28 replies to this topic

[floormanager]

Important Announcement

IMM 2025 Sussex – Event Postponed

Dear Mini community,

 

It is with heavy hearts that we have to inform you that IMM 2025 Sussex is being postponed.

 

The reason is low ticket sales, which means that it is not financially viable to run the event as originally planned. This is despite our best efforts to scale down and reduce costs as much as possible.

 

IMM is entirely volunteer-run and run on a not-for-profit basis, and this decision has not been taken lightly. Our aim has always been to create an incredible event for our fellow Mini lovers, but we must also act responsibly with the resources entrusted to us.

 

IMM 2025 ticket prices were carefully calculated on the costs of putting the event on and information on ticket sales provided by previous UK IMM events. Due to the rise in costs over the past year, we needed to sell 3,500 tickets to cover outgoings. But sadly, we are not even half-way there.

 

Please be patient while we work out our next steps

 

We understand this will be disappointing, but please know we’ve done everything in our power to make it work. We are doing our very best for the community we love.

 

We’re now working hard to reschedule IMM 2025 to a new date, giving more time for us to build the support we need to make this event everything we want it to be. We are also exploring additional revenue streams to cover costs.

 

Your Questions Answered

 

• Why was the event postponed?
  Ticket sales were significantly lower than expected. Even after reducing costs, the event became financially unviable.

   

• Why not keep it going with fewer people?
  Unfortunately, large-scale events like this have fixed costs such as venue hire and security that can’t be scaled down proportionally. Lower ticket numbers meant a large financial shortfall, meaning a personal cost to organisers.

   

• How were the ticket prices set?
  Ticket prices were based on event quotes, site costs and information provided by previous UK IMMs. We did everything we could to keep prices as fair and affordable as possible while still covering costs.

   

• What happens to my ferry booking or travel plans?
  We recommend contacting your travel insurance provider regarding any ferry or travel changes due to the event postponement.

   

• When will new dates be announced?
  We are actively working to secure an alternative date and will update you as soon as this is confirmed.

   

• Will tickets be refunded or carried over?
  We will share detailed information about ticket options shortly. Please bear with us while we finalise the best approach.

   

• How can I help?
  Spread the word, rally your clubs and fellow Mini fans, and consider supporting us when the new dates go live. We’ll need the community behind us more than ever.

 

Thank you for your understanding, patience and continued support. We’re committed to making IMM 2025 a celebration worth waiting for.

 

IMM 2025 Sussex.

 

 

[16vmini]

not surprised , but gutted , they would have known earlier about this happening , pretty short notice , bet they gutted to and lots to sort out behind scenes now , 

[MiniMadRacer]

Very sad but in todays financial climate, but probably not unexpected, the ticket prices whilst maybe unavoidable due to rising running and operating costs, have pushed it beyond a lot of people budgets

 

[mini-mad-mark]

Plenty of people will pay 160 quid (or more) to go and watch (what I would consider) a bang average pop band for two hours.

 

Not me by the way, just my best comparison of a price for something that I think is quite common for plenty of "average" people to do - let me add something I would do occasionally - A decent meal out for two people with a bottle of wine and a few drinks, with a taxi home (responsible drinking/driving!) would be in the order of 100 quid  - these are UK prices, your locality may be different if you are outside the UK

 

I would say it depends what your priorities are; I personally don't think the price was excessive and would have gone, other than some uncertainty over an operation which happened sooner than thought so I could have gone as it happens..

 

I don't know but I will hazard a guess that near-European take up may be less than expected for (fairly) obvious reasons but UK participation should have been OK I would have thought?

 

Does anybody have any comparison numbers from previous IMMs? (total numbers, splits by country - especially UK as we have to get across the water and the spiritual home of the mini)

[mab01uk]

The only club I heard connected with the IMM (mentioned from memory some months back in MiniWorld magazine), was the 'Mini Cooper Club' which I was surprised still existed and if it still did seemed a small low profile club to organise such a big event? Maybe the UK IMM event is now just too big for the potential number of enthusiasts wanting to attend, many of whom are maybe not really interested in an expensive ticketed event spread over several days. The successful European IMM's seem to be on a smaller scale as they can't rely on a big UK Mini attendance crossing the channel?

