A POKEMON enthusiast in Cornwall has been blown away by the interest shown in a trading card event he organised. 

Niels Bonnet came up with the idea of holding the Par Card Show to bring collectors, families and traders from across Cornwall and Devon together. 

The event, dedicated to trading cards and collectibles, took place on Sunday (November 1) and more than 500 people went along. 

Niels, who lives in St Austell, said: “The response has been absolutely incredible. To see so many people coming together, sharing their collections and enjoying something they’re passionate about has been fantastic. We couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout and we’re already excited about what we can do next year.”

The 38-year-old and first started collecting Pokemon cards with his sister when the original base set was released in 1999. After stepping away from the hobby for a few years, he got back into collecting around eight years ago and has been passionate about it ever since.

Pokemon enthusiasts at the Par Card Show held at the Britannia Inn.
Pokemon enthusiasts at the Par Card Show held at the Britannia Inn. (Picture: Submitted)

Niels came up with the idea for the card show in May after realising there wasn’t anything similar happening in St Austell. Alongside his love of Pokemon, Niels works full-time as a hospitality manager. For him, the best part of the hobby is the community around it. He particularly loves how inclusive the Pokemon card game is, bringing people together regardless of age, sex or disability.

Niels said he wanted to create an event that brought the card community together and gave people the opportunity to buy, sell, trade and share their passion. 

He said an important part of the event at the Britannia Inn was making it accessible to as many people as possible. With this in mind, a dedicated sensory hour was held between 9am and 10am, providing a quieter and calmer environment for visitors who might find busy crowds overwhelming.”