Barcelona Pen Show 2025
It was with some trepidation I set off very late in the evening of Friday 21 March, in the direction of London Heathrow Airport. The Airport had been shut for most of the day, due to a poor supply issue caused by a fire in an electricity sub-station. It was with some relief that the airport had opened late on Friday, and with even more relief that the airport seemed to be fully functioning when I arrived at 4am for my 6.05am flight on Saturday morning (22 March). There were no queues and the flight departed on time, for which I am obliged to LHR and BA!
On landing in Barcelona I took the excellent and inexpensive Aerobus to the city centre and dropped off my bag at my hotel. I decided to stay not at the rather posh show hotel, but a hotel in the same group, Catalonia Gran Via, a 10 or so minute walk away. I am pleased to recommend that hotel to anyone who wants to save a bit of cash!
The show was, to my impression, a little smaller than 2024. I know at least 1 UK based dealer didn’t make it. According to the show “map” there were 38 exhibitors/dealers, although 1 was the pen show organisers and I think there were 1 or 2 empty tables. A big bonus - the show was free to enter for both days and you got entered into a prize draw each day.
The show takes place all day on Saturday and from 10am until 2pm on the Sunday. I suspect I could probably have taken the 6.05am flight on Sunday morning and flown back Sunday evening given the size of the show and still taken a good look at all the tables. As it was I was able to spend a good amount of time networking, chatting to fellow enthusiasts and watch Osman Sümer performing a cork seal replacement on a Montblanc 144 (the 1950’s celluloid version) with the ease and skill justifying his reputation as a leading authority on, and restorer of, Montblanc and Pelikan writing instruments.
I have included some pictures of a couple of tables at the show including new offerings from Gioia, L-Ink and Patrick Guidici, who was 1 of a number of dealers having a box full of loose and very reasonably priced pens on his table. Well worth a look!
Samai pens are fairly well known on the show circuit - they were at the London Pen Show, but to be honest 3D printed pens have not previously grabbed my interest. This time I was able to speak to the proprietor and talk about the manufacture and give the pens a good look. I have to say I was impressed by the quality.
I would have liked a long Sunday lunch on a terrace by the hotel pool, but sadly although warm the weather was inclement with heavy rain and a thunderstorm that caused a delayed return flight. I still went home happy.
