Here's to many more!
Post UK Ponycon Write-up · 4:45pm Oct 11th, 2015
UK Ponycon 2015 was awesome! I only got to go on the Saturday, but I had an absolute blast, met some very cool people, and even got a little bit of merch (despite telling myself I was on a budget!) As always, I thought I'd do a con write-up, so here ya go!
Ponycon covers all generations of MLP, from G4 (our gen) all the way back to G1. I was kinda worried that there wouldn't be a whole lot of Friendship is Magic stuff/people, but I was pleasantly surprised!
Merchandise
Naturally, the first thing I did after the opening ceremony was to look around all the merch (there was loads of it). Two-and-a-bit vendor halls chock full of stalls, and they were all fantastic. Vulpine Designs was there again with his amazing dioramas, Jowybean with his title cards and other great work, as well as a bunch of other cool people whose cards I collected and will link to at the bottom.
One vendor I really wanted to shout-out to was 'Olyfactory' (also known as Kuuru Pop). I'd never heard of them before, but they sell some very decent plushies for very reasonable prices. So much variety as well – everyone from Shining Armour to Starlight Glimmer, even Discord and a bunch of background ponies. I got the cutest Applejack plushie for only £12.50, check it out:
I did have a brief look at the older generation stalls too. There was a bunch of interesting stuff, but I'm not really into it so didn't pay them too much attention.
Cosplay
There were quite a few cosplays, which is always cool to see. A lot of them were really good as well. Sadly, my camera did not agree with the lighting in the main hall, so I got a grand total of one decent photo of the catwalk. I'm sure there'll be some on the Facebook page soon, so keep an eye out.
Oh, and on the subject, this was a multi-generation con in more senses than one. There were a tonne more kids at Ponycon than there were at BUCK. And even I have to admit that seeing all the little people running around, wearing their own cool little cosplays, was freaking adorable 
No photos for obvious reasons, but take my word for it. So, freaking, cute.
Panels
There were, like, two. The first was a doctor from a university talking about his research into the fandom, which was extremely interesting! Well, the ten percent of it I actually heard was. I don't think the sound system was working properly. The second one was by Summer Hayes, a collector, but I dropped out of that one as I still couldn't hear.
I think the main point of the con was the charity, the merch and the meeting people, rather than having lots of speakers and stuff. Which brings me swiftly onto the next section...
People
I ran into Hereward and Tioa0a (hope I spelled that right) early on, which was cool, though we only hung out for a few minutes before going separate ways to do stuff.
I have to say, after going around the vendors about four times and watching the cosplay show, I got a little bit bored – as above, there weren't many panels to go to, which was kind of my fall-back at BUCK the first time around. Luckily, a guy called David saw me on my own and introduced me to the Worcester bronies EDIT: a group of bronies - some of those from Worcester and Leicester meets, plus some guests - which turned a mildly interesting convention into an absolutely brilliant one.
They are a very cool bunch. We grabbed lunch, I got to know everyone a little bit, and then I spent the rest of the con hanging out with them. We went around the stalls again, and it was a lot more fun actually hearing other people's comment on the artwork, rather than just looking by myself.
Eventually, we made our way back to the entrance hall, to partake in one of my favourite convention past-times. A capella singing in the halls. It was beautiful. 'Winter Wrap Up', 'True, True Friend', and an impressively accurate rendition of 'We Are The Cutie Mark Crusaders!' After that – finally, inevitably – we ended up in the pub.
Plushies on table, drinks in hand and steadily joined by more bronies coming over from the convention, we just hung out and had a great time. I got a couple of nice photos of the group and the plushies:
Unfortunately, I had to leave at 7pm to catch my train home, so I missed out on potential drunken singing and disco-going, about which I am gutted. I got down several names though, found my UK of Equestria account and added peeps, so I'm hoping we'll stay in touch.
That's about it for this con! Main highlights: Companionable singing and merriment, awesome plushies/customs/artwork, adorable little people running around. I wish I could've stayed overnight and for the Sunday as well, which I'll definitely go for next year if I can balance time/study deadlines/money well enough.
To conclude, have some obligatory Appledash, sharing cider:
Links to other vendors:
Pa Kaisha - very, very smart artwork, pony playing cards, and more. Definitely check this one out
Crystal Moon collectibles on Facebook - fantastic quality, hand-crafted models, all unique. Another big one to check out
Bluekite - cool prints
Callywolf - cool artwork/prints
Breakfast-tee - more prints!
Emerald Gaze - cute kitty/pony pictures
Sparklerscustomsponies - custom ponies
Fishpish Studios - Plushies and cosplay
Sounds like you had a good time
Happy four you; wish there were conventions in my country. Or at least well advertised ones...because I certainly never heard of one.
Well, a mixture of Leicester and Worcester bronies, plus a couple of guests, really.
But it was lots of fun, and feel free to say hi any time you see any of us around. If you possibly can manage both days, then it's worth it. Hope you'll make it next year! 
3462084 I did, thank you
Sorry there aren't any where you are :(
3462914 Edited, thanks! I hope I do see you around some time, and I'll definitely try making both days next year