Alresford Show cancelled for second year

The show, due to have been held on September 4 at Tichborne Park, has said it cannot run the financial risk of running the event with the likely restricted numbers.

In a statement released this evening, the organisers said: "Very sadly the difficult decision has been taken to cancel this year’s Alresford Agricultural Show.

"The Alresford and District Agricultural Society is a registered charity and manned almost exclusively by volunteers; and it costs on average £220,000 to hold our annual show.

"Over the last few months we have endeavoured to put together a stripped back show which would meet anticipated local authority Covid guidelines in September.

"However, it is not possible to secure Covid event insurance and whilst the Government remains positive about opening up the UK there is still significant uncertainty surrounding what our possible show parameters might be. On average we attract a gate of circa 15,000 and these gate numbers are needed to meet the high production cost and any gate cap, for example, around 5,000 – 7,500 destabilises the financial model and introduces significant risk.

"In putting together a stripped back show the necessary health and safety costs remain while the increased costs of ensuring Covid compliance is an added burden. Unfortunately, when this is set against the backdrop of almost every other local agricultural show cancellation there are also increased concerns with trade stands viability. Therefore the decision has been made to take a longer term view in order to protect our secure financial position so that when things do open up again we will be in a position to return.

"The Trustees and I are extremely grateful for the continued positive local support and we hope to return next year as normal."

It is the first time in peacetime that the event has been cancelled two years running.

The uncertainty is the same issue that caused the organisers of Boomtown to cancel their event due in August.