Several traders at Jeremy Clarkson's Farm-Fest have chosen to pack up and depart before the conclusion of the three-day event, stating they were unable to generate any profit and suffered significant financial losses.
Event Overview
The festival is being held over the bank holiday weekend, spanning 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire. Adult tickets are priced at £35 for a half-day or £60 for full-day entry. The event showcases the expertise and produce of Britain's farmers, blending 'the traditional joy of a large country fair with the excitement and energy of a modern music festival', according to the organisers.
Reports indicate that the festival attracted 20,000 visitors on Saturday alone, with 55,000 attendees anticipated throughout the entire weekend. There are 12 arenas distributed across the site, featuring talks and displays with Clarkson and Kaleb Cooper, live music from Alex James of Blur, 10cc, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and a DJ set by Groove Armada.
Trader Disappointment
It is estimated that more than 400 stalls were confirmed for the bank holiday event, yet numerous stallholders have expressed their disappointment at being compelled to leave early. Business owners have shared emotional videos on social media, with one trader labelling the event 'a shambles'.
Korrine Pallas, owner of pet product company Phoenix Equestrian and Pet Supplies, was among those who left the festival ahead of schedule. She described Friday as 'the worst day's trading we have ever had'. In a video posted to the company's TikTok account, she said: 'It has been darn right awful at Farm-Fest. When I say it's not worth getting out of bed for, it's an understatement. It has been horrific, and I know everyone else is feeling the same and is in the same boat as us.'
Korrine updated her followers the following day in an emotional message in which she announced she was leaving a day early — something the company had never previously done at a trade show. Struggling to hold back tears, she said: 'It has been catastrophic for us, and when you are already a small family business in hard times it is heart-wrenching.' She disclosed they were a 'few grand down' and that attending on Sunday would set her back £400, adding 'and I haven't even come near that in the last couple of days'.
Emma, co-founder of pet brand Pops and Coco, labelled the event a shambles in a TikTok video. She said: 'There have been a lot of traders who have gone home – lots of traders left last night, particularly dog traders. I would say 90 per cent of traders across the whole showground, whatever they are selling, have either made a loss and they haven't made their costs back or they are only just making some money now.'
Organiser Response
A spokesperson for Jeremy Clarkson's Great British Farm-Fest stated: 'We have been working closely with traders at The Great British Farm-Fest to provide support during our inaugural weekend. We are surprised that a handful of exhibitors, out of the 400 who attended, left the show within a few hours of the first day without experiencing an event that has attracted over 50,000 visitors.'
