Retro Rendezvous

Connect, Collaborate and Code

ABUG event

The IT Crowd (Scotland) Day Event : Saturday 26th September

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Retro Computing Day Event – Register Now!

Date: Saturday, 26 September 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Classic Computers, Practical Projects and Retro Games

The I.T. Crowd (Scotland) returns to the Falkirk Business Hub on Saturday, 26 September for another full day of retro computing, hardware demonstrations, project sharing, repairs, upgrades, games and friendly discussion.

There is no formal theme for the day. Instead, everyone is encouraged to bring along the machines, peripherals and projects they have been working on. Whether you have restored a classic computer, developed some software, built new hardware for an old system or simply have something unusual you would like to demonstrate, we would love to see it.

Featured During the Day

A Panasonic KX-P1081 dot-matrix printer from the early 1980s will be set up and running during the event, complete with traditional fanfold paper.

We will also have a selection of disk-based retro games running on a large screen in the Huddle area from a BBC Master 128, giving attendees the opportunity to play, compare and discuss games from the era.

What Are You Bringing?

One of the most enjoyable parts of these events is discovering what fellow enthusiasts have been tinkering with.

When registering, please let us know what you are considering bringing. Demonstrations, works in progress, unusual hardware, software projects, repairs, upgrades and retro-inspired creations are all welcome.

Finished projects are great—but unfinished ones often lead to even better conversations.

Important Registration Note

Payment for participation in this event is made individually at the Falkirk Business Hub reception on the day.

Please register on this website to let us know that you are planning to attend, then pay at reception when you arrive.

The normal price is £10 plus VAT for each four-hour block of desk rental in the co-working space, but attendees receive a 10% discount—please ask for this at reception.

You may attend for the full day, from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, or book a four-hour block. Most attendees choose the full day, particularly as we normally take a break for lunch at the on-site café.

What to Expect

  • Hardware Show and Tell
    Bring along your classic computers and peripherals to display, discuss, compare and demonstrate.
  • Project Demonstrations
    See what other members have been creating, restoring, modifying, programming or experimenting with.
  • Projects in Progress
    Software experiments, hardware modifications, networking projects, FPGA work, music systems, restorations and repairs are all welcome.
  • Retro Gaming
    Try a selection of classic disk-based games on the large screen in the Huddle area.
  • Dot-Matrix Printing
    See and hear an original Panasonic KX-P1081 printer running with fanfold paper.
  • Collaborative Tinkering
    Work alongside fellow enthusiasts to troubleshoot problems, exchange ideas and test new concepts.
  • Shared Knowledge and Experience
    Swap tips, discoveries and hard-earned lessons with people who genuinely enjoy this era of computing.
  • Repair and Upgrade Advice
    Informal help and guidance with diagnosing faults, sourcing parts and expanding classic systems.
  • Refreshments Included
    Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the day, with lunch available from the on-site Finnegans Café.

Everyone Welcome

This is an open, platform-agnostic event. While Acorn systems are very much at home here, we warmly welcome enthusiasts of Sinclair, Atari, Commodore, Amstrad, Apple, MSX, Dragon, Tatung Einstein and other classic computers and consoles.

You do not necessarily need to bring any equipment to attend. If you enjoy retro technology and meeting the people who keep it alive, you will fit right in.

Venue

Falkirk Business Hub
45 Vicar Street
Falkirk
FK1 1LL

The venue is approximately a two-minute walk from Falkirk Grahamston railway station and is easily reached from the M9. Full lift access and accessible facilities are available.

After the event, Falkirk has plenty of nearby bars and restaurants for anyone wishing to continue the conversation into the evening.

Parking Options

  • Weir Street Car Park – Adjacent to the venue and particularly convenient for unloading equipment.
  • Melville Street Car Park – Another nearby option within easy walking distance.
  • Garrison Place Car Park – Usually the best-value option for all-day parking.

Come along for a full day of classic computers, practical tinkering, retro games, project sharing and good conversation—and reconnect with Scotland’s growing retro computing community.

