The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Norfolk Newby on July 16, 2011, 03:03:42 pm

Title: County Shows
Post by: Norfolk Newby on July 16, 2011, 03:03:42 pm
I normally go to the local county show but this year didn't.

Norfolk show was asking £21 per person recently or £46 for a family ticket (two adults and up to three kids).

£42 for me and the wife plus the usual overheads like ice cream, something for lunch with a cup of tea,  etc. usually add £20 to £30 on top.

That seems like a LOT of money for walking round some show stand plus watching cattle etc. being judged.

What do you think? Have you got plans to go to your local show and how much do you expect to pay?
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Rosemary on July 16, 2011, 03:28:20 pm
Kirriemuir today - £7 per adult, £4 for a programme.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: princesspiggy on July 16, 2011, 03:39:33 pm
we took chickens and rabbits to turrif last year so got in free both days and free carpark, just entry fees. saved a fortune compared to normal entry fees but then we have never gone to a show as spectators only.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: tizaala on July 16, 2011, 05:04:30 pm
It is often cheaper to enter an animal but then don't take it. the organisers send you a couple of tickets and better car parking. chuck the kids in the stocktrailer, free entry for them.
It's a bit tongue in cheek  ( for those without a sense of humour) and for those north of the border, by enter an animal I meant in the show.....
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: chickenfeed on July 16, 2011, 05:39:19 pm
norfolk was also charging £6 per car parking. it is expensive but its also one of the better shows lots to see and do.

we had a conversation the other day about entry fees being high but if you break down the costs of running the show its more understandable, they have to pay for public liability, refuse collection, security, emergency services the list goes on and on.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: robert waddell on July 16, 2011, 06:46:03 pm
tizaala       you have the wrong impression      on us over the border
better to enter animals     win with them    recover the entry fee and more       then everybody can see the quality of your stock and the value increases             o i see you meant the childers were animals            that cracks me up :wave:
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Darren on July 16, 2011, 07:03:22 pm
Festival of Hunting this week at Peterborough £8 per head see you there
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: lill on July 16, 2011, 07:51:07 pm
Hi tizaala,
It is through numpties like you that did the same scheming at the Highland Show, they did catch on to this deceit and have increased the parking and the pen rental so as there is no loss to the show economy.
It is now ex soberant prices to enter animals at the highland show and only true professional breeders will attend. I am surprised how you think that this is acceptable when it prevents new entrants to the show circuit from entering as the pens have been allocated to the likes of yourself
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Rosemary on July 16, 2011, 09:38:11 pm
Hi tizaala,
It is through numpties like you that did the same scheming at the Highland Show, they did catch on to this deceit and have increased the parking and the pen rental so as there is no loss to the show economy.
It is now ex soberant prices to enter animals at the highland show and only true professional breeders will attend. I am surprised how you think that this is acceptable when it prevents new entrants to the show circuit from entering as the pens have been allocated to the likes of yourself

I think tizaala was being a bit tongue in cheek  :) Pax, Lillian.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Sylvia on July 17, 2011, 08:33:29 am
I think a County show is the best(and longest) day out ever and worth the entrance money. You could pay as much and more for a night out, cinema, fish and chips and the pub or taking the children to a theme park. I always take a large flask of coffee and plenty of picnic as food does cost a lot at shows.
To have a good look at all the animals entered plus poultry tent, events etc. takes a whole entertaining day. Plus you always meet folk you haven't seen for ages :)
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Rosemary on July 17, 2011, 09:43:31 am
Good point, Sylvia. It cost the two of us about £30 to go to the cinema recently - without the expensive food and drink sold there. And my ticket for Take That was £90  ;D - although I'm not complaining.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Hatty on July 17, 2011, 09:43:59 am
Sykehouse Show near Doncaster good value but then we like a bargain in Yorkshire lol

http://www.sykehouseshow.org.uk/ (http://www.sykehouseshow.org.uk/)

With Admission charges of only £5 Adults, £3 Children and £5 for cars parked on the Showfield – there is a free car parking field adjacent, we think we are the best value day out in Yorkshire – come along and see if we are right.

And best of all I can walk there don't need the car I know its not a County Show but who cares  ;D
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: feldar on July 17, 2011, 11:55:57 am
I agree it is a lot of money for entries to shows but as a breeder it costs me £130 to enter our stock to the New Forest Show, but we do take a lot of animals and the public love to see them. They pay £ 21 to get in at the gate, reduced rate if you buy tickets on line before the show. I guess it,s all about what you get out of your day there. What would be worse, is if they payed all that money to see the stock and there was none there to see!
This is why we take a large age range of sheep to keep the classes open.
We also steward at the show and i know the cost of putting one of these shows on! the public liability insurance alone would make your toes curl and don't forget the police,first aid cover,  car park attendants and security all have to be payed for.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Crofter on July 17, 2011, 01:36:08 pm
Point Agricultural Show on the Isle of Lewis £3-50 a head, free parking. Now that's a bargain!
And the burgers were only £1-80, and you get tea and a whole plate of homemade cakes for £2-50.

 ;D ;D ;D

Dave
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: robert waddell on July 17, 2011, 01:56:26 pm
do they have pig classes          just wondering         i heard there is a pedigree saddelback boar comming to lewis (an english breed one) :farmer:
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Norfolk Newby on July 18, 2011, 09:16:55 am
I can see there are different points of view on this topic!

I think I would be more interested in the Norfolk show if it included more that was relevant to me.

There are lots of things for the general public like cars, clothes, food and displays (army motorcyclists etc.).

There are lots of things for the big farmer, great big tractors and kit to use with them. But there is very little for the smallholder like little tractors, hand tools, stuff for small herds of animals.

What I (we?) need is a good smallholder show, or perhaps several regional ones. Are there any such shows at present?
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: tizaala on July 18, 2011, 09:45:01 am
There is a very good smallholder show in the spring at Builth Wells showground every year, totaly dedicated to smallholders, equipment, animals etc it's got the lot.
Title: Re: County Shows
Post by: Fowgill Farm on July 18, 2011, 10:13:07 am
Most of the big county shows offer a discount if you order tickets on-line before the event. As you will have seen we do quite a few one day local shows (see introduce section hello in Yorkshire) on average it costs us between £4 - £10 to enter our pigs and we get two exhibitors tickets free but on top of this there is the diesel cost >:(. But shows are a great day out and as somebody already mentioned we take flasks, pop & a picnic so costs are generally limited to an ice-cream. Unless i see someting i fancy on a stall (usually coats! ;D).
On the other hand we recently attended Newark & Notts show and for the 2 days i reckoned it cost for me and my niece  approx £240 in diesel, pen fees, staying over & eating etc and we didn't win any prize money so showing at the big shows is not a cheap venture for exhibitors either.
Mandy  :pig:
Ps Hatty we have family on my dad's side who farm near SykeHouse small world