I'm afraid to say I really missed the layout of Southport as there were so many people I knew were there and I just didn't see. For me the whole sense of community was missing due to the separate venues and sharing it with Muggles. It felt more like going to a freestyle every night rather than being at a weekender.
I also left Ed's at 4ish on the Saturday to go to Jak's and after half an hour thought, "Not really enjoying this", got my coat and stuff to go back to Ed's and thought, "May as well go back to the apartment" (which was as far away as you could get). That wouldn't have happened at SP.
I really want to support John and Wes but SP is an hour up the road for me - as opposed to 4 for Skeggie, and the extra cost (it's a huge difference when 2 are sharing) meant my friend who I've been to every SP with couldn't afford to go and I really missed her.
We both booked for Summer last September and we'll probably still go - although maybe not. I thoroughly enjoyed the dancing but if a similar crowd turn up at Southport in the Summer (I'm not going to the first one on principle but I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face after that) I'll go there.
It's nothing to do with JA, who I think do a sterling job, but the accommodation and classes aren't important to me (apart from the bed, which was really uncomfortable at Skeggie, which I've never had problems with at SP!), and the travel and venue layout are so I'll get a better experience at SP (if a similar crowd are there) whatever John and Wes do. I'm pretty POed, because they built SP into something special, and if I choose SP over Skeggie in the future it's with a heavy heart.
A huge thanks to John and Wes for all their efforts (especially John for the dances ) - and I know they'll take on board all feedback and improve it every time - but the site layout and distance from my house are beyond their control, so unless the decent dancers snub SP I may end up going to SP over Skeggie.
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