Went today with, in the wake of the last couple of years, not particularly high expectations but, to my pleasant surprise, found it to be a great event and, for me, the low AV content was very welcome. I really don't care for deafening crash, bang wallop AV dem's but, to cater for those whose primary interest is AV, a dedicated AV show might be a good idea.
Fine sounds were on offer in the Neat, Russell K, Spendor, Von Gaylord Audio, Malvern Audio Research and Dali rooms, the speakers in the latter room being just £699/pr and, to my ears, a whole lot better than the £6,500/pr two ways in the Wilson Benesch room. I expect there were a few other good rooms as well that I missed. Plenty of valve gear and vinyl but very few CD players which was a shame as, when I find a room with good sound, I like to get a track or two from my stock compilation CD-R played.
As for the comment about Bristol being at the arse end of the country, it's consistently voted as being amongst if not the best place in the UK to live. I've lived here for 40 years and there's nowhere else I'd rather be.