No idea as of yet Jimmy, I'll see if I can find anything out but it's all still very much a play it by ear thing.
On AAEC I've seen only John from last time confirmed for the meet as of yet (the guy who was there at the beginning with you), another guy Bob who wasn't there last time but usually is - he works in a vape shop and wants to go to the meet, but isn't sure if the shop owners are going to VJ meaning he'll have to mind the shop.
Andre (sailor dude!) is on UK Squonkers and said there he's going to go round VJ and then it's beer time, but loads of UKS meet at the pub outside Excel at VJ, so it's unclear whether hell turn up at the meet until later on...
The pub at Excel is a traditional meet up place after VJ (I had a few drinks with
@vapellie there last year).
If I were you I would try to get to VJ early, meet up with me and see who else we run into, then depending on whose messaging who from where, we either go straight to the meet and sit vaping perhaps just amongst ourselves, or go to the pub near excel for a while first where there are always a load of vapers that day, and basically play it by ear.
Whether it's worth the journey for you seeing as you have to catch that train back to Manchester is up to you, but I'm sure there will be beer and vaping for you somewhere.
I've posted on AAEC asking opinions