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I’ve also worked for the MLP convention that used the same venue before Griffish took residence there! Griffish aisles is a lot of fun! I’ve got The Festival Of Friendship coming up next month which is in Southampton! Griffish Isles in May and UK PonyCon in October! the photos at the bottom are from when I won as Pipp Petals! I got a glass trophy and everything!
Thanks so much for replying in so much detail! You’ve covered everything I was wondering about the con. It sounds really fun, I’ve always enjoyed the karaoke and dance floor part of cons I’ve been to in the past and this one looks nice. I didn’t realise it was a more G4-5 centric con though, I’m glad I found out before I went but I’m still considering going. It might be nice to spend the weekend in Manchester and attend the con one of the days. Thanks again for getting back to me, I appreciate it!Hello! I’ve been to Griffish Isles before multiple times and I’m a confirmed vendor again this year
It’s a busy one, I’m a community guest for Festival Of Friendship, Panelist and vendor. Vendor at Griffish Isles and staff of UK PonyCon!
Here’s some very upfront and honest truths about Griffish Isles as someone who’s done a lot of My Little Pony conventions and tonnes of conventions generally for the last decade!
- If you enjoy Generation 4 & Generation 5? Then Festival Of Friendship and Griffish Isles are the conventions for you! They are both marketing to a brony audience. Rather than a multi generation collectors audience. Which is fine!
- If you are a My Little Pony fan who isn’t that into Gen 4 or Gen 5? I can’t recommend either. Finding G1-G3 representation or any collectibles? Is going to be difficult. Not impossible! I’m vending at both and I’m a multi generational artist! There are vendors who have a variety of goods. But it will have a G4/G5 bias. It’s aimed much more at people who go there to purchase artwork and handmade plushies! UK PonyCon has more of a 50/50 split between Brony centric things to buy and do, as well as older generation stalls and activities.
- The Pendulum hotel that Griffish is in? It’s a bit pants honestly and is quite expensive for what it is. The bar has frequently gotten food orders wrong the past few years as well. It’s not dirty or run down or anything! I’d just personally? Stay and eat elsewhere! I’ve stayed in the hotel like 4 times now? It’s not worth the money! Especially as you are in the heart of Manchester? Stay anywhere else if you can find it cheaper!
- The location is Uber convenient! You are right in the city Center and it’s incredibly easy to get to the train station, there’s a giant SPAR around the corner, a McDonald’s as well, and of course all of Manchester City centre! I used to live in Manchester and I love it! If you want some food recommendations? There’s Moose Coffee at the train station which is American pancakes. You really do have to book a table. It’s worth it though! It’s 100% a highlight of my trips!
- The con staff are genuinely and wholeheartedly the nicest people and they really do go above and beyond to make the convention feel friendly. They are accessible and accommodating hosts. I don’t have a bad word to say about any of them. Many work for other conventions as well, so I’ve worked with them as a standard attendee and in a more official capacity. You will be very well taken care of and the staff will help should you need them for anything!
- If you enjoy loud music, a dance floor and most importantly? A bubble machine? You will love Griffish! The dances is one of my fave parts! If that isn’t really your thing? There’s plenty of tables in the main room to watch, or there’s a games room / kareoke, or people socialising at the bar. The music can be very loud in the late evening (another bonus to staying offsite!)
- If you enjoy panels? Griffish is good for that! The seating is tiered so any seat is a good seat! There’s quite a few panels to relax and watch! I hugely suggest anything Dr Pony runs! It’s a lot more academic than other panels you will see but I always find it really fascinating! The panel about ‘The Gothic’ and the changes to toy media advertising via cartoons were both really great!
- If you enjoy a smaller convention? Griffish is great for that! You will likely run into the same person a few times a day and I’ve found folks very approachable and friendly! Because it’s a small con there can be times where there isn’t much going on for periods. It really depends on you if you are someone who enjoys that! I personally like cons which are all go all the time and there’s always something to do! But I know for many that’s there idea of hell so? Depends on you and what you personally enjoy!
- Griffish Isles tends to attract late teens to late 20’s and has a distinctly male skew, more so than any My Little Pony convention in the UK. Not saying that’s a inherently bad thing, I’m in my late 20’s I’m not judging! But I think demographic is a good thing to know before attending! I’m a AFAB non binary person and I would be far from the only femme presenting person at the con
Anyway! It’s up to you! I’ll attach some photos from last Griffish Isles below as well for you!
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These were from Dr Pony’s panel! Most were sat behind us and it was a quieter event as it was first thing on a Sunday morning and everyone was kinda hung over or asleep haha!
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A couple of photos of the dances from across different Griffish Isles cons! Realising now a lot of my Griffish Photos are selfies - sorry!
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Cosplaying / Cosplay competition!
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I spend a lot of time at conventions looking after Britannia! She’s the mascot of UK PonyCon and she usually shows up at other conventions too! I’m usually her handler and I make sure to take photos of her for UKPonyCon’s social media! So apologies a lot of my ‘around the con’ snaps are of her and the shenanigans she gets up too!
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And seeing one of my art pieces go up in the charity auction! I think auction and closing ceremonies were the only times the room gets packed! But even then there’s usually a spare seat or two! You just usually end up elbow to elbow, other events you can have a whole row to yourself! Anyway! I hope this helps! If you do decide to come along? Say hello! My table is ‘LockianArts’ in the vendor hall and I’ll be right next to the UK PonyCon table when you come in! Always happy to meet new friends
No problem at all! Totally happy to help! Yeah to be fair that’s often what my partner does! They head off into the city for a couple of hours to just enjoy being in Manchester and buy some board games !
it’s one of the good things about Griffish is, you can just leave and go into the city! I have pretty much every Gen on my table art wise and, I actually get way more excited to meet early Gen mlp fans nowadays haha!