The British Industries Fair (BIF) was an annual trade show held between 1915 and 1957, most often at twin venues, in London and Birmingham, England. The first show took place in 1915 during World War I at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, to encourage the production of goods that would otherwise be imported from abroad, particularly from Germany.
Birmingham / Castle Bromwich At Birmingham, a large complex of buildings was built in 1920, situated between Castle Bromwich Aerodrome and the railway line. For two weeks every year it was the most visited attraction in the country. In 1933, the first diesel locomotive arrived for display at the BIF. The final B.I.F was on 6 to 17 May 1957.Birmingham Post 15 May 1957 The associated aerodrome, which often showed air displays, closed with the final flight on 31 March 1958.
The nearby Castle Bromwich railway station received many important visitors for the BIF, including King George V and Queen Mary in 1928, the Duke of York, Princess Mary and Lord Harewood. They were often entertained afterwards by the Bradfords at Castle Bromwich Hall. In 1956, Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip visited the fair at Olympia, whilst Marshal Bulganin, Soviet Premier, and Mr. Khrushchev, Communist Party Leader, flew to Birmingham in order to visit the fair at Castle Bromwich.
The site was sold in 1960, along with that of the airfield. The buildings and the sites were cleared for the construction of the Castle Vale housing estate. The Exhibition Hall at Castle Bromwich was replaced by the National Exhibition Centre in 1976, 19 years after its demise.
Venues per Board of Trade; British Industries Fair: Minutes and Publications 1915; Royal Agricultural Hall 1916; Victoria & Albert Museum 1917; Victoria & Albert Museum; Imperial Institute; Glasgow 1918; London Docks; Glasgow (Kelvin Hall) 1919; London Docks 1920; Crystal Palace; Birmingham; Glasgow 1921; White City; Castle Bromwich; Glasgow 1922; White City; Castle Bromwich 1923; White City; Castle Bromwich 1924; White City; Castle Bromwich 1925; (not held, due to the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley) 1926; White City; Castle Bromwich 1927; White City; Castle Bromwich 1928; White City; Castle Bromwich 1929; White City; Castle Bromwich 1930; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1931; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1932; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1933; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1934; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1935; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1936; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1937; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich 1938; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1939; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1940; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1941 to 1946; (not held due to World War II) 1947; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1948; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1949; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1950; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1951; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1952; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1953; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1954; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich 1955; Olympia; Castle Bromwich 1956; Olympia; Castle Bromwich 1957; Castle Bromwich
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"Adopt - adapt and improve. Prince of Wales - Britain's best 'Ambassador of Trade' - at British Industries' Fair." - Pathe newsreel, 23 February 1927 Britain Opens Her Shop Window, 1950 (Pathé newsreel) British Industries Fair, 1953 (Pathé newsreel) British Industries Fair, 1957 (Pathé newsreel outtakes)