I remember the 'Mini Cooper Register' hosted the 1989 IMM at Silverstone and many of those involved with the organisation said they had sleepless nights and would never volunteer to take it on again. That was also with the major advantage of being on the same site as the BL backed Mini 30th Birthday Event with lots of media coverage and at a famous race circuit with all the facilities for a large event already in place.

Edited by mab01uk, 01 August 2025 - 07:31 PM.

[floormanager]

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The only club I heard connected with the IMM (mentioned from memory some months back in MiniWorld magazine), was the 'Mini Cooper Club' which I was surprised still existed and if it still did seemed a small low profile club to organise such a big event? Maybe the UK IMM event is now just too big for the potential number of enthusiasts wanting to attend, many of whom are maybe not really interested in an expensive ticketed event spread over several days. The successful European IMM's seem to be on a smaller scale as they can't rely on a big UK Mini attendance crossing the channel?

I remember the 'Mini Cooper Register' hosted the 1989 IMM at Silverstone and many of those involved with the organisation said they had sleepless nights and would never volunteer to take it on again. That was also with the major advantage of being on the same site as the BL backed Mini 30th Birthday Event with lots of media coverage and at a famous race circuit with all the facilities for a large event already in place.

I was there in '89
 

[Blumeanie]

Well that sucks!

Sad news. I do hope it gets legs again!

[bogstandard]

I feel for those involved but I have always thought that many agree to host the event then reality kicks in and the logistics involved get expensive and complicated. I hope they are insured up to the eyeballs. 

 

Think it was a bad idea to have it on the August Bank Holiday which is the peak time people will have other holiday plans and for those planning to come from the rest of Europe I would expect the Ferry prices would be very expensive which would have put many off.

 

Best to have May/June pre school holidays and mind boggles how much it must have cost to get the Showground on such a date. Doubt the Showground will be able to get an alternative booking arranged.

 

The cost was steep but I booked two tickets and not expecting to see any money back. Can only hope something else can be put together but again having it late in the summer leaves little time left to arrange an alternative. Best I can see is a large club type event maybe late Sept.

 

 

[Shep76S]

Didn’t it clash with the Legendary grand tour mini run in Devon as well? Lots of potential ticket sales lost.

[Podman]

So...... almost a week on since it was postponed, and nothing! Has anyone heard anything at all from the 'organisers'?

I'm beginning to suspect that this might have been an elaborate scam from the off.   

[alpder]

Advertising may be part of the problem: literally the first time I became aware of IMM 2025 was... hearing that it had been cancelled, from a post by Minis In The Mountains.

 

https://www.facebook...sinthemountains (Who say they've added a few extra places, now that IMM is cancelled, if anyone still wants to get out over that weekend. Tho' anyone traveling any distance would have to organise their own camping for the night before.)

[Shooter63]

Important Business Update

We regret to inform you that IMM 2025 Ltd (“the Company”) has ceased trading. The Company is in the process of being placed into Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation as it is insolvent. The proposed liquidators from Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP will write to all known creditors (including customers) in due course. Customers may wish to speak to their bank or credit card company to determine whether they are eligible to make a chargeback claim

While every effort was made to secure a new date for the event, ongoing challenges and significant negativity have made this impossible, leaving us with no viable alternative but to proceed with liquidation. This has been an incredibly difficult decision, and one we did not take lightly. We understand that this news will be disappointing and apologise for inconvenience or loss this may cause.

Should you wish to contact the proposed liquidators, then please email [email protected]

We will continue to share updates where relevant.

International Mini Meet 2025, East Sussex

This has been posted on FB, if you know how business works you knew it was coming, we ain't getting a penny back, now THAT will leave a bad taste in everybody's mouth.

Shooter

[mab01uk]

From the IMM 2025 Facebook page:

 

IMM 2025 Sussex:-
https://www.facebook.../IMM2025Sussex/

Edited by mab01uk, 09 August 2025 - 08:44 AM.

[IronmanG]

The guys address details and wife's phone number are all becoming public on Facebook. The fella is gonna get lynched

[mab01uk]

Hopefully many of the advance ticket sales were paid using a Credit Card? 
If so, under 'Section 75' refunds any payments of more than £100 and less than £30,000 on your credit card and your card company then has a LEGAL responsibility to come to the rescue and get your money back if there's a problem:-
https://www.moneysav...your-purchases/