Swindon is a central hub for tattooing in the south of the United Kingdom with its accessible location and over 20 active studios in the town.
Whilst tattooing has grown in the town, the local authority in Swindon has kept a tight rein on the regulations, making it difficult or almost impossible to allow guest artists to visit and a tattoo convention to take place.

Towards the end of 2021 we started to enquire with Swindon Borough Council about hosting a convention. Initially we were met with high prices and impossible hurdles to jump, but following months of discussion, our analysis of bylaws and regulations,  an agreement was made to hold a convention in 2023.

This was formalised at a Licensing Committee on the evening of December 6th 2022. 

Swindon is an ideal location for a regional or national event and is often overlooked. It is in a key location between Bristol, London, Oxford and Reading with bus, rail and road links.
The M4 motorway runs through the borough and the bus and rail stations are within walking distance of the venue.

Swindon Town itself has a current estimated population of 225,000.

The Venue

Swindon has a number of things to be proud of but most noticeable is its industrial heritage from the great days of the railway – GWR.

We have chosen the GWR Steam Museum’s Great Western Hall as our venue, with the adjoining Hawksworth Hall as an entrance and market place.

The area has numerous facilities and is right next door to the huge McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village. The hall is fully accessible and the convention is split over 3 levels with lift access.

The hall has plenty of space with planned layouts for up to 100 artists, 20 plus vendors, a bar, a rest area, coffee bar, two large screen projectors and a stage area.

The area outside the hall has space for numerous street food vendors. In 2024 a large marquee was added to link the two halls and increase useable space. The capacity for the venue will be in excess of 1000 people per day.