of different ways to add to the excitement generated by Scotland's favourite home show.''
Franks is enthusiastic about the range of activities covering all the favourite areas - fashion and bodycare, food and drink, furniture and furnishings, gifts and art, home accessories, home entertainment, home improvements, housewares, gardening and outdoor living. ''The home-loving public of Scotland have certain expectations, and it is our job to meet them with our ideal Home Show. By adding to the more popular product sections, by looking for new and exciting exhibitors and by enhancing the different visitor attractions, we hope we can continue to meet and indeed exceed these expectations.''
The ntl Persimmon Showhouse, styled this year by House Beautiful, is sure to be a success, with the latest in interior design ideas being combined with state-of-the-art advancements in home entertainment, telecommunications and the internet. After its recent acquisition of Tilbury Douglas Homes, Persimmon is proudly billing itself as ''the biggest housebuilder in Scotland'', with more sites than any other builder in the country. House Beautiful has been working with local designers HQC Interiors to create stylish looks for every room in the house.
An international flavour is provided by Kitchens, Bedroom & Bathrooms magazine, who will unveil the A to Z of Design. This collection of new and often luxurious products from all over the world is sure to have something to tempt the style-conscious, with several items that will be on show in Scotland for the very first time.
''We wanted to look at products that are new, but also a little bit different,'' says KBB editor Caroline Murphy, whose team were responsible for sourcing the products. ''The A to Z of design really gives us the chance to bring our magazine to life, and while not everything is immediately affordable, we feel that there is something that every visitor will aspire to.''
The Home Show Magazine on the other hand has chosen to showcase the more traditional industries of textiles, ceramics, wood and metalcraft in its Craft Quarter. ''There are some wonderfully talented people in Scotland and we really wanted to celebrate that at the Ideal Home Show,'' says magazine editor Beverley Brown. ''The mix of techniques, products and personalities is going to make the Craft Quarter a special area of the show.''
Visitors will certainly not want to miss out on a visit to the demonstration theatres. A full programme at the How-To and the Food & Drink theatres has been complied by Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister, well known from Scottish Television's Summer Discovery and the pages of The Herald Magazine. On the agenda is a list of celebrity appearances, practical demonstrations, tempting recipes and hints and tips you need to spruce up home or garden this autumn.
''The theatres will bring a real energy to the show, with their blend of big names and big ideas,'' says Colin McAllister. ''Celebrity designers like Anna Ryder-Richardson and John Amabile will be joining the cream of Scotland's creative community to provide visitors with a hundred and one new design ideas.''
The Food & Drink Theatre boasts an equally impressive line-up. ''We are bringing in chefs from some of Scotland's best restaurants to reveal how Scottish 'taste' now encompasses a global extravaganza of flavours and influences,'' says Justin Ryan.
''From the Arthouse Hotel and Cafe Gandolfi to Jim Kerr's new sushi restaurant, there's sure to be something for every palate.'' Headlining super-chef Gordon Ramsay will also be making a guest appearance to talk about a new book and sign copies.
The organisers have enterprisingly teamed up with Ottakers to launch the first ever Ideal Home Show bookshop, offering visitors a choice of the best new publications in the field of DIY and design, gardening and cookery. Celebrity book signings and special offers will run throughout the duration of the show.
n Ideal Home Show Scotland is at the SECC in Glasgow from September 23 to October 1, 2000.
n The opening times are: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays, from 12pm to 10pm
Sundays, Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 6pm
n Ticket prices are adult: #6.50;
child 5-15/senior citizen 60+: #4.50;
under fives: free
n For further information or if you would like to book, call the advance ticket hotline telephone 0870 600 0366 (booking fee will apply)
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