No. This is intended as a gaming event, not a sales event. There will be a small number of stands / tables for exhibitors and sponsors to show-off and demo some new games. But, by “small”, we mean no more than a handful. The focus is on rolling dice, consulting CRTs, arguing over supply lines rules, and slaying your enemies.
Board games only. There are plenty of conventions and events in the UK catering for miniatures wargaming, but virtually nothing for board wargaming hobbyists. So this is for us.
No. We want the focus to be on war and strategy games, but you can play any board game you want. Even – dare we say it – Catan. No Monopoly though, that’s a red line.
Closer to the date we will send around a link to an organiser so you can advertise and sign-up to games that you want to play in advance. At the event we’ll have a few different ways for you to find players or games, though we recommend organising games in advance if you can.
Yes all tickets will cost £45, and no, you can’t get a reduction for a day ticket as we do not sell day tickets for the event.
Yes. Though please note that there is a limit of 2 games per attendee that can be sold, otherwise it gets crazy.
It is a simple affair. There will be a large table in one corner of the gaming area. Just leave the games you want to sell on this table. Write on a post-it note (we’ll provide) your name, telephone number and the price, and stick it on the game. Buyers can then peruse what’s on offer at their leisure, and text or call you if they want to buy the game. Please however – only wargames or similar – this isn’t an opportunity to offload your daughter’s unwanted game of Harry Potter Cluedo. So bring some cash along if you think you might want to feed your wargaming acquisition dis-order, not everyone will have PayPal.
Yes there will be a small games library you can borrow from with popular titles such as Twilight Struggle, Labyrinth, Hannibal & Hamilcar, COIN games and the like.
See the Refunds page for information on our refund policy.
Basically we want to provide you with as much flexibility as possible, but within the constraints set for us by the venue.
When we pay the hotel full amount for the venue hire – which will be no later than 6 weeks before the event – we are locked in and can’t get a refund, even if we subsequently have to cancel the event. In that situation, we will agree a new date for PunchedCON with the hotel, with all monies paid rolling over. Hence that’s the same rule that applies to attendee refunds. However, for individual cancellations, not linked to any wider issues with the event itself, it should not be a problem to accommodate.
Please note the PunchedCON organisers are not responsible for room refunds. The hotel’s policy is that you can claim a full refund on a room booked for the event up to 48 hours before the event is scheduled to begin.
When you book your ticket you will receive a form in a confirmation email that will allow you to book your room(s).
Although the event runs Friday to Sunday, you may want to arrive on the Thurs evening / leave the Monday morning, hence block booking some rooms for that.
At this point you just fill in the form to let the hotel know what type of room you want, and for how many nights. Closer to the event itself, probably a few weeks before, the hotel will contact you to take a payment. So don’t worry if you don’t hear from them. Provided you fill in the form, your room will be reserved.
Note that you have the option of booking a room with ‘Dinner’ included, for an extra charge of £10-£15 per person per night (the charge is £5 lower per person if you book double or triple rooms). This will give you access to the a la carte menu in the main dining hall. Otherwise you can just order bar food. It might be possible to access the main dining hall on an ad hoc basis if they have capacity, but no guarantees. So that’s what that option is referring to.
Please note that the room booking arrangements are not the responsibility of the organisers of PunchedCON. The refund policy for the room itself is set by the hotel, and set-out in its T&Cs.
Yes. The staff of the hotel are under instructions not to touch anything on any of the tables over the three days. You can pick up a game where you left it the night before.
No. There should be plenty of tables to go around, there will be no need for German-style claiming of sunbeds with towels each morning. For 2025 we have an additional conference room we can use, where we anticipate the multi-table monster games will be played. On the games organiser there are instructions for how you ‘note’ you’ll need multiple tables.
Yes, when you sign up for the event you will also be signed up for the PunchedCON newsletter, which will be sent out when there are updates for attendees.
As noted below – there’s a bar in the room where you can drown your sorrows and curse your ill fortune.
There will be a range of options. A tuckshop will be available just outside the gaming area providing snacks, soft drinks, and jacket potatoes.
Please note however that sometimes – it’s not clear why – the tuck shop only accepts cash, so bring some along with you.
There will be bar food from 5pm to 10pm, burgers and chips and the like. You’ll be able to eat all that at your gaming table. The hotel also has an onsite restaurant. If you signed up for a room package that includes dinner, this is what you have signed up for. You may also decide to eat at the restaurant on the day if you didn’t get the room and dinner package, though this will depend on the restaurant’s capacity.
Yes. The hotel catering services will provide for vegans and allergies with appropriate dishes. Please contact us if you have very specific dietary needs and we’ll see what we can do.
Great news. There’s a bar in the actual gaming area itself that will be open until 1am. So you won’t have to travel far for a beer or Coca Cola. As with the food you’ll be able to drink at your gaming table. Just try not to spill it over the board!
Yes there’s free onsite parking, for up to 400 cars.
Yes. The hotel is 15mins drive from Coventry centre. There are buses that travel to near the hotel from Coventry centre. Or you can get a taxi for around £8-£10.
Yes, Coventry is host to many hotels and bed & breakfasts. You could check Air BnB or book anywhere you want to, it’s entirely up to you.
