Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Tonbridge Garden show revisited....
Well I went to the Garden Show this morning. Saw lots of plants, shrubs, garden seats and tables, some animals in very small pens with collection boxes hung on the fence collecting for an animal sanctuary, lots of cheese, a delicatessen and other foody stalls including the African Spot selling biltong, at least one artist selling his paintings and doing a painting while he was at it. Then there were people selling, garden whirlpools, outdoor clothing, wind chimes, I even saw, rather bizarely, some didgeridoos for sale. Would I have have paid the £4 entrance fee had I not had a complimentary ticket? Probably not, although clearly lots of people didn't seem to mind. I do wonder if it might be more sensible for the organisers to go for a nominal sum of say a pound and charging the exhibitors very slightly more, which they won't mind because the visitor numbers will inevitably increase which benefits them. Now it's off to the Craft Show at Penshurst! Not really, but, if anyone has been or is going they could report back by commenting below....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Thats all very well suggesting the exhibitors are charged more. Has it occurred to you that in the current climate exhibitors are struggling to cover the costs as they are?
If exhibitors are charged more they simply won't come and then there will be no show at all.
It's all rather complicated really.
The success of the Penshurst Craft Fair is that it is held in such a beautiful venue and can be a super day out. It is viewed as a day out and an upmarket event. They even had the Farmers Market in the shadow of Penshurst Place on Saturday to co-incide with the Craft Fair. A big plus is that car parking is free and onsite so there is no carrying of purchases for miles to some horrid supermarket carpark, and one can have a picnic there on the grass. It's just convenient.
The Tonbridge Show just seems like an ugly pen in the park.
Maybe another venue in Tonbridge would be more fitting.
But where?????????????
Assuming that the show organisers are paying TMBC a fee then maybe another venue like Tonbridge School would come forward, but maybe TMBC do this just to help Tonbridge's traders.
Do TMBC really care about local traders???
This has nothing to do with the Shows around the area, BUT this morning to drove over to T Wells on the A21 from Tonbridge. The traffic was at gridlock because of some motorbike meet or rally or something. Lines and lines of motorbikes were weaving in and out of the cars, who were driving as close to the edge as possible to allow the bikers by. Along the way were flag wavers and well wishers. All very nice you might think BUT it really was a nuisance and I had to keep my eyes peeled so that I didn't knck into one of them. It really is a cheek. We are told to give bikers the same space as a car but they don't reciprocate this. As we came off the KnightsPark roundabout it was a chance for drivers to make up a little time but 'lo and behold' the first layby where the burger van sits was crammed solid of bikers and well wishers and bikes were stopping on the inside lane, and drivers were forced to swerve or stop to avoid hitting them. What really got up my nose and made me furious was that we had passed a police camera van not far back on the opposite side of the road. Why is it that the police were far more interested in catching speeding motorists than controlling the motorbikes and avoiding accidents. I AM FURIOUS. Both with the bikers some of whom behaved in a dangerous and selfish manner and the police for not being in the right job today.
Did anybody else get caught up in this fiasco???????
I went to the Tonbridge Garden show today and I agree it wasn't brilliant, parking is a problem, although the stalls that were there were mainly very interesting. I understand the show has been taken over by new organisers at short notice. I know the other shows they do and they are without exception very well organised and very nice shows. I know they will be doing their utmost to improve things. Watch this space!
Wow, I never expected such strong views about the garden show. As it happens my Mum and sister were in Bath over the w/e and canced upon the Bath Garden Show. Aparently it wasn't much better, if any, than the Tonbridge effort. The entrance fee was £7.50! She paid for four people and was therefore down £30 before she's bought a bulb or a packet of seeds. Maybe 4 quid's not so bad after all. I haven't been to the Penshurst Craft fair for ages but yes Anon. you're right it is in a lovely setting and that's half the attraction. As for TBlog organising a May Day Festival, I think I'll stick to book fairs and literary events thanks all the same. Sounds like a good idea though for the council and an enthusiastic champion to get behind. You'd be amazed just how much is involved in putting on these kind of events, it would probably be a full time job for someone for about six months....
Tonbridge Angels Football Stadium is hosting the West Kent Garden and Leisure Show on the Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May 2011 Entrance is £3 for adults £2 OAPs and children under 16 go Free when accompanied by an adult, the stadium is located on Tonbridge Farm Sportsground, Darenth Avenue, TN10 3JF we also have a Free Car Park also there will be entertainment for children including bungee trampolines, rock climbing wall and many other attractions so we hope to see you there 9am-5pm
Post a Comment