• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Appleby Horse Fair: 2,500-person beer tent aims to take pressure off

by CWH
31 May 2023
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A large beer tent which will be in operation at this year’s Appleby Horse Fair — with capacity for 2,500 revellers — has prompted fears that a “mini-festival” will be created at the site.

As only two pubs are expected to be opening their doors in Appleby while the horse fair is on, the hope is that having a licensed premises for the sale of alcohol in one of the fields at Salt Tip Corner will “take pressure off the town” and move it nearer Fair Hill.

Wannasee Limited, which organises a popular tribute acts festival which takes place in August at Hutton-in-the-Forest, near Penrith, will be running the bar and have public liability insurance for the field, a meeting in Appleby public hall, chaired by councillor Andy Connell, was told on Wednesday evening.

Steve Wilde, licensing officer for Westmorland and Furness Council, said the Midland Hotel and the Grapes were the only two pubs which would be open during the fair which starts on Thursday, June 8.

However, questions were asked about the decision to issue an indefinite premises licence for up to 5,000 people which would enable Wannasee Limited to hold one event per year in that field in perpetuity.

A concern was also raised about the potential to increase the size of the event and cause greater “potential for disorder and the sort of criminal behaviour which is associated with the sale of alcohol”.

Of the proposed beer tent, Mr Wilde said: “It is a bar with some recorded music playing. There is no intention for anything other than bar and recorded music.

“At the end of the day we can’t force the licensed premises to open in the town. It is entirely their choice.

“I think that some of them, certainly one of the premises in particular which was subject to damage, decided that they no longer wanted to open during the fair, but we always try and support the licensed premises where we can.”

Following a suggestion that it would be better for the local economy if Appleby landlords could be supported to run a beer tent during the fair, Mr Connell said historically, that is exactly what happened ­— local licensees put in bids to have beer tents during the fair.

Mr Wilde said he could put it to the licensed premises at the next PubWatch meeting to see what their opinion was.

He added: “One of the things last year which became quite apparent from the public feedback was that a lot of Appleby residents wanted to see the fair moving back towards Fair Hill.

“What we actually looked at was having a licensed premises at Fair Hill itself and we are hoping that will keep a number of people entertained on Fair Hill.

“It was voiced that some people felt the town was no longer big enough for the amount of people attending the fair.”

Gypsy and Traveller representative Bill Lloyd said: “When we first heard about this. Our very first concern was that having an event or mini-festival of any other kind was going exactly the opposite way to where we wanted to go. We were very clear about that.

“But as I understand it, this bar is not an event.We would object very, very strongly to an event. It is nothing to do with us. It was not our idea.”

Shera Rom Billy Welch, who is known as head gypsy, said: “When any of you go anywhere on your holidays, you are entitled to go and have a drink. Just because we are gypsies it doesn’t mean that we are not allowed to have a drink as well.

“For Gypsies and travelling people, as you know, Appleby fair is an extremely important event, but it is difficult for us as most of the pubs have gone.

“It is only going to be a bar and it is just somewhere for them to go and it is taking pressure of the town. So we actually think it is a good idea.”

Chief superintendent Matt Kinnerley said as well as there being a visible police presence, Wannasee would also have their own security staff who will be working at that the entrance point.

In response to a question from the floor asking if the bar was a success for Wannasee, whether that would encourage them to make it bigger next year and the year after, Mr Wilde said: “Wannasee know that they are going to be at capacity with 2,500 people. In that field they can’t get any bigger.”

Alex Hutchinson, operations director for Wannasee Limited, said: “The event and bar areas have been designed in close consultation with the appropriate authorities with a clear view to being licensable activities into a properly managed, controlled environment.

“With this in mind, we anticipate a substantial improvement and benefit in relation to the consumption of alcohol which is not a new activity to Appleby fair. This isn’t an introduction to the sale of alcohol to the event, simply an improvement in the service, location and control of the same, and any associated concerns.

“The event has been designed to satisfy existing demand for the sale of alcohol and the provision of entertainment, rather than attempting to generate demand itself, which is why there is no marketing or promotion linked to the event. The event is strictly limited to a controlled number of attendees and thwere are no plans for this number to increase this year, or in any future year.”

Related Posts

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth
Latest

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

30 May 2025
Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith
News

Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

30 May 2025
Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned
Food and Drink

Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

30 May 2025
Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism
Latest

Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

30 May 2025
Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters
Latest

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

29 May 2025
£15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith
Latest

£15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

26 May 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

29 May 2025
Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

30 May 2025
Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

30 May 2025
Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

30 May 2025
Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

30 May 2025
Sheep showing season begins

Sheep showing season begins

30 May 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald