The next UK Natural Stone Show is to be held at ExCeL, London from 11-13 March 2008, showcasing an industry now worth over GBP1.15 billion per annum.

The 8th UK Natural Stone Show being held at ExCeL, London, 11-13 March 2008 has sold out its original floorplan in record time This has led to the organisers booking additional space to accommodate demand

Show Director Richard Bradbury explains: "The natural stone market in the UK has grown enormously over the past decade as architects, designers and clients have made stone the material of choice for cladding, paving, flooring, worktops and bathrooms".

"It's not surprising, therefore, that the UK's eight Natural Stone Shows, all held in London at the industry's preferred frequency of two-yearly intervals, have also grown each time".

Official figures reveal just how dynamic the natural stone market in the UK has been in recent years with the level of imports into the UK between 2002 and 2006 increasing by 85 per cent in volume and the industry now worth over GBP1.15 billion per annum at the consumer end.

So where has all this extra stone been used? First, there has been an explosion in use of highly fashionable granite worktops in both domestic and commercial premises.

Limestone floors have also appeared in homes, shops and offices all over the country as its virtues as an attractive and hard wearing flooring material have been 'rediscovered'.

Granite, marble, limestone, sandstone and slate have been specified for interiors of not only prestigious buildings, but also as a means of adding a recognised quality dimension to more modest projects.

Moving outdoors, limestone, granite and sandstone have been used for exterior cladding on prestigious new builds in cities and towns throughout the UK because of the ability of stone to blend into the local environment.

Natural sandstone and granite have become the materials of choice for hard landscaping and the conservation market has remained buoyant, making use of some of the more unusual of British stones in particular.

To accommodate the extra demand, many new companies have entered the market, particularly in interiors.

In addition, UK masons have invested heavily in new and highly efficient machinery which in turn has both improved the scope of work which can be undertaken and also has reduced costs.