What comparable shows offer, what would suit Lincolnshire, and a sensible first-year package for the 2027 Show on 23 and 24 June.
The Show lasts two days. The companion makes it last four months: one month of build-up and pre-ordering, two days of live help on the Showground, and three months of follow-up for exhibitors and visitors.
It is a website that behaves like an app. Visitors open it from a link, a QR code on their ticket or the signage at the gates. There is nothing to download and no app store approval to wait for, and it can still be added to the home screen and work with a weak signal.
We reviewed the apps and digital offers of ten UK agricultural shows and eight other large visitor events. Seven of the shows have a native app; Devon, Cornwall, Norfolk and Three Counties appear to have none. The Lincolnshire Show currently offers a PDF map and a printed guide.
| Feature | How common | Who does it | For Lincolnshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interactive map | Almost universal | Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire, Royal Welsh, Balmoral, Suffolk, Goodwood, Glastonbury | Year 1 |
| Timetable, filtered by day or ring | Almost universal | All of the above | Year 1 |
| Personal planner and favourites | Common | Royal Highland, Royal Welsh, Balmoral, Suffolk, Goodwood | Year 1 |
| Trade stand directory | Common | Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire, Balmoral, Suffolk, Badminton, LAMMA | Year 1 |
| Practical info: travel, parking, accessibility | Common | Royal Welsh, Balmoral | Year 1 |
| Live competition results | Some | Royal Highland, Royal Welsh, Badminton, Burghley | Option |
| Notifications for key moments | Some | Royal Highland, Goodwood, Badminton, LAMMA | Option |
| Live stream or show TV | Rare | Royal Highland (RHS TV), Goodwood | Option |
| Exhibitor offers and shopping | Rare | Royal Highland (promotions only) | Year 1 the differentiator |
| "Where did I park?" | Rare | Burghley | Year 1 cheap to add |
| Ticket wallet | Rare | Royal Highland | Later depends on ticket partner |
The gap. No county show we found runs a real "shop the show" marketplace today. The closest precedents are the 2020 virtual shows, including Lincolnshire's own, which listed trade exhibitors with links out. Giving every exhibitor a page that works before, during and after the Show is where Lincolnshire can lead.
Why a web app. Published figures on event app take-up are mostly from vendors, so treat them with care. They suggest roughly half of attendees install a native app when it is well promoted, and far fewer when it is not. In one survey of 476 people, 18% said they would not download an app if a browser version existed. A link that opens instantly removes that barrier, which matters for a two-day event.
Patchy signal on the Showground. The app downloads everything it needs (map, timetable, exhibitor directory, visitor information) the first time it is opened, so every screen except video then works with no connection. The month-before window is what makes this reliable: the ticket email, e-ticket QR code and pre-Show campaign get the app onto phones at home, and "add to Home Screen" keeps it there. Updates on the day are tiny and sync whenever there is a moment of signal, with a "last updated" time shown. Live streaming is aimed at people at home; on site the app offers clips to watch later.
Why a web app rather than a native app. No download, nothing to approve, one version for everyone, and it works on any phone. For a two-day event most people would download a native app and delete it a week later. If a store presence is wanted in a later year, the same code can be wrapped and published to both stores without a rebuild.
Notifications. Push notifications no longer need a native app: Android supports them in the browser, and iPhone has since iOS 16.4 (March 2023) for web apps added to the Home Screen, so the app walks iPhone users through that step. They are most valuable before and after the Show, for offers, ticket deadlines, collection-ready messages and the highlights film. On site, where push depends on the same weak signal as everything else, they are paired with an "on now / coming up" strip in the app that works offline and, for the few essential messages such as a car park change, a WhatsApp Channel or SMS list.
| Website | Web app (recommended) | Native app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting it | Tap a link | Tap a link; add to Home Screen optional | Find in store and download |
| Works offline | No | Yes, once opened | Yes |
| Push notifications | No | Android yes; iPhone once on Home Screen | Yes |
| Store approval | None | None | Every release |
| Ongoing cost | Hosting | Hosting | Hosting, developer accounts, yearly OS updates |
| Feature | What visitors get | What the Society gets |
|---|---|---|
| Home that follows the calendar | Countdown and tickets before; "on now" and alerts on the day; highlights after | One place to push the current message |
| What's On and My Show | Both days' programme, filters, a saved plan | Late changes reach visitors; fewer queries at the Information Point |
| Interactive Show map | The official map with zoom, filters for food, toilets and first aid, and what's on at each ring | Named sponsors appear on every venue they support |
| Exhibitor directory | Search every stand, see offers, shortlist, find the stand on the map | A new benefit to sell with stand space; paid enhanced listings |
| Pre-order and collect | Order from an exhibitor before the Show, pick up on the day | Sales for traders before the gates open |
| After-Show follow-up | Find the stand you liked and order later | Three more months of value for exhibitors |
| Show TV | Trailers and interviews before; live stream and clips on the day; replays after | Reach beyond the gate, sponsorable content |
| Visitor information | Tickets, car parks, accessibility, FAQs | Advance ticket sales and membership sign-ups |
In year one, ordering is handled by a link to the exhibitor's own shop or an enquiry form. The Society does not take payments or handle stock, which keeps the first year simple and low risk.