Exterior of Falkirk Business Hub

Master Maintenance Mini-Meetup : Wed July 29th 2026

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Master Maintenance Mini Meet-Up

Date: Wednesday, 29th July 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

A relaxed morning of retro computing

Following the success of our recent I.T. Crowd (Scotland) day event, we’re trying something a little different.

Rather than a full-day gathering, this is an informal half-day workbench session where a small group of enthusiasts can get together to work on retro computing projects, exchange ideas, solve problems, and simply enjoy spending time with fellow hobbyists.

My own project for the morning will be giving a BBC Master some well-deserved TLC—cleaning the case and keyboard and generally freshening it up—hence the title of the event!

Bring a Project

Although the session is inspired by BBC Master maintenance, all retro computing projects are welcome.

Whether you’re:

  • Restoring a favourite machine
  • Cleaning or repairing hardware
  • Installing upgrades
  • Experimenting with software
  • Troubleshooting an elusive fault
  • Or simply want to show your latest retro project

…you’ll be very welcome.

Sometimes the best conversations happen when everyone is gathered around a workbench.

A More Informal Format

The emphasis is on collaborative tinkering, sharing knowledge, helping one another, and enjoying a relaxed morning of retro computing.

Around lunchtime we’ll head to Finnegans Café, located within the Falkirk Business Hub, for lunch and a catch-up before finishing around 1:30 pm.

Registration

We’ll be using the Hub’s free meeting table, which comfortably accommodates around three people.

So the first two registrations will be free.

If additional members would like to attend, extra workspaces are available from the Falkirk Business Hub for £10 (+VAT) per four-hour desk rental, allowing the session to expand if required.

Please register here on this website to let us know you’re planning to attend.

Everyone Welcome

As always, this is a platform-agnostic gathering.

Whether your interests are Acorn, Sinclair, Commodore, Atari, Amstrad, Apple, MSX, Dragon, Tatung Einstein—or almost any other classic computer—you’ll be among friends.

Venue

Falkirk Business Hub
45 Vicar Street
Falkirk
FK1 1LL

The venue is just a short walk from Grahamston railway station and has excellent road links from the M9. Parking is available nearby, and the Hub offers lift access, accessible facilities, and an excellent on-site café.

We hope this will become an occasional extra event between our regular I.T. Crowd (Scotland) day meetings—a chance to keep projects moving, learn from one another, and enjoy Scotland’s growing retro computing community.

Falkirk Business Hub exterior

The IT Crowd (Scotland) Day Event : Saturday 4th July

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Retro Computing Day Event – Register Now!

Date: Saturday, July 4th, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Bring Your Hardware. Bring Your Projects.

The I.T. Crowd (Scotland) returns to the Falkirk Business Hub on Saturday 4th July for another full day of retro computing, hardware demonstrations, project sharing, repairs, upgrades, and friendly discussion.

Unlike some previous gatherings, there is no formal theme this time. Instead, we’d like to showcase what members of the community have been working on. If you’ve been restoring a machine, developing software, building hardware, experimenting with networking, or simply have an interesting system you’d like to demonstrate, we’d love to see it.

What Are You Bringing?

One of the most enjoyable aspects of these events is seeing what fellow enthusiasts have been tinkering with.

When registering, please consider letting us know what you plan to bring. Demonstrations, works-in-progress, unusual hardware, software projects, repairs, upgrades, and retro-inspired creations are all welcome.

Finished projects are great — unfinished ones often lead to even better conversations.

Important Registration Note

Payment for your participation in this event is done individually at the Falkirk Business Hub reception on the event day.

Please register here on this website to let us know you’re planning to attend, then pay on the day at reception.

The normal price is £10 (+VAT) per 4 hours of desk rental in the co-working space, but attendees receive a 10% discount (ask at the reception desk).

You may pay for the full day (09:00–17:00) or for a four-hour block. Most attendees choose the full day, particularly if we break for lunch at the on-site café.

