Stone ‘village’ a sell-out with eight months still to go

2007-07-27

The Natural Stone Show at ExCeL next year is set to be the largest and best supported yet with the Stone Federation ‘village’ at the heart of the show already sold out.

The ‘village’ is a collection of Stone Federation member stands with their own distinct design centred around the Federation’s own stand at the hub.

As well as being able to see the goods and services of the Federation’s members who exhibit, there is also a help desk where architects, designers and developers, as well as builders and the stone industry itself, can find the answers to their questions about the use of stone and the companies that supply it.

Stone Federation members exhibiting in the ‘village’ next year include Albion Stone Quarries and Bath Stone Group, presenting their classic Portland and Bath ranges, respectively. Clipsham, Ancaster Hard White and the fashionable Clear Blue limestones will be exhibited on the Great Tew stand following their acquisition of Creeton Quarry after the 2006 Stone Show.

Great Tew will also be showing their deep brown ironstone block that has enjoyed a renaissance since its extraction was revived with planning permission to extend the quarry.

Johnsons Wellfield will be promoting one of the finest hard Yorkstones available to the modern construction industry from their Crosland Hill quarry together with some exciting new hard gritstones.

More British sandstones will be available from Stancliffe Stone Company, including the buff-to-grey coloured Fletcher Bank, Howley Park and Stoke Hall, the famous red sandstones Locharbriggs, Plumpton Red Lazonby and Red St Bees, the greenish Scoutmoor Top Rock and the popular Stanton Moor range.

Stancliffe could also be showing for the first time some of the sandstones of Darney, High Nick, Talkin Fell, Bank End (St Bees) and Doddington, having just taken over the operation of the quarries from Ennstone.

Completing the choice of British stone within the village is Realstone. Their sister company, Blockstone, operate 10 quarries throughout the UK – six sandstone and four limestone – and Realstone also process a wide range of other indigenous and imported stones.

The stone ‘village’ also plays host to overseas Stone Federation members the Solnhofen Group, who will be showcasing their Jura limestone and Solnhofen Stone at the show.

Hardscape will be exhibiting for the first time and offer a point of contact to landscape architects and local authorities for the procurement of materials. They have already supplied some of the most ambitious and prestigious hard landscaping schemes throughout the UK.

Developers and architects will be able to realise their big projects with a visit to the stand of leading specialist UK stone contractors Stonewest, who will be exhibiting alongside their conservation specialists St Blaise and 2006 acquisition Rattee & Kett.

As well as the Federation’s own help desk, the village also includes the exhibits of member consultants Sandberg, Harrison Goldman and Geoffrey Walton & Associates.

To complete the round up, Halfen Deha offer their comprehensive range of stone supports and restraints, including grout-in anchors and sub-frame supports.

Natural Stone Show Director Richard Bradbury says: "The UK stone industry and the Stone Federation have supported the Natural Stone Show since it was launched in 1995. Stone Federation have just this year signed a new sponsorship agreement for the next two shows, so we are delighted their members have demonstrated their commitment by filling the 'village' area with eight months still to go before the event opens at London’s top exhibition venue of ExCeL.

“Of course, the stone industry is international – as is reflected in Stone Federation Great Britain membership and those exhibiting in the ‘village’ itself. But outside the ‘village’ in the main body of the Show there will many more international exhibitors representing major stone exporters of Europe, Turkey, India, China and the rest of the world, as well as plenty more companies from the UK’s stone industry.”

Space outside the village is also filling fast, though, and anyone wanting to book their stand at the 8th Natural Stone Show should contact Richard Bradbury now on Tel: 0115 945 3889. Email: stoneshow@qmj.co.uk

The UK’s 8th Natural Stone Show takes place at ExCeL, London, 11-13 March 2008

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