Point taken about the Wine Stands, however I thought the ‘generic’ stands for South American countries, and French Regions were superb as were their staff. As a Bar/Restaurant operation in the East Midlands we are equally enthusiastic about cocktails, spirits and wine. We go to Portfolio tastings every year for wine, the London Wine Fair (though sadly increasingly dominated by the ‘corporates’), and had given up going to the Bar Show for the last two to three years. Unfortunately the Bar Show had become one huge ‘piss-up’ for London Bar Tenders, and it became difficult for us ‘regional’ folks to talk to, for example, the chief distiller of a cognac house, given that the staff were more concerned with ‘damage limitation’ ie whole bottles stolen from stands etc. I just hope you can maintain the focus for Imbibe and continue to expand with ‘serious’ exhibitors and ‘serious’ punters. Dont get me wrong – I love a piss-up as much as anyone but there is a time and a place! Please dont fall into the trap of ‘maximum’ numbers and ‘maximum’ stands, resulting in the lowest common denominator. We stopped going to the Restaurant Show in London when ‘hot dog’ and other fast food stands started to appear. Of course financial pressures are a reality for all of us – times are bloody tough in our trade in the midlands – but dont kill the goose that lays the golden egg! Final note – Jonathan Downey's presentation was superb even though I only caught the last half. Andy H. Leicester