What to Expect

  • Hardware Show & Tell
    Bring along your classic machines and peripherals to display, discuss, compare, and demonstrate.
  • Project Demonstrations
    See what other members have been creating, restoring, modifying, programming, or experimenting with.
  • Projects in Progress
    Software experiments, hardware modifications, networking projects, FPGA work, music tools, restorations, and repairs — all are welcome.
  • Collaborative Tinkering
    Work alongside fellow enthusiasts to troubleshoot problems, exchange ideas, and test new concepts.
  • Shared Knowledge & Experience
    Swap tips, discoveries, and hard-earned lessons with people who genuinely enjoy this era of computing.
  • Repair & Upgrade Advice
    Informal help and guidance diagnosing faults, sourcing parts, and improving performance.
  • Refreshments Included
    Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available throughout the day, with lunch options at the on-site Finnegans Café.

Everyone Welcome

This is an open, platform-agnostic event. While Acorn systems are very much at home here, we warmly welcome enthusiasts of Sinclair, Atari, Commodore, Amstrad, Apple, MSX, Dragon, Tatung Einstein, and other classic machines.

If you enjoy retro technology and the people who keep it alive, you’ll fit right in.

Venue

Falkirk Business Hub
45 Vicar Street, Falkirk, FK1 1LL

The venue is just a two-minute walk from Grahamston Train Station and easily accessed from the M9. Full lift access and disabled facilities are available.

After the event, Falkirk offers plenty of nearby bars and restaurants for those who wish to continue the conversation into the evening.

Parking Options

  • Weir Street Car Park – Adjacent to the venue; ideal for unloading equipment.
  • Melville Street Car Park – Very close to the venue.
  • Garrison Place Car Park – Best value for all-day parking.

Come along for a full day of retro computing, practical tinkering, project sharing, good conversation, and the chance to reconnect with Scotland’s growing retro computing community.

Falkirk Business Hub exterior

The I.T. Crowd (Scotland) : Acorn User Computer Group Feb 2024

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This is a gathering for lovers of retro microcomputers, especially those fond of the BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Atom, and Archimedes/RISC OS machines. This event is aimed at bringing together a community of like-minded individuals in a comfortable and modern setting – the Falkirk Business Hub, in central Falkirk, Scotland.

To emphasise this event is open to all with an interest in Acorn computers!

Thursday 29th February 2024 7:00PM running until 10:00PM

🕹 Event Features:

This is an informal gathering for…

  • – Show and Tell: Bring your own hardware to display and discuss with others.
  • – Collaborative Working: Spend time on hardware, programming, or gaming projects.
  • – Knowledge Exchange: Share ideas, insights, and skills with other enthusiasts.
  • – Advice on Repair and Upgrade: Reviving poorly Acorn machines.
  • – Socialize and Enjoy : There’s a kitchen for coffee, tea and biscuits. We’re in the town centre for bars, pubs and restaurants for potential afterwards gatherings.

🔎 February 2024 Special Focus : Restoration Workshop

Bring in a machine that you’re still repairing or can’t get to work and talk to the group to get advice about next steps for it’s restoration and some hands-on learning. You may be able to  get the computer tested, get advice on cleaning or replacing components and best sources for obtaining those components.

💻 All Are Welcome:
While the event is Acorn-centric, we could welcome enthusiasts of other retro machines as well.

📅 Date & Time:
Thursday 29th February 2024 7:00PM running until 10:00PM

📍 Location: Falkirk Business Hub

45 Vicar St, Falkirk FK1 1LL
Nearest car park (opposite building) : weir street

Access : use the side door on Vicar Street. This also has disabled access.

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https://falkirkbusinesshub.co.uk/ – a contemporary venue centrally located, just a 2-minute walk from Grahamston Train Station and with seamless access to the M9 motorway between Stirling and Edinburgh. Numerous bars and restaurants are nearby for post-event socializing.
There is a car park next to the building which is free in the evenings.
Building includes disabled access and lifts.

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