Best physical shop London/South East

[Josh95]

Hi guys,

As you may have seen in an earlier post I'm getting back into the hobby.

 

I prefer to touch and feel things before I drop quite a bit of money ?.

 

What is the best Airsoft store within 2 hours of London? Thanks

Edited January 23, 2024 by Josh95

[Colin Allen]

29 minutes ago, Josh95 said:

Hi guys,

As you may have seen in an earlier post I'm getting back into the hobby.

 

I prefer to touch and feel things before I drop quite a bit of money ?.

 

What is the best Airsoft store within 2 hours of London? Thanks

It is hard to say which is best without knowing what you mean by best.

Surplus Store UK in Crawley has lots of stuff on display: https://www.surplusstore.co.uk

Bespoke Airsoft is near Heathrow and usually has good stock: https://www.bespokeairsoft.co.uk

Edited January 23, 2024 by Colin Allen

[Tommikka]

Depending on your specific location, Super5ives in Portsmouth ought to be within 2 hour.

 

They have just relocated to bigger premises

 

https://www.facebook.com/Super5ives

 

I don’t think that they have posted up their ‘full’ relaunch date yet, which should be in the Spring - when that is fully there should be more to cast your eyes over in the showroom.

 

[neh0]

if you’re coming as far as Portsmouth you can visit Combat South and Super5ives, they are 5-10 minutes from each other. Another hour puts you in Bournemouth and Zero One Airsoft.

[Josh95]

@Colin Allen Thank you!

@neh0 @Tommikka Thanks they are a bit far from me compared to what Collin mentioned, but thanks for the info!
 

[Colin Allen]

There is also Wolf Armouries in Camden, but they are not my favourite shop: https://wolfarmouries.co.uk

 

[Galvatron]

I've been in-store at Bespoke Airsoft. The shop is pretty good and they are planning to move to larger premises soon (with much better parking) near High Wycombe.

 

Only Airsoft/Combat UK in Stevenage is easy to get to with plenty of parking nearby and has a lot of RIFs on display in store. They also have a shooting range.

[Cr0-Magnon]

I'm yet to find an airsoft shop with decent parking, does anyone know of one?

[Shamal]

23 hours ago, Tommikka said:

Depending on your specific location, Super5ives in Portsmouth ought to be within 2 hour.

 

They have just relocated to bigger premises

 

https://www.facebook.com/Super5ives

 

I don’t think that they have posted up their ‘full’ relaunch date yet, which should be in the Spring - when that is fully there should be more to cast your eyes over in the showroom.

 

Thanks for putting super5ives up bud.

I only live ten mins away but have not heard of them. 

My go to store is combat south which is about 15 mins away.

Will pay a visit on Friday and check them out ?

 

Regards 

[neh0]

1 hour ago, Shamal said:

Thanks for putting super5ives up bud.

I only live ten mins away but have not heard of them. 

My go to store is combat south which is about 15 mins away.

Will pay a visit on Friday and check them out ?

 

Regards 

They are currently collection only, new showroom not ready yet.

[Shamal]

Just now, neh0 said:

They are currently collection only, new showroom not ready yet.

Thanks for update @neh0. 

I'll have a wander down on Friday anyway just to find out where it is.

Cheers bud?

[Dan Robinson]

I'm having a "silent running" episode with Bespoke Airsoft.  They've ignored a couple of emails about a problem I have with a purchase.  Will give them a chance as I've not had an opportunity to speak to a human first hand.   

[Galvatron]

16 hours ago, Dan Robinson said:

I'm having a "silent running" episode with Bespoke Airsoft.  They've ignored a couple of emails about a problem I have with a purchase.  Will give them a chance as I've not had an opportunity to speak to a human first hand.   

 

I hope they're as good with you in person as they seemed when I overheard a discussion with a customer returning a faulty mag.

 

Their email response leaves much to be desired in my experience too. They took ages to get back on a pre-sales query I had and never answered phone calls.

