Clothes Show forced to compensate for London transport nightmare

Tom Hall, 29 May 2009

Haymarket Exhibitions, organiser of Clothes Show London, has reacted swiftly to Transport for London's (TFL) part-closure of the Docklands Light Railway, laying on buses for the hordes of visitors expected today, and over the weekend.

The organiser and the venue Excel London has also created additional free parking to compensate for the public transport nightmare, which one TFL staffer branded 'political'.

"They're only worried about the Olympics, not the fashion show. It's all political and this won't be fixed until at least Tuesday (2 June)," he told Event.

TFL is also operating a replacement bus service that is now in place, but the problems are not expected to be fixed until next week.

Simon Daukes, managing director, Haymarket Exhibitions, told Event that TFL transport closures often cause problems for events held at Excel London.

"We have put contingency plans in place so that visitors to the show will face minimal disruption. For us and Excel however, the disruption has been huge. It is not yet clear whether TFL will compensate for this extra cost."

The Clothes Show London, which is being held at Excel London from 29 to 31 May, is expected to include the public return of Katie Price (Jordan). It will feature a 2,500-seat Fashion Theatre, where the model, who recently split from singer Peter Andre, will strut her stuff.

A host of boutiques where visitors can buy the latest fashion, hair and beauty products will form the bulk of the show, ticket pre-sales for which are said to be above expectations, with 20,000 people poised to visit this weekend.

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