Bad move for Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival

THE ORGANISERS of the Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival moved its location this year but that proved a bad move.

Both visitors and traders were ‘disappointed’ about the move from the side of the Trent & Mersey Canal in the town to Lodge Farm some distance away, Janet Friend reports.

One and a half miles away

It was previously held on Market Field and the Trent & Mersey Canal, but this year it was held at a farm one and a half miles away.

Tickets for the event, which ran Friday to Sunday, June 13th to 15th went up to £20 for a day, though Sunday was free, but there was the addition of a shuttle bus to get to the farm costing £3 per person.

If by car, parking was £3.50, but so many complaints that the car parking charge was scrapped.

The picture shows a former event then at Market Field, with boat traders able to attend.

Confused the issue

Confusing the issue, Market Field in the town centre kept some attractions, including traders that was organised by JDL Markets, but after a disappointing footfall, it pulled-out.

Showtime Inn, the UK’s largest mobile bar, was also on Market Field, but closed early on Friday night with not a single customer by  8.15pm.

Over at the main farm site, food vendors and traders were also disappointed, with several closing early. One trader selling game meat burgers, sold just one to a fellow trader before deciding to call it a day at 8pm.

The food traders told that there was too much food but hardly any customers.

Told 25,000 but only 500

They had been informed that 25,000 people would be at the the event, but it was about 500. And there were only enough toilets for the 500.

Traders were extremely disappointed with many packing up early owing to lack of custom.

The organisers did not agree with complaints.