[Egon_247]

Whereabouts in londinium art thoust? 

 

Down in "pitchfork and torch" laden kent, we have a few. Kent combat (dartford) , platoon stores (chatham) and a few more deeper south. 

Surplus stores as mentioned above is also awesome. My wallet goes into meltdown near good shops like this.  

 

[Colin Allen]

1 hour ago, Egon_247 said:

Whereabouts in londinium art thoust? 

 

Down in "pitchfork and torch" laden kent, we have a few. Kent combat (dartford) , platoon stores (chatham) and a few more deeper south. 

Surplus stores as mentioned above is also awesome. My wallet goes into meltdown near good shops like this.  

 

Is Kent Combat still going?  I might wander over there tomorrow.

Platoon Stores is good; I always drop in when I have to go to Chatham. 

[Dan Robinson]

Who has to go to Chatham?  ?

[Tackle]

41 minutes ago, Dan Robinson said:

Who has to go to Chatham?  ?

No one by choice, but to be fair it did used to have a great site at Ft Amherst, sadly missed ?

[Egon_247]

2 hours ago, Colin Allen said:

Is Kent Combat still going?  I might wander over there tomorrow.

Platoon Stores is good; I always drop in when I have to go to Chatham. 

It is but he's moved to the other shopping mall type thing in Dartford. Bigger shop ?

[Dan Robinson]

30 minutes ago, Tackle said:

great site at Ft Amherst, sadly missed ?

 

Been to that Fort when I was little (my dad was from there).  Used to sneak out into the estuary with him and my brother  to go camping on the medway forts (Darnet & Hoo) which was a bit naughty even in the 80's.  Sailing out on an overloaded, puncture ridden Avon rubber dinghy with a clapped out 4hp Johnson outboard motor,  that I don't remember ever making a journey of any length without breaking down no matter how much he tested it in a bucket the day before. 

 

Fun times.   ?

Edited January 26, 2024 by Dan Robinson

[Colin Allen]

1 hour ago, Dan Robinson said:

 

Been to that Fort when I was little (my dad was from there).  Used to sneak out into the estuary with him and my brother  to go camping on the medway forts (Darnet & Hoo) which was a bit naughty even in the 80's.  Sailing out on an overloaded, puncture ridden Avon rubber dinghy with a clapped out 4hp Johnson outboard motor,  that I don't remember ever making a journey of any length without breaking down no matter how much he tested it in a bucket the day before. 

 

Fun times.   ?

I have been out to the forts and to the wrecked U Boat; I stayed overnight on Grain Tower a few years ago as well.

2 hours ago, Dan Robinson said:

Who has to go to Chatham?  ?

I sometimes go down there for work.

[QV0]

You should check Combat South in Portsmouth .

[Dan Robinson]

1 hour ago, QV0 said:

You should check Combat South in Portsmouth .

I politely request the honourable user refer to  current map. ?

[Spartan09]

going to echo @Galvatron suggestion of Only airsoft on Stevenage.  i get most of my gear from them, and the staff are always welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable and the store should easily be within a 2 hour drive from most parts of london

[sp00n]

On 24/01/2024 at 21:26, Dan Robinson said:

I'm having a "silent running" episode with Bespoke Airsoft.  They've ignored a couple of emails about a problem I have with a purchase.  Will give them a chance as I've not had an opportunity to speak to a human first hand.   

same here, made an online purchase on 25th for two instock items, got a txt off Parcelforce for delivery yesterday (30th)…. Which didn’t happen, checked tracking number, not dispatched ? dropped them a message … nothing so

far ?‍♂️

 

Edit, they replied this morning (1st) to the email I sent … one item is out of stock (both were in stock) …. I asked for a refund for the out of stock item … no refund or dispatch yet … feels like a delaying method ?

[Cannonfodder]

Another vote for only airsoft in Stevenage. I haven't been into a bricks and mortar store for over a year, but I found these guys always make me feel welcome and are very helpful