Hammerhead, Newark

Hammerhead is a wargames show for gamers, hobbyists and collectors. Its big idea is participation: clubs bring games to the hall, and visitors are invited to have a go, whether that's playing a whole game or just moving a few miniatures and rolling some dice. Historical, fantasy and sci-fi all have a place on the tables.

The show is held in the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall at Newark Showground, which the organiser describes as Nottinghamshire's largest purpose-built exhibition space. It's a single day, usually a Saturday in late February, which makes it one of the first chances of the year to get out to a show.

It's a decent size without being overwhelming. The organiser's report on the 2026 show counted 54 public participation games and activities, 47 traders and a crowd of just under 1,800 visitors, a little down on the year before because of bad weather.

A short history

According to the show's own history page, the first Hammerhead was staged at Kelham Hall, replacing an older show called Fantizan. The COGS club from Chesterfield took it on and gave it the name Hammerhead. By 2008 every game at the show was a public participation game, which is still the heart of it today.

In 2014 the show moved to the Cedric Ford Pavilion at Newark Showground, where more than 600 people came through the doors. It grew quickly: by 2016 it had moved into the bigger George Stephenson Exhibition Hall, with 55 participation games and over 1,200 visitors. In 2017 the show spread across both halls, with the pavilion becoming the Gamers Lounge, and the DBA Northern Cup arrived. The painting competition followed in 2018.

Today the show is organised by Dave Ryan, who took over from long-time organiser Sally. If you have a question the website doesn't answer, the organiser's contact details are on the official site.

Who it's for

Historical gamers. Hammerhead has deep historical roots, and the trade hall is strong on figures, rules and books for many periods.

Fantasy and sci-fi gamers. The show welcomes fantasy and sci-fi too, so it's worth the trip even if your armies have dragons or drop ships.

Newcomers and families. Because the games are there to be played, it's an easy show to start with. You can try a period or a ruleset at a club table before you spend a penny on it, and children under 9 get in free.

Painters and collectors. The painting competition is a lovely thing to look round, and the bring and buy is a collector's treasure hunt.

Hammerhead 2027 is on Saturday 27 February 2027. Doors are open 10am to 4.30pm, so it's one full day rather than a weekend. That suits a day trip: travel in the morning, play and shop through the day, and be home in the evening.

The organiser announced the date in spring, almost a year ahead. The floorplan for the new show appears nearer the time, with the list of games and traders, and last year's plan stays on the site until then, which gives you a feel for the layout.

Thinking of putting on a game rather than visiting? The organiser takes bookings well in advance. Clubs that want to run a participation game at Hammerhead 2027 send in the organiser's form before the deadline, which this time is 31 October 2026. Details are on the games page of the official site.

Participation games

This is what sets Hammerhead apart. Clubs bring a game, and the point is for visitors to join in. Some let you play a full game, others hand you a few figures to move and a handful of dice to roll. Either way it's a friendly way to try something new, and the people running the tables are usually delighted to explain the rules.

The mix covers historical periods alongside fantasy and sci-fi. The organiser also presents awards to the best games of the day, such as best participation game and best constructed game, so the clubs put real effort into their tables. Look out for the terrain and modelling as much as the rules.

Traders

The trade stands fill much of the hall. On the organiser's list from the last show, about half were figure makers, with the rest covering rules and games, terrain and bases, books and magazines, paints and tools, and dice. It's the place to see miniatures, terrain and rules in person before you buy, and to chat to the people who make them.

The bring and buy

Hammerhead runs its bring and buy as a tabletop sale: gamers book a table slot and sell their own unwanted miniatures and games, rather than handing them to a central desk. The organiser's 2026 report said the sale was busy all day with plenty of deals being made. Tables are limited and go first come, first served, and you can't leave goods there before or after your slot. A few slots can sometimes be booked on the day at the Tabletop Sales desk.

The painting competition

The painting competition has run since 2018, in partnership with a wargames magazine that publishes the categories and rules on its own website. The organiser says it had over 90 entries last time. To enter, you bring your painted miniatures on the day. Check the painting competition page on the official site for the link to this year's rules before you pack.

Thinking of entering? Our guides on how to enter a painting competition and what the judges look for will help, and the four week competition plan gets you there with time to spare.

The DBA Northern Cup

Hammerhead is also home to the DBA Northern Cup, a long-running competition for De Bellis Antiquitatis, the quick-playing ancients and medieval rules. The organiser's report says 2026 was its 22nd year. If you play DBA, it's worth watching a round or two even if you aren't entering.

There's no advance booking to worry about. You pay at the entry desks in the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall on the day and get a wristband, which keeps things simple for a walk-up show. The organiser is clear that payment for entry is by cash, so bring notes and coins rather than relying on a card.

The venue is Newark Showground, on the edge of Newark in Nottinghamshire. The address is The Showground, Lincoln Road, Winthorpe, Newark, NG24 2NY. For a satnav, use the postcode NG24 2NY.

By car

The showground is only a few minutes from the A1. Leave the A1 at the A46/A17 junction signed for Lincoln, Sleaford, Newark Showground and the Air Museum, and follow the Showground and brown Air Museum signs. At the roundabout, take the exit towards Coddington onto Drove Lane, and the showground entrance is on the right. The organiser says access to Hammerhead is through the Blue Gate, about 100 metres from the A46 roundabout and opposite the go-kart centre. The organiser's getting there page has the turn-by-turn version from the north and the south.

Parking

The organiser says parking is free and plentiful, on the former RAF Winthorpe runway right outside the halls. Disabled parking is directly in front of the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall and the Cedric Ford Pavilion. The 2026 show brought new car parking arrangements, so follow the stewards on the day.

By train

The nearest stations are Newark Castle and Newark Northgate, both about 2 to 3 miles from the showground. The organiser says there's no public transport running to the showground and that walking isn't practical, as it takes 45 to 60 minutes. Plan on a taxi from the station instead; the organiser's getting there page lists local firms.

Access and facilities

The organiser describes Hammerhead as a fully wheelchair-friendly event. Both halls are on one level, with no steps or steep slopes, and there's room around the tables. Accessible toilets are in the main hall, in the Cedric Ford Pavilion and in the outside toilet block to the right of the main hall. For food and drink, the Bistro in the George Stephenson Exhibition Hall serves hot and cold food and drinks, with tables and chairs nearby.