I'll be honest when I heard that the Birmingham Pen Show was being replaced by something new in Cheltenham, I was sceptical. Birmingham had its charm (especially as it was my local show), and change is always a little unsettling when it comes to events you genuinely look forward to. But having spent last Saturday (27.06.2026) at the inaugural Cheltenham Pen Show, I'm very happy to say I was completely wrong.
A Venue Worth Celebrating
The show was held at the Hall of Fame at Cheltenham Racecourse, and from the moment you walked in, it just felt right. Light, airy, and properly spacious and a world away from the sometimes cramped, slightly breathless atmosphere that pen shows can fall into when the venue isn't quite up to the task. It sounds like a small thing, but natural light makes such a difference when you're trying to assess an ink colour or check a nib. The racecourse delivered on that front beautifully.
The show spread across three distinct areas, which kept everything moving nicely without ever feeling like you were being funnelled through a bottleneck. There was genuine room to browse, to stop, to double back.
The Vendors -- An Impressive Lineup
With 50 of so vendors spread across the main hall and an adjoining foyer, the variety on offer was seriously impressive. Here's the full vendor list from the day:
- WriteHere
- Vintage Fountain Pens
- Mike Selway
- Sarj (one man pen show)
- Vintage & Modern Pens
- Shabbir Solanki
- Carneil Pens
- Write Pieces
- Pen & Pencil Gallery
- Vitstyle
- Ginny Russell
- Dens Pens
- Garfield Davies
- Thomas Ang
- Yakida Pens
- Vazir Pens
- Onoto
- Spark Nibs
- John Sorowka
- Gary Ellison
- Graham Jasper
- Pineapple Studio
- Turners Workshop (JOWO Nibs, Toyooka, Galen Leather)
- Penluxe
- Twico/Twiss
- Craft & Journal
- Giraffe Gifts
- Steve Hull
- Calligraphy Arts
- Hamilton Pens
- Esterbrook
- Justin Janse van Vuuren
- OneministoRe
- Conway Stewart
- Aurora
- Penac
- The Inked Paw
- Harriet Marshall
- Bryn Siriol Pens
- Meticulous Ink
- Silverburl Pens
- Ritters Writers
- WES (Foyer)
Pens, inks, stationery, nibs, leatherwork, calligraphy ... honestly, the kind of spread that makes it very hard to stick to any kind of budget. Whether you were hunting a grail pen, restocking your inks, or just wandering to see what caught your eye, there was more than enough to fill the day.
Keeping to a Budget
I went in fully intending to be sensible. I've got a big trip coming up, and I already have my eye on a few pens while I'm away so the plan was to keep the wallet firmly in my pocket. And mostly, I managed it no big haul this time though.
The one exception was a Writec retractable fountain pen, picked up from Vince. I plan to do a full review, as it's a fun, cost-effective pen and a really accessible entry point into the retractable fountain pen world which, as anyone who's looked at a Pilot Vanishing Point or a Lamy Dialog will know, can get expensive very quickly. I have a few VPs and a Dialog already, and I love them, but the Writec sits in a very different price bracket. First impressions are good it feels well put together and has a playful quality that suits it well. A full review will follow once I've spent more time with it.
What draws me to retractable pens in general is the sheer convenience of one-handed use. No cap to fumble with, no posting to worry about, no risk of drying out on the desk (well the one I have currently don't) just click and write. For everyday carry, they're hard to beat.
As for the trip let's just say I'm heading somewhere rather well known for its stationery and pen culture. You'll find out soon enough (hint hint take a look at my first ever blog post).
Relaxed, Unhurried, and Just Right
I arrived in the afternoon, and what struck me straightaway was how unhurried everything felt. The space genuinely helped here even with a strong vendor turnout, it never tipped over into feeling crowded or overwhelming. I had time to wander properly, browse without rushing, and actually stop for real conversations rather than shuffling along.
It was great to catch up with so many familiar faces WriteHere, Vitstyle, Kirit Dal, Sarj, Justin Janse van Vuuren, and the UK Pen Show team, among many others. That community side of things is what I keep coming back to at these events. The shopping is brilliant, but it's the conversations that stay with you.
The café and seating area in the main hall was a genuinely welcome addition too. Having somewhere to sit down, take stock, and chat without hovering awkwardly at a vendor table gave the whole show a relaxed, sociable feel that I really appreciated. I spent more time talking than I probably should have.
Oh, and free parking. It sounds trivial, but it really isn't as it's one of those small logistical details that just removes a bit of friction from the day. I remember the Birmingham days of hunting for a space all too well.
A Smart Location
Cheltenham sits neatly between Birmingham and Bristol, which makes it a natural meeting point for pen enthusiasts from across the Midlands, the South West, and further afield. It's one of those geographical choices that just makes sense and judging by the turnout, plenty of people agreed.
Looking Ahead
I had a good chat with Vince, one of the show organisers, and it's clear there's real ambition here. Plans are already in place to expand the seating area and open up access to the balcony on the upper floor which sounds like it could become a brilliant spot for exactly the kind of relaxed pen conversations that make these events so enjoyable.
I genuinely think Cheltenham has the potential to become a really strong mid-year fixture on the UK pen show calendar. The venue is excellent, the location works well, and the team behind it clearly care about getting the details right. With a bit more room to grow, I can see this becoming the kind of show where pen clubs and enthusiast groups make a proper day of it and that can only be a good thing.
Before we get there though, there are still two more shows to look forward to this year:
- Newcastle Pen Show : 23rd August 2026
- London Autumn Pen Show : 10th & 11th October 2026
Congratulations to Vince, Michael, and John on a brilliant first show at this new venue. Cheltenham has well and truly made its case, and I'll absolutely be back.
Next stop for me will be London. See you there.
#CheltenhamPenShow #FountainPens #FountainPenAddict
