Horsham area’s Floral Fringe Fair cancelled because of the covid pandemic

Organisers of a quirky annual fair near Horsham have cancelled this year’s event because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

For many years the Floral Fringe Fair - which included stalls of crafts, wildlife, local food producers, specialist nurseries, and more - was held at Knepp Castle in West Grinstead.

Last year it was due to be held at Leonardslee Gardens in Lower Beeding but was halted by the Covid crisis - and now it has been hit again.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Organisers Jean and Steve Jackman have announced ‘with a heavy heart’ that they have decided not to go ahead with The Floral Fringe Fair again this year.

In happier times, the Floral Fringe Fair at Knepp in 2018In happier times, the Floral Fringe Fair at Knepp in 2018
In happier times, the Floral Fringe Fair at Knepp in 2018

The couple say that they lost money last year after having to cancel the fair and that they are not confident that things will improve fast enough to allow this year’s event to go ahead.

In a message on the fair’s Facebook page, the couple say: “In the face of all the uncertainty and the fear of losing money, as we did last year having spent 5k on advertising only to find that the government banned events from taking place, we just couldn’t sustain another such loss.

“Plus we are realising that to make an event Covid secure is expensive with extra stewards, spaced out stalls in the marquee, special attendants for sanatising toilets and a one way system throughout.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Then there’s the fear that even if there is no lockdown in June it is possible the government may limit the number of visitors thus making it financially unviable.

“It just doesn’t feel right to go ahead. All the joy has gone out of organising a fair in these awful times.

“We are so sorry and will be contacting all our wonderfully supportive stallholders, who left their money on the table, to return their money.

We should be starting advertising and spending money in January and we are just not confident that things are going to improve fast enough.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We will be running a virtual Floral Fringe Fair over the weekend of June 5th and 6th 2021 and will send details to all our stallholders when we contact them over the next few weeks.”

The couple say they hope that the fair will return in 2022.

Related topics: