2024 Fair Updates

Cuckoo Fair Cancelled for 2024

It is with great sadness and disappointment that the Cuckoo Fair Board of Directors announces that the Downton Cuckoo Fair 2024 will not be held.

 

FAQs

General Stall Holder Queries

There is NO wi-fi provided at the Fair.  If you are bringing card readers then you’ll need to use your mobile phone to connect to a data network.

As a reminder although the Cuckoo Fair is large it is an un-ticketed event and hence is FREE for visitors at the point of entry.  As such we cannot afford to provide wifi for all stalls across the Fair.  If we could it be a chargeable extra.

 

Stall Holder Refunds

We understand that it is not easy to secure a stall at the Cuckoo Fair, which is why we would like to offer all stallholders who had carried over their booking fee from 2020 the chance to roll their booking over again to secure  a stall in 2022.

As stated in our Terms and Conditions, we wouldn’t normally offer a refund if the Fair is cancelled, but given such likely difficult times ahead we would like to offer a refund to those who would prefer it, minus a £10 admin fee which will contribute to covering the costs we have incurred already this year.

To request a refund please follow the instructions in the email you have received.

This option will remain available until the end of April 2021

Having cancelled the 2020 fair we unfortunately also had to cancel the 2021 fair.  In terms of our funding situation the 2020 financial year incurred costs of £7,400 and the 2021 financial year will incur (fixed) costs of around £3,000.  Taken together these have a large impact on the reserves we hold – reserves we need to pay our suppliers in the event of a last minute or emergency cancellation (eg Southampton Boat Show).

The £10 admin fee for each stall holder booking refund is noted in our terms and conditions and will help to cover some of the annual costs like insurance, rental and legal fees, that we have to pay regardless of whether the fair happens.

Our current understanding of government guidance is that unlike other businesses we have no employees (we are entirely volunteer supported), pay no rates, trade only once a year and so don’t qualify for any of the existing support schemes under COVID-19.  Like other business who provide outdoor events we are working with trade organisations, eg the Events Industry Forum, to redress that but at the moment it appears we don’t qualify for any grants.

This admin fee money will therefore go towards ensuring that the Fair can happen in 2022 and we thank you for your understanding.

We aim to process refunds within a week of receiving them.  Typically refunds are delayed if your bank details are incorrect so please check them especially the name of the account.  These checks are being introduced by UK banks to help reduce online payment frauds.  There is a phased introduction throughout 2020 – for details see this article from the UK Finance and this article from Which?

The payments have a reference DCF xxx RFND with xxx being your stall holder reference (not location of the your pitch) as printed on the letter from us.

Policies, Ts & Cs & Documents

Please see our new page

Produce Market & Stall Details

The events industry has experienced a surge in costs since events re-started after COVID.  Although we recently reviewed our prices for the 2023 the fair only just broke even.  We set our prices in the autumn before the Fair is held which means that when our costs are known it’s been over six months since the prices were set.  We have looked at what comparable fairs charged in 2023 and also how our costs have changed since 2022.  Based on our research we’ve revised our fees.

Type Size Fees Notes – see Site Layout for Locations
Traditional Outside 2.5m by 2.5m £85 Located in green, blue and purple zones and will fit a gazebo up to 2.5m
Maxi Outside 3m by 3m £110 Located in orange, green, yellow and purple zones and will fit a gazebo up to 3m
Marquee 3m wide x 2.5m deep £180 Located in Red and Purple Zones
Produce Market 3m by 3m £105 Only available in Produce Market
Memorial Gardens 3m by 3m POA Other sizes by prior agreement
Commercial operators including Catering As agreed POA Limited spaces available
Additional Items
Trestle tables – 2024 Fair only for the pitches in the marquees £10 each Please specify numbers on booking form.
Stall holders are responsible for collection and especially stacking the tables by the roadside at the end of the fair

The Zones run (from The Bull Hotel (A338) end as follows: Orange | Green | Blue | Yellow | Red | White (& Produce) | Purple.  Only Red and Purple zones have marquees.  Blue zone is narrow hence no 3m x 3m gazebos are permitted.

Booking

Last years stallholders receive priority booking.   As a guide our schedule, reflecting that our booking year runs from October through to March before the Fair,  is:

Finish all payments and receipts for this year’s fair END JULY
Have accounts produced END SEPT
Agree rates for pitches for next fair OCT
Send out invitations to previous stallholders Early NOV
Process the existing stall holders bookings Mid NOV through to END DEC
Send out invites to new stall holders JAN onwards

Commercial caterers are severely restricted as we prioritise fundraisers for local good causes.

EXISTING Stall holder Queries

If you’ve been sent an invitation or a confirmation letter and you have a question then please see our form to contact the Booking Managers directly.  This will be quicker than using Social Media eg Facebook / Twitter comments as it goes direct to the Booking Manager(s).  We are all volunteers so we don’t monitor our social media regularly!

NEW Stall holder Expressions of Interest

New applicants are welcome, however, we already have a waiting list.  Rural craft demonstrators are particularly welcome.  Those applicants who compliment the large selection of existing stalls will be contacted in the new year.  NB We do not accept telephone applications.

If you would like to be considered to be invited to have a pitch at the Fair, please  complete this form with the information.

    Or contact our Booking Manager, Alan Knighton, via bookings@cuckoofair.co.uk