Footman James has revealed the top five most popular places according to Britain’s classic car and bike community, after receiving hundreds of votes during its campaign to find the UK’s Classic Capital.
Over the last six weeks, enthusiasts from across the country have had their say on the locations and venues that help to make classic vehicle ownership so enjoyable, ahead of a final vote to establish the overall winner.
The UK’s Classic Capital campaign has been created to recognise places that bring together like-minded enthusiasts to share their passion for classic, vintage, and retro vehicles, and has attracted a hugely diverse range of suggestions. From towns and villages with strong local populations of classics, to challenging countryside B-roads popular with drivers and bikers alike, the campaign has captured the imagination of enthusiasts everywhere.
Five finalists stand out after receiving the highest number of votes, with Footman James now asking the public to help the judges decide the overall worthy winner of ‘the UK’s Classic Capital’ title.
The UK’s Classic Capital – Finalists:
- Bicester Heritage – Launton, Oxfordshire
- Coleshill Auto Breakfast Meet – Dordon, West Midlands
- Goodwood Motor Circuit – Chichester, West Sussex
- The Motorist – Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire
- Re:Fuel – Cullompton, Devon
Oxfordshire-based Bicester Heritage, situated on the A4421, Launton, is home to 45 specialist automotive businesses on a 444-acre former WW2 RAF Bomber Training Station. Its regular Sunday Scramble and Scramblers Assembly events attract thousands of enthusiasts from across the country, featuring classic vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
Coleshill Auto Breakfast Meet has grown from a small meet-up in a car park in Birmingham into a 4,000-strong gathering now hosted at Birch Coppice Sports & Social Club just off the A5 in Dordon, proving particularly popular with local classic car and bike fans from Birmingham and Staffordshire.
The historic Goodwood Motor Circuit is Footman James’ third finalist in its search for the UK’s Classic Capital, and one of the country’s premier venues for both two- and four-wheeled motorsport. Its annual Festival of Speed and Revival events are key dates in Britain’s automotive calendar, making Goodwood a firm favourite with many enthusiasts.
The Motorist, based in Sherburn in Elmet near Leeds, has quickly grown into one of the North’s most popular automotive venues since its launch a few years ago. It’s now home to an onsite restaurant, shop, and service centre, as well as hosting themed shows and meets held every week, all year round – including Coffee and Cars, Wheels & Wings and Bikes & Bonnets.
Footman James’ fifth finalist is Re:Fuel, opened in August 2022 and is situated close to J28 of the M5 motorway. Open seven days per week, its onsite café, racing simulator and paddock area are open to all petrolheads and enthusiasts on two or four wheels, with space for up to 150 cars or 300 bikes.
Voting is now open via the Footman James website and will close on Sunday 15th October. The winner will be announced on Tuesday 24th October.
Lets all vote to make sure that a Yorkshire business gets the award. Not just because it is from Yorkshire but because The Motorist is bloody brilliant.
To vote, please visit: https://footmanjames.co.uk/classic-capital-2023/classic-capital
Dear CY, I quite agree that The Motorist is a fine local asset for us petrolheads, its owner has spent serious money on good quality buildings and fittings. But unfortunately on my last visit, what previously had been an open showroom space and café area has been occupied to a considerable extent by racks of merchandise. The nice ambience achieved by the display of cars around the perimeter has gone. A couple of cars had been hoisted up on top of racks and one old Alvis, but not as it was.
The Carding Shed / Oil Can Café is the alternative local venue. At its original site the café ambience was excellent, always few interesting cars in there, the changes would be rung, the retro shops etc. The car parking alongside with overflow onto the field for ‘events’ worked well. I guess there were sound commercial reasons for their move but it has lost something in the process. Ah well.
Regards
Hugh Allan