Alternative Freshers' Fair - Bristol & UWE,

About the event

Thekla have been attending both the UWE and Bristol University Freshers’ Fairs for the last 10 years and - as fun as they are - we have found it harder and harder to engage with the kind of people who love our venue and club directly over the years.

So, we have decided to take matters into our own hands by hosting an Alternative Freshers’ Fair on board our beloved boat on the Sunday after both “official” Freshers’ Weeks have wrapped.

This will be an intimate, but fun affair, focused mainly on local, independent businesses. There will be a total of 16 stalls within the main venue space of the ship, featuring Thekla itself, as well as a couple outside if the weather is good.

DHP, owners of Thekla, have been running an Alternative Freshers’ Fair in Nottingham for the last couple of years. Here’s what some stall holders had to say about it:

BROADWAY CINEMA:

First of all my I thank you for inviting us to your fresher’s event, I usually shy away from these sorts of events held by the university’s, because when I have visited them before they are usually of a chaotic and unorganised nature.

There are several reasons I chose to come to the Alternative Fresher’s Fair, firstly after speaking to you in person you set yourself apart from the other events by having direct contact with me at Broadway which gave me time to talk to you and have assurances about the fair. Secondly, as a charity we have very limited budget for marketing and advertising to our targeted demographics and I feel that Rescue Rooms and DHP venues attract the right student market I would like to see visiting Broadway.

May I congratulate you on hosting a well organised and lively event, which enabled us to sign up 100’s to our student membership scheme which we wouldn’t of been able to do otherwise. If the opportunity should arise I would have no hesitation in working with you and DHP again.

BODYCRAFT TATTOO PARLOUR:

I just wanted to say thank you from everyone at Bodycraft for a really successful event yesterday. We had a really good time and the students were really eager and interested. I’d even say our response yesterday was better than the response we got at the university of Nottingham fresher fair which cost us £645 for a single day. Once again thanks for the event and thank you for your help and enthusiasm yesterday and I hope Bodycraft and myself get to work with you again in the future.

BEFORE THE EVENT.

Prior to the Alternative Freshers’ Fair itself, Thekla will have a solid presence at both of the official Freshers’ Fairs at Bristol & UWE where we will be heavily promoting our AFF alongside our venue and events.
• 10,000 flyers distributed at the official fairs
• 400 posters around the city and student halls
• strongly promoted Facebook event & page

AT THE FAIR.

The Alternative Freshers’ Fair itself will consist of the following elements, with more to be confirmed as planning continues:
• 16 mainly local, independent stalls
• free drink for the first 1,000 attendees
• free £15 Uber ride for new users
• street food trucks in the car park
• quality Bristol club night DJs in the bar
• 500 Thekla goodie bags & free t-shirts
• competitions & giveaways all afternoon
• full decoration of the club and venue

GET INVOLVED.

The Alternative Freshers’ Fair is currently open to the consideration of sponsors and stall-holders.

Why should you sponsor?

Patrick Somers

Contact the Organizer Contact the Organizer