Following the 2015 Game Fair at Harewood House, the CLA announced that due to its failure to generate sufficient income over the preceding three years, the event would cease. Other issues contributing to the decline of the Game Fair were cited, such as falling attendance, bad weather and the increasing cost of tickets deterring families from choosing it as a day out.
Today, the Game Fair is organised by Stable Events and this year it was held at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire; a nicely central location and conveniently close to Birmingham. Members of The British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) are admitted free of charge, making it a very tempting attraction for genuine shooting people and their families.
In recent years, the organisation, layout and infrastructure of the site has matured and it, once again, feels like a quality show with plenty to attract everyone connected to country sports. That being the case, Westley Richards was tempted back into the fold and took its place among the premium canvas tents offered on an enhanced Gunmakers’ Row, alongside the likes of Boss & Co., Holland & Holland, I.S. Sweetman, William Powell and T.R. White & Co.
The weather was exceptional. Hot and sunny, apart from a slightly cool, and briefly wet, Saturday morning. Footfall was steady and the show well-attended by a variety of country types parading along the wide, well-signposted avenues. In the arenas, displays of hawking, gundogs, horses and other country sports took place in a constant change-over of interesting content, with characters a-plenty.
Westley Richards took up residence in a superb safari tent with a large socialising area at the back to host customers and guests; with ice-cold drinks, snacks and the occasional pizza delivery keeping everyone refreshed. As a networking vehicle, the Game Fair this year proved to be first-class, with old friends from the trade visiting, current customers and out-workers dropping by to touch base, discuss upcoming projects or just catch-up on developments, with the public wandering in to learn about the company and its products.
It was sobering to find that so many shooting people relatively local to Birmingham had no idea that one of the world’s best gun makers resided in the city. For display, we took both modern and historic Westley Richards guns and rifles. These included a cut-away working model of the Anson & Deeley boxlock, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year.
We also had a beautifully preserved example of the Fauneta ball & shot gun/rifle, along with an original 1908 catalogue for it. Alongside were vintage examples of the L-T capped bullet, which revolutionised the accuracy and penetration of these ‘Paradox’ type arms, and made them especially popular with Indian princes for tiger and leopard hunting.
Of our modern output we had both 20-bore and 28-bore droplock shotguns, and a .600 calibre nitro-express double rifle. These showed off our current standards of exhibition grade engraving, gold inlay and finishing, and they were universally appreciated by visitors, many of whom had never seen firearms of their like before. To help remind visitors of the importance of Westley Richards leatherwork, we had a live demonstration of it on the stand for the duration of the event.
As the public watched, our best quality leather cartridge belts were hand stitched and finished using traditional tools and materials. As with the guns, many people watching the demonstration had no idea that such high quality bespoke leatherwork was part of what we do or that such products were still being made in Birmingham. The decision to exhibit at the 2025 Game Fair was not taken with the intention of selling products. So, we had nothing for sale on the stand. We simply wanted to fly the flag for British industry and for the hand-built quality of which we are so proud.
We certainly raised awareness of the nature of our business and surprised people not acquainted with best gunmaking with the beauty and quality of our guns, rifles and sporting leatherwork. Much good will was generated and many acquaintances rekindled. After a decade of hard work, we feel the Game Fair has once again reached the status it traditionally enjoyed as the premier country sports and agriculture show of the year. The sector needs a champion and the Game Fair has, once-more, adopted that mantle. Long may it continue.
We will be back.
The Explora Blog is the world’s premier online journal for field sports enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, conservationists and admirers of bespoke gunmaking, fine leather goods and timeless safari clothes. Each month Westley Richards publishes up to 8 blog posts on a range of topics with an avid readership totalling 500,000+ page views per year.
Blog post topics include: Finished custom rifles and bespoke guns leaving the Westley Richards factory; examples of heritage firearms with unique designs and celebrated owners like James Sutherland and Frederick Courteney Selous; the latest from the company pre-owned guns and rifles collection; interviews with the makers from the gun and leather factory; new season safari wear and country clothing; recent additions to our luxury travel bags and sporting leather goodsrange; time well spent out in the field; latest news in the sporting world; and key international conservation stories.
