The deadline for current bids for the WordCamp UK 2011 venue has been extended to 15 October 2010.

A bid was received from Jon Eland for Leeds by the original deadline, however, two futher bids for Scarborough and Windsor need further time in order to prepare their proposals.

This will allow the WordCamp UK mailing list to consider a potential choice of venues in deciding the winning bid.

It’s not proposed to consider any further bids for the event, which is planned to be held on the weekend of 16-17 July 2011 as the follow-up to WordCamp UK 2010.

Please note the final name of the event may be subject to change.

Pictured is the data.gov.uk and friends session from Open Tech 2010, which I attended yesterday.

It was one of the sessions that made up part of a great and informative day.

Looking forward to next year’s OpenTech already!

I’ll be attending Open Tech 2010, the “informal, low cost, one-day conference on slightly different approaches to technology, politics and justice”, on Saturday 11 September.

After attending last year, I’m really looking forward to an enjoyable and informative day.

If you’re going – I’ll see you there!

Bids for the venue for WordCamp UK 2011 are now being invited from individuals or groups.

Bids, against the final version of the venue requirements, must be posted to the WordCamp UK mailing list by 1200 (midday) on Thursday 30 September 2010 at the latest.

The decision on the winning bid will be subsequently made by the mailing list.

This event, planned to be held on the weekend of 16-17 July 2011, will be the follow-up to WordCamp UK 2010.

Please note the final name of the event may be subject to change.

WordCamp UK 2010 took place in Manchester on the weekend of 17-18 July.

There’s numerous reports of what transpired, and the consensus was this was a successful and positive couple of days discussing and debating all things WordPress.

As the co-ordinator of WordCamp UK I’d like to thank all contributors – including:

• Everyone who led sessions
• Chi-chi for all the hard work on venue organisation
• Manchester Metropolitan University Business School for the venue
• All our sponsors and microsponsors
• Mike Little for dealing with all the financial issues
• Jonathan Harris for the graphics
• Orange Coconut for recording sessions
• Richard Tape for finalising arrangements at Factory for the Saturday social
• The WordCamp UK Core Group
• And last (but not least!) for everyone who attended

Those present will be aware of the nature of the discussion towards the end of the final Sunday session about the naming of the 2011 event.

Since the weekend, the feedback from participants is that we build on the experience and enthusiasm gained over three years, and start planning for the follow-up to WordCamp UK 2010, and come back to the question of the name of the event later.

Therefore the Core Group have issued the draft 2011 venue requirements, for which feedback is invited by 1000 (am) on Thursday 19 August 2010 at the latest on the WordCamp UK mailing list.

After that it is intended to invite bids against the final form of the requirements.

Because a number of administrative processes have been put in place over the past year, we will have longer timescales on everything that follows from setting the venue – such as arranging sponsors, allowing attendees to get cheaper advance travel tickets and an extended ticket sales window.

The BBC Trust has said that “as things stand, the case has not been made for the closure of 6 Music”.

Excellent news!

Many thanks to the various organisers of the brilliantly run campaign to oppose the Corporation’s management proposals to close the station.

I attended Kingston Beer Festival on the evening of 25 June 2010.

Here’s the drinks I sampled, along with marks out of ten:

• Castle Rock Black Gold – 9/10
• Grafton Lady Mary – 6/10
• Marble Pint – 7/10
• Welton’s Bobby’s Best – 9/10
• Gwynt Y Doraig Black Dragon Cider – 9/10

Tickets for the third WordCamp UK, to be held in Manchester on the weekend of 17-18 July 2010, are now on sale.

Discount Early Bird tickets at £20 will be available until 2355 on Sunday 4 July 2010.

This year there are four parallel tracks, designed to cater for all WordPress publishers, designers and developers.