Ticket sales begin soon: what you need to know
Welcome back to UK PonyCon!
We have missed all of you so very much. Even with the standout success of our UK PonyCONLINE events, we know just how eager everyone is for a return to seeing each other in-person. Our in-person event on the 9th and 10th of October at Nottingham Trent University in the heart of the city of Nottingham has tickets available for purchase from Sunday 4th July at 2pm UK time. However, we would advise you to hold your horses (pun intended) and read this quick blog post that details what changes we have made to our in-person events since the last convention we held in 2019!
One of the biggest changes to UK PonyCon events has been some rearranging. We are moving our mane stage into Lecture Theatre 2, from its previous location on the lower level between the stairs. This new mane stage has comfortable tiered seating in an auditorium fashion and technology for more digital content. In the vacated well-lit spacious area, we’ll instead have the photoshoot area with banners (perfect for cosplay snaps!) and extra space for socialising - something we’re sure will be appreciated by many, after being apart for so long.
As a consequence of rearranging our space and the potential for restrictive safety measures, we will not have a live music event on Saturday evening, instead ending the day at the earlier time of 9pm. We will not have an on-site bar, and neither do plan to welcome any VIP guests in-person.
We anticipate that we will have fewer vendors at UK PonyCon due to international travel restrictions. This, plus moving the photoshoot area, will mean a more spacious vendor hall, with wider walkways and increased space between vendors.
We expect a smaller attendance than in previous years, however we feel that in the post-lockdown world, this is to the benefit of all. It allows everyone more space inside the venue, as well as having an atmosphere more akin to our conventions of years past.
Tickets must be purchased in advance from our website. They will not be available on the door. Please read the terms and conditions carefully, as we have updated them, including our refund and cancellation policies.
To provide confidence to book your tickets now, we’re offering a Covid-19 Ticket Promise: if the event goes ahead but Covid-19 travel restrictions or a requirement to self-isolate prevent you from attending, you can request to transfer your tickets to the next in-person event or a refund of your ticket price. Refer to our terms and conditions for the full details.
We’re also offering an extra perk for all tickets purchased on or before 1st August 2021: an exclusive early-bird button badge, which will be given to you on arrival at the convention.
The costs and risks associated with running events are greater now than they have been in the past. For this reason, we have increased ticket prices by 20%. We continue to offer different types of tickets to suit different needs and budgets: child, adult and family tickets, Saturday, Sunday and Weekend tickets. We also offer complimentary Personal Assistant Tickets for those who need extra support.
We’re grateful for the support of our community and we hope that you’re looking forward to attending our event again. Organising an event like ours is expensive and we rely on ticket sales to fund it. We hope that you’re willing to continue to support us by purchasing your tickets early.
For those looking to go the extra mile with their support, we’re offering a Supporter product; the funds go towards the costs of the event. To recognise your contribution, we offer a special role in our Discord server and listing your name alongside other contributors. It’s possible to purchase multiple Support products if you desire.
We’ll be offering a limited-quantity VIP upgrade ticket for £72.00. When purchased in combination with the appropriate ticket for your age and desired days, it will create a memorable experience. Every VIP upgrade ticket includes the following perks:
Queue-jump priority admission to the convention
Priority seating at mane stage events
Your name in the con book and displayed during opening and closing ceremonies
£5.00 donation to the Riding for the Disabled Association
A merch bundle, comprising:
UK PonyCon 2021 Tote Bag
UK PonyCon 2021 T-Shirt
UK PonyCon 2021 Embroidered Knitted Beanie
UK PonyCon 2021 VIP Lanyard
UK PonyCon 2021 VIP Button Badge
UK PonyCon 2021 VIP Enamel Mug
UK PonyCon will still boast some amazing merchandise, created by our arts team. We can confirm that we will indeed be selling a t-shirt and a lanyard which is drawn according to this event's theme: Let's Start the Party! We will reveal more of our awesome merchandise at the convention so make sure to head to the convention merchandise table during the event.
We continue to support the Riding for the Disabled Association, and you can too by bidding in our charity auction, or purchasing a VIP upgrade ticket. Charities have been hit hard during the pandemic and can benefit hugely from our support right now.
We understand that for some these changes may disappoint, however we feel they’re worth the compromise of having an event at all. We’d also like to mention that the city of Nottingham boasts a huge variety of leisure activities for post convention hang-outs, such as...
Or, the oldest inn in England, The 'Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem'
As well as many more, either within walking distance of our venue, or easily accessible via the city's tram system. We are very lucky to boast the Nottingham Trent University and Royal Centre tram stops nearby, both a two minute walk from our venue!
We aim to provide the best experience possible for our attendees. We know that even with these changes, it is still going to feel like UK PonyCon and still feature amazing events, vendors and panels. We cannot wait to welcome you all back very soon!
