Salute 2025

 I was at Salute today, the biggest wargame show in the UK, by some distance. Some moaning around me about the time it took to get in. These people forget that this is a football-sized event with just one entrance rather than 30-plus turnstiles. I joined the queue just before 10am, and it took 20 minutes to get into the hall, which is pretty good. The Excel Centre has good train links and a free cloakroom.

Just the centre section of the queue

The hall from the far end. Gives an idea of the scale of this event

I am flying out to Romania from Heathrow this evening, so I was restrained on the buying front. Cabin baggage scanners are not keen on sharp bits of metal! I did pick up a few bits and pieces I won't find at other shows.

I mostly come for the games, and there was an excellent selection, large and small. Here are a few of my favourites.

Berlin 1945. A 12-month project for these guys, and it shows.

Lust for Glory is Simon's latest variant of To the Strongest. Looking forward to these in 2026.

Cricket with the odd hand grenade thrown in. that's just not cricket! 

 

Soldiers of Napoleon are not my favourite rules, but I like a busy Napoleonic table.

Lord of the Rings siege with very big toys.

Iran-Iraq War 1986. 

Battle of Trangen 1808

At last, a Balkan battle! Gurguljat - Serbo-Bulgarian War 1885. Excellent display as well from the Continental Wars Society. 

This is a take-off from the 1971 film Zepplin for those of a certain age.

A really good use of the smaller scales. The crossing of Dura, Riga, 1701. Swedes v Russians and Saxons.

Yarkshire Gamer with his Garibaldi project

What a Tanker in the Lard Zone. Caen 1944.

Beneventum 275BC. Strength and Honour. And Mark's new town.

Salute is definitely worth the effort, particularly when linked to other stuff. That is usually football, but now off to the Romanian battlefields. Expect pictures of fields!