New Caravan and Motorhome Show venue proved a roaring success and deservedly so.

I am just back from the new Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show venue – the new Event City was simply brilliant!

This new venue (replacing G.Mex) has made it so much easier to view tourers, holiday homes, park homes and motorhomes. I did all but one G.Mex show (that was the first in 1986) but it had outgrown its venue. The move to Trafford Park Event City has been a big success, no doubt helped by the axed Birmingham NEC show (a great loss I think).

I was there for three days out of the four and I was very encouraged with the vast amount of interest in caravanning and motorhome usage too.

Established event - the Caravan and Motorhome Show has popped across Manchester to EventCity.

As a Chelsea fan, it pains me to say all eyes are on Manchester this week. Luckily, though, we’re not talking about football… Yes, caravan show season is kicking off (sorry, that’s my last such reference) with something of a vengeance this year. Starting right this week, with the Caravan and Motorhome Show 2012, which will be officially opened on Thursday by actress Charlene Tilton (of Dallas and Dancing on Ice fame, and more). She’s a Caravan Club member, too, you know…

As well as what sounds like a great new venue, the show itself promises to be half as big again as last year’s, which outgrew the previous Manchester Central Arena (although those of you as old as me will remember it by the much simpler G-mex tag).

The multi-functional caravan from the USA.

OK, folks. You read it here first, but there are some interesting new caravan ideas coming to the UK at the start of next year. And there’s a clue in the current relative weakness of the US dollar versus the good old pound sterling.

First off, check out the name Eterniti, it’s on a range of all-new caravans with slide-out sections. They’re from America but built on chassis from BPW in Germany, using a GRP shell constructed in the US, and promising full UK specifications and reasonable weights. They’re expected to retail around the £20,000-£25,000 mark. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Next up is a concept so new it doesn’t actually have a brand name yet. It’s being made under the working title of the “multi-functional caravan”, using a special box-construction chassis and frame, again from the USA.