ExCeL Centre, 1 Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, E16 1XL
By Sara O’Reilly
Posted: Tue Apr 29
This offshoot of the TV series is an edgier version of the Ideal Home Show. It has a more enticing, dockside setting and more emphasis on gathering useful/stylish home and gardens organisations under one roof and less on shifting quantities of useless yet strangely irresistible gadgets. Kevin McCloud will be building a one-off house live at the event, three celebrity chefs will host live demos in three very different ‘arm and a leg’ kitchens and shabby sea containers will be transformed to provide slick offices for interior and design magazines.
It can be rather exhausting: debating the relative merits of competing patio-door suppliers, wondering whether you should be investing in something to increase the energy efficiency of your home or worrying that you’re missing a trick by not growing your own veg. If you feel in need of a sit down after trawling 500 stands, take advantage of the programme of talks and seminars featuring, among others, Diarmuid Gavin, Naomi Cleaver and Kevin McCloud.
