{"id":25265,"date":"2022-08-26T14:16:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T13:16:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/?p=25265"},"modified":"2022-09-02T23:58:33","modified_gmt":"2022-09-02T22:58:33","slug":"uk-pinfest-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pinballnews.com\/site\/2022\/08\/26\/uk-pinfest-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"UK PINFEST 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The end-of-August public holiday can only mean one thing; It’s time for UK Pinfest<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are back at the Mercure Daventry Hotel<\/a> for the fourth UK Pinfest show. All four have been held here, starting in 2018, with a one year hiatus due to Covid in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Mercure Daventry Hotel’s main entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

FRIDAY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We arrived at midday on the Friday. The main show hall was still being built-up with around half the total number of pinballs expected having arrived.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Setting<\/a>
Setting up machines in the main hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"More<\/a>
More machines to be set up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The front row of machines including the games from the Pinball Amigos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The main tournament area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Some games arrived by the van load, others by car<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Inside<\/a>
Inside the main hall on Friday afternoon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Along with the games in the main hall, as selection of modern titles are set up in the hotel’s lobby on pay-to-play thanks to Chris Brimacombe and Pinball Heaven<\/a>. Each game costs \u00a31, or you can get 3 games for \u00a32. All money raised would be donated to charity.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The games in the lobby were very popular before the main hall opened on Friday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Rush<\/a>
Rush Premium, Godzilla Premium, Stranger Things Limited Edition and Guns ‘N Roses Limited Edition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Pinball Classic competition was being set up in a side room called the Priestly Room.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/a>
A big prize for the winner of the Pinball Classic competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"This<\/a>
This way for the Pinball Classic competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Shaun<\/a>
Shaun Harvey sets up the Classics room ready for Saturday’s qualifying rounds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Classics machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Trophies<\/a>
Trophies for the Pinball Classics competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, back in the main hall, more games were arriving and being set up.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"More<\/a>
More machines now in the main show hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"A<\/a>
A nice row of Solid-state Gottlieb machines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"'Behind-the-scenes'<\/a>
‘Behind-the-scenes’ with the power and PA equipment<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Machines<\/a>
Machines for the Main Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Trophies<\/a>
Trophies for the Main Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The show doesn’t open to the public until 7pm tonight, and that is only for VIP pass holders. For everyone else, doors open at 10:30am tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside the main hall there were two stands – one for show tickets and another from London Pinball selling assorted pinball parts and paraphernalia.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The corridor outside the main hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The UK Pinfest show desk with show organiser, Philip Murphy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

On-the-day ticket prices for UK Pinfest 2022 ranged from \u00a310 for the Saturday evening session to \u00a320 for Saturday or Sunday, \u00a335 for both days and \u00a350 for the whole weekend with the Friday and Saturday VIP sessions included. Pre-show ticket purchases had also been available at a reduced rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rooms at the hotel were also available at a special show rate of \u00a365 for a single room and \u00a375 for a two-person room. Both rates included a buffet breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The London Pinball stall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Back in the hotel’s lobby, attendees’ time was split between the pay-to-play machines, the bar and the food service counter.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Lobby bar area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Some<\/a>
Many people were leaving nothing to chance and had brought their own beer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The food counter in the lobby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As Friday’s opening time drew closer, the main hall started to look more complete.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The main hall on Friday evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Here’s the schedule of events across the weekend:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Friday,<\/a>
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at UK Pinfest 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The VIP session began at 7pm and soon the hall was busy with players wearing VIP-access wristbands checking out the range of machines available to play.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The main hall on Friday evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The main hall on Friday evening<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Ad<\/a>
Ad Jonker brought his one-of-a-kind Aladdin’s Tales of the Arabian Nights from the Netherlands<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Created<\/a>
Created by Wil Angenent, it uses a new playfield design running the original software<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"One-handed<\/a>
One-handed pinball on Elvira’s House of Horrors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The first two competitive events were held on Friday evening. Stall Ball was run by Neil McRae of Domino Arcade<\/a> on a The Shadow<\/em> machine with a first prize of a new Nokia Android phone.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Neil<\/a>
Neil starts the Stall Ball competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In Stall Ball, the aim is to put the ball into a saucer, scoop or lock. Do that and you can walk away, let the next player in line take over and join the back of the queue to carry on playing. If you should drain the ball though, you are out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a long line of players but it moved very quickly, so even if you were at the very back you probably only had a five minute wait to play. As players were knocked out, the queue shortened and the time between turns reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The queue ran around three sides of the hall, but it moved quickly<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The eventual winner was Glen.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Friday's<\/a>
Friday’s Stall Ball winner, Glen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, in one of the side rooms, the Ladies Tournament – organised by the Scottish Pinball Association<\/a> – was taking place on a linked pair of NBA Fastbreak<\/em> machines.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The Ladies Tournament on Friday night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Play<\/a>
Play in the Ladies Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The tournament ran late, so at midnight the final round was deferred until 10am on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At midnight, the lights were switched on, the games switched off, and the show hall closed until Saturday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Game
Game over for Friday at UK Pinfest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After breakfast, the final of the Ladies Tournament has held on the two NBA Fastbreak<\/em> machines. Sarah Vince and Pauline Bird were in the final.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah and Pauline in the final of the Ladies Tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In the final, Sarah triumphed with a score of 33 points to Pauline’s 22. Moira and Hayley were joint third, having lost in the semi-finals.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Sarah<\/a>
Sarah Vince receives her trophy from Ailsa Clunie of the Scottish Pinball Association<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With the Ladies Tournament decided, it wasn’t long before the NBA Fastbreak<\/em> machines were back in action with the NBA Challenge tournament, also organised by the Scottish Pinball Association.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The first rounds of the NBA Challenge begin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Across the corridor, the Pinball Classic tournament was getting under way too. Entry to this cost \u00a315 which comprised of a \u00a310 registration and 5 x \u00a31 games on any of the machines. Additional games could then be purchased at the same \u00a31 price.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Shaun<\/a>
Shaun registers another player<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Play<\/a>
Play in the Pinball Classic competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the main hall was preparing to admit Saturday’s guests at the appointed 10:30am opening time.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The corridor outside the main hall as the doors were about to open<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The first guests through the door on Saturday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The hall quickly filled with guests and the sounds of pinball being played<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The machines were soon nearly all in use<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"This<\/a>
This Super Hoops from Bitronic is a rare title to see<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Pinball<\/a>
Pinball Amigos had their corner of the hall to display their games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"The<\/a>
The Pinball Amigos had their Crazy Mansion alongside this Dispicable Me game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

London Pinball<\/a> had a stand next to the main doors, selling assorted new and re-claimed pinball parts, clothing, mugs and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Items<\/a>
Items for sale on the London Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Items<\/a>
Items for sale on the London Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Further into the hall, 1 Stop Pinball<\/a> had a stand selling new pinball essentials such as rubbers, bulbs, locks, flasher domes and cabinet protectors, as well as a big selection of pinball LEDs.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"The<\/a>
The 1 Stop Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Items<\/a>
Items for sale on the 1 Stop Pinball stand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At the back of the hall, the main tournament started with players registering and playing their qualifying games.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Paul<\/a>
Paul registers another player in the main tournament<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"Craig<\/a>
Craig is one of the first to play<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nearby, the Youth Tournament, run by Dan Lewell, started at midday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an initial qualifying round, the top eight players progressed to the play-off rounds. They were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n