The next UK Coach Rally will be held in Blackpool over the weekend of 1 and 2 April 2023, the organiser has announced.
Ann Cousins of Coach Displays says that the response to the 2022 Rally – the first for three years after two COVID-19-related cancellations – has been positive, with “lots of favourable comments” and some space already reserved for 2023.
She adds that those early bookings are for both coach entries and the trade area. The 2023 Rally programme will follow a “very similar” format to this year’s event, including the customary dinner dance, but with a different Saturday morning road run route. In addition, Coach Displays is exploring possible alterations to the driving test format.
“We were very pleased with this year’s UK Coach Rally, and we hope to continue that in 2023,” adds Mrs Cousins. “There was a very good feel and atmosphere to proceedingsm and it was pleasing to see the industry return so strongly.”
This year’s Rally attracted an impressive turnout given the ongoing pressures of driver shortages, elevated fuel costs and a strong return of work. Among the winners, Parrys International’s Van Hool TX17 Astron triumphed in the Coach of the Year category, while Russell Cooper of Coopers Tours retained the Coach Driver of the Year silverware.
The 2023 Rally will again be based at the Imperial Hotel, with favourable rates agreed for participants.
