Attendance records were broken at the French Village, A Place in the Sun Live at Birmingham NEC at the end of last month.

Over 2,000 visitors flocked through the French Village during the three days of the exhibition, an absolute record for our participation in this overseas property event.

Charles Murray of specialist currency firm FC Exchange, sponsors of the French Village stated, 'We were encouraged by the number of visitors who attended this year’s exhibition. There is a definite positive sentiment to overseas property purchases, and France clearly remains a favourite'.

Joanna Reintjes, of French accountants AFA Expertise, who exhibited at the show for the first time stated that, ‘The benefit we gained from the exhibition was excellent in terms of networking with co-exhibitors, making new contacts, and gaining new business.’

Barbara Heslop of French property solicitors Heslop and Platt echoed the thought. ‘It was a very fruitful and enjoyable weekend with a great level of attendance and excellent organisation.’

Joanna Leggett of estate agents Leggett Immobilier commented that, ‘We have been at the French Village since 2010 and this was most definitely the best we have attended, with an excellent quality of enquires and footfall.’

Sally Stone and Arthur Cutler of the LBV Group, ‘The French Village at A Place in the Sun really is a microcosm of French life, for as an information gathering event it is second to none for visitors. Our seminar audiences were bigger than ever, and the will to make a move to France seemed very strong. We had more visitors to the LBV Group stand each day than we normally get in three days at other exhibitions!'

Edward Landau of Immobilier Le Bonheur based in Gascony stated that, ‘The level of attendance and the quality of the visitors substantially exceeded our expectations. This was a great indicator that interest in buying property in France remains very strong.’

Amongst the many visitors were Robert and Sandra Payne from near Solihull who are planning to retire to France in the next two years. 'The day has fulfilled all that we had hoped for it, and more. We are going home with our heads full with so much information that has been passed on to us by the agents and advisors that it will take a while to unravel it all. Nevertheless, we feel so much more prepared and confident about the move.'

And from ourselves, to all those who came along to the event, we sincerely hope you enjoyed it, that you found it useful, and that it has brought the realisation of your French property dream closer to reality.

Meet us again at the next A Place in the Sun Live Exhibition, Olympia London, 28th-30th March 2014, where we shall be with our French Village.

PRIZE DRAW

The winners of the prize draw that took place in our French Village are Tom & Eileen Fitzgerald from Oxfordshire, who win a luxury hamper of French food and champagne. Congratulations to you both!