UKPinfest 2026 - August 28th, 29th & 30th

[Bobbdobalina]

Just caught up with this and all I can say is WOW!
Was gonna phone tomorrow morning as instructed.
Really didn’t think Pinfest would bring out the worst in people.
Left a bit of a bitter taste if I’m honest… not cool.

 

[myPinballs]

Hopefully the organisers can get a list of all bookers claiming to be machine donors and make sure they subsequently bring a machine?

Thats what i was thinking. As usual i had the donor info ahead of time, but was too busy to act on it. Machines dont fix themselves. doh! I've emailed in anyway in case, but maybe i'm staying elsewhere again lol

 

[Big Phil]

I’m just as frustrated as you all are. With the hotel and with those that ignored/abused the process.

 

[RetroHeed]

Just fully catching up with all this.

Well it's looking like I be guilty here for trying to book early via email, though not intentionally. When I seen the post yesterday I skimmed over it as call Tuesday or email, not thinking that it was to email on the Tuesday. Due to not knowing if I am coming or going at any given day I sent an email yesterday, though not with any special donators or organisers code.

I have not had a reply from the Hotel, but I will call them tomorrow. If by chance they say I have reservations I will let Phil know that these rooms can go to the genuine organisers/donators that have missed out.

I'll provide the update from the hotel here tomorrow, then happily join the waiting list.

 

[Bobbdobalina]

Is it the norm for all the pins to be donated so soon?
I thought there was a donation thread that started up a few months prior to Pinfest.

 

[AlanJ]

Is it the norm for all the pins to be donated so soon?
I thought there was a donation thread that started up a few months prior to Pinfest.

It was like this last year, since the event takes up all the rooms, they are available to book much sooner than they used to be. Donators are trusted to follow through with their pledges.

 

[SilkySox]

Is it the norm for all the pins to be donated so soon?
I thought there was a donation thread that started up a few months prior to Pinfest.

Must admit, I thought that too. Was hoping to bring one or two for the first time but didn’t know about this arrangement.
As with any long~standing community, things can get a bit clique-y. Not deliberately, of course, UK pinballers are welcoming and supportive.
But event veterans will maybe naturally assume everyone else already knows the score.

 

[Fantazia2]

Is it the norm for all the pins to be donated so soon?
I thought there was a donation thread that started up a few months prior to Pinfest.

After issues with donors that they couldn't get a room when it started selling out so quickly an early booking system for donors was setup to let them get rooms first as nobody is going to want to donate pins if not staying at the venue, it appears this year we are either going to have a record number of pins donated or the early booking system has been abused.

 

[mission65]

we are either going to have a record number of pins donated

That means roughly 230 pins next year which is awesome

 

[AlanJ]

The solution is to move pinfest to Blackpool. The Norbreck has a big venue hall and plenty of hotel rooms. And it will never get fully booked out. Even If it did there are dozens of places to stay with walking distance,

Be careful what you wish for

 

[ianw]

Not donated the last couple of years, didn't realise needed to donate to get hotel room. Missed out last year, bet the bar in hotel did too!!

 

[Cooper]

The solution is to move pinfest to Blackpool. The Norbreck has a big venue hall and plenty of hotel rooms. And it will never get fully booked out. Even If it did there are dozens of places to stay with walking distance,

Be careful what you wish for

that’s actually a good idea, just not the norbreck or any Britannia hotel.

 

[Gonzo]

Just catching up, this is a massive shame because people are just abiding by the rules and miss out.

I'll bring 4-5 pins but have reserved one room. I really do hope there are a record number of machines at next years event. The annoying thing is that Phil already tweaked the rules to help people but nobody could have foreseen this.

As Chris said, data protection means it can't be made public but hopefully Phil gets to see the list and has a word with anyone not donating.

Fair play to @RetroHeed for being so honest

 

[Dave Bishop]

surely the hotel can Cancel all room bookings as no money taken and then start again.. with the real 20-30 people taking pins given an individual code to use.

The hotel has also just lost out on 120 rooms worth of whatever discount it was.. if it was £30 discount on each room… that’s £4K ish right there..

More fool them tbh

 

[CtrlAltElite]

Agree with Dave - can’t you get the hotel to cancel all bookings? You could collect bookings yourself, vet/screen and pass on to hotel….

Or, Blackpool!

 

[Andypc]

If what is being said about the reserve list from this year is true, there was a high number of people booking rooms then cancelling this year. I think it may be worth considering a non refundable deposit of say £20 per night in future to prevent this.