Board Gaming Convention
18th – 20th January 2019
Holiday Inn Maidenhead
Manor Lane
Berkshire
Maidenhead
SL6 2RA
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Opening Times & Registration
Opening Times
The con is open from 9am Friday 18th January until 8pm Sunday 20th January.
Single and Two Day tickets permit entry from 9am until late on the relevant date(s).
Registration
When you arrive at the hotel, please make your way to the HandyCon registration desk (note that this is not the hotel reception desk!) located near the entrance to pick up your pass.
Please bring your ticket with you, in either printed or digital form, to speed up check-in. If you do not have your ticket with you we will need you to provide some form of ID.
HandyCon registration is open from 9am until late each day.
Open Gaming
Open gaming is available for the duration of the convention. We have a large main open gaming area as well as several other rooms which can be used when not being occupied by tournaments and events. We also have use of the bar area and restaurant area at certain times of the day.
Are you coming along on your own or do you just need some extra players? No worries! We have ‘Players Wanted’ signs for anyone looking to fill seats as well as a noticeboard for anyone looking to organise a specific game. You can also connect with players beforehand on the HandyCon Facebook Discussion Group.
Games Library
The Games Library is open to all attendees for the duration of the convention. If you wish to borrow a game from the library, just write your details on the board provided. You can browse our library below using Cardboard Butler, which gives you some nice filters to help you find what you are looking for, or view it on BGG.
Please be sure to return all games in the condition you found them.
Events
Saturday
09:00 to 12:00 - The Breakfast Club
Location: TBA
Ever find yourself lost at a con, wondering what to do and wishing you were in a John Hughes movie? We have the perfect solution, minus the teenage angst. Between 9-12 on Saturday, we will have a few tables set aside for lone rangers, wandering spirits and people who hate reading rulebooks. Our talented team will be on hand to pick out the perfect game and teach the rules, while you relax and have a cup of tea. Its just like games night, but without all the stressful bits, and more Judd Nelson jokes. No need to pre book, just turn up.
Tournaments
We will be running various events throughout the convention.
At previous HandyCons we run tournaments for games such as Terraforming Mars, Flamme Rouge, 18xx, Baseball Highlisghts 2045 and more.
We will post more details as soon as we have them.
If you are interested in running a tournament at HandyCon, please email Rich Watney for details.
Demos
We shall have demos of various games running throughout the weekend.
We shall provide updates closer to the time.
Playtest Zone
Come and play yet to be released games and give your feedback to designers! We will be releasing more details of who to expect at the convention closer to the time.
If you are a designer and have a game you would like to playtest at HandyCon, please email Paul Harris for details.
Bring & Buy
Details of the bring and buy and how to enter your items will be available closer to the time.
Charity
HandyCon 5 will be raising money for Dementia UK, which provides Admiral Nurses for families affected by dementia.
Trader
The CCG and Boardgame Social
Barny Baker from The CCG and Boardgame Social will be there for the duration of the weekend with a selection of games for you to purchase. If there is anything specific you would like Barny to bring along for you to purchase at the con, please get in touch with him beforehand.
Accommodation
For those of you wanting to stay on site, the Holiday Inn Maidenhead, we have managed to negotiate the following room rates:
- Double Room – £55
- Twin Room – £65
- King Bed Room – £65
- King Bed Executive Room – £80
All room rates include breakfast and have a £5 double occupancy suppliment.
These room rates are available from Thursday to Sunday night for both HandyCons, so you can stay the night before and the night after the con at the special rate.
Rooms can be booked online using the Group Code (found under the ‘More Options’ toggle on the bookings page) ‘HC1’ for HandyCon 5. Alternatively you can call the hotel on 01628 506070 and quote the above code.
Although the total accommodation available on site has increased, we advise booking early to avoid disappointment.
Food & Drink
Food: We are working closely with the hotel to provide a special HandyCon menu with options for vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.
Drink: Free tea, coffee and iced water will be provided for attendees, available from the refreshment stations. The bar also serves Starbucks Coffee and various soft and alcoholic drinks.
Nearby: Maidenhead town centre has many restaurants and shops and is just a 20 minute walk away, or 15 minutes by bus.
Please note that food and drink not purchased at the hotel may only be consumed within bedrooms and not in any of the Public Areas.
We shall release more information about food and drink closer to the time.
Harassment Policy
HandyCon is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable gaming environment for everyone who attends. Please behave respectfully to all other attendees, ensuring all can feel safe and enjoy themselves regardless of gender, gender identity, sexuality, appearance, race or religion.
Physical and verbal harassment will not be tolerated and the organisers reserve the right to take appropriate action including warning the offender or expulsion from the convention with no refund, and in some cases informing the police.
Some examples of harassment include:
- Offensive verbal comments
- Explicit sexual images or references
- Deliberate intimidation
- Unwanted attention or following of persons
- Unwanted recording or photography
- Sustained disruption of games or activities
- Innappropriate physical contact
- Unwelcome attention, including sexual remarks, jokes or taunting, leering, staring or suggestive gestures
To report harassment: If a request to stop behaviours does not get the desired result or there are continued problems with one gamer, please report the problem to a member of the HandyCon team.
Latest HandyCon 5 News
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Hello HandyPeople! Just a quick PSA for those with younger gamers: Following feedback at UKGE and after much consideration, we have decided to introduce half price tickets for children between the ages of 6 -15, with children 5 and under being allowed free entry to HandyCon 4 and 5. Please note that all under 16s …
HandyCon 4 & 5- Big Update Incoming!
Hello HandyConners! We have a rather large and important update for you, so let’s crack on. HandyCon has moved! This is a big one. For those of you who did not see the update on social media last Wednesday, HandyCon has a new home. For the foreseeable future the Holiday Inn Maidenhead will …
