About Our Fairs
This will be the thirty-third season of craft fairs at the castle, attracting a wide and varied range of exhibitors and near capacity public attendance.
All visitors enter at the gatehouse into the large, grassy, enclosed courtyard where outdoor stalls are displayed. Indoor crafts are exhibited in several gracious, spacious rooms in the castle opening off each other with several entrances to ensure circulation and reduce congestion at the busiest times. Refreshments are available from the Express Café and Castle Cafe, both accessible internally or from the courtyard where the lawns are used for relaxing.
The fair is open to the public from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Friday & Saturday, and 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm on Sunday.
All visitors enter at the gatehouse into the large, grassy, enclosed courtyard where outdoor stalls are displayed. Indoor crafts are exhibited in several gracious, spacious rooms in the castle opening off each other with several entrances to ensure circulation and reduce congestion at the busiest times. Refreshments are available from the Express Café and Castle Cafe, both accessible internally or from the courtyard where the lawns are used for relaxing.
The fair is open to the public from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm on Friday & Saturday, and 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm on Sunday.
Dates
The next Brancepeth Castle Craft Fairs will be held on
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
24, 25, 26 July 2020
and
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
27, 28, 29 November 2020
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
24, 25, 26 July 2020
and
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
27, 28, 29 November 2020
Location
Brancepeth is about 5 miles south-west of Durham on the A690 (Sat-Nav DH7 8DF). From the South: leave A1(M) at jnct 60 or 61. From the North: leave A1(M) at jnct 62. Once in Brancepeth turn at the crossroads off the A690. Drive through the gates. The castle is on your right. There is ample parking on the grass flanking the castle.
Public Transport
The Arriva 46 (Crook) bus links Brancepeth to Durham City bus station. The Hopper links the bus and rail station.
Public Transport
The Arriva 46 (Crook) bus links Brancepeth to Durham City bus station. The Hopper links the bus and rail station.
Stall Prices
All prices provided are excluding VAT.
Standard Stalls
Start from £128.50 for a 6' stall.
Courtyard Stalls
£128.50
Budget Stalls
Limited number available on enquiry, charged by commission
A 10% discount is given on the Christmas Fair stall fee when attending both fairs.
Payment
A non-refundable £6.00 booking fee (inc vat) must be paid when booking.
The stall fee, optional table hire and wi-fi, can be paid either on booking, or on the first of July/November.
Stall fees are fully refundable if cancelled before 1 July for Summer Fair or 1 November for Christmas Fair. Stalls cancelling after this date will only have the stall fee refunded if the organisers re-sell the space. Please do not delay booking as we cannot guarantee to hold your place.
Standard Stalls
Start from £128.50 for a 6' stall.
Courtyard Stalls
£128.50
Budget Stalls
Limited number available on enquiry, charged by commission
A 10% discount is given on the Christmas Fair stall fee when attending both fairs.
Payment
A non-refundable £6.00 booking fee (inc vat) must be paid when booking.
The stall fee, optional table hire and wi-fi, can be paid either on booking, or on the first of July/November.
Stall fees are fully refundable if cancelled before 1 July for Summer Fair or 1 November for Christmas Fair. Stalls cancelling after this date will only have the stall fee refunded if the organisers re-sell the space. Please do not delay booking as we cannot guarantee to hold your place.
Stall Sizes and Conditions
Standard Stalls
Standard stalls are available from 6' to 12' frontage by one table deep with working space behind giving a standard projection of 5' (1.52m). Anyone requiring more than standard depth must request this specifically when booking and be prepared to pay at 1½ times the standard stall rate.
Budget Stalls
Only a few are available, these are small and may be in disadvantaged spaces. Please enquire specifically if you are interested in these.
Courtyard Stalls
Courtyard stalls may be any size, within reason, for the same flat rate. You must supply your own tables and weather protection: modest sized gazebos or tent awnings are permitted. Most stalls can have access to electricity and wi-fi.
Conditions
There is at least one 2' opening at the side for access to the stall which must not be filled with the stall or stock and may only be used for selling from with the agreement of the neighbouring stallholder. Booth type stalls which are accessed from the front (customers 'walk in') do not get 2' side access. All indoor stalls back on to a wall, some incorporating a window/door/fireplace etc. Stall backs and display boards may be leant against the wall but no fixings used on the wall. Some walls have picture poles that can be used for suspending items. Electricity supply to each stall is a 4-gang trailing socket, max load 250W, stalls over 10' get two: no heaters or kettles may be used. Wi-fi is available at an additional charge. No naked flames (e.g. candles) permitted. Stall holders must have public liability insurance cover (insurance for 'work away'). A valid certificate must be sent with the Booking Form or on renewal, whichever is sooner.
New exhibitors are offered one fair first to ensure both sides are happy before committing to subsequent bookings. Christmas spaces are reserved for those applying new to the Summer Fair and are offered after the Summer Fair. When an applicant is unable to do the Summer Fair but would like to do just the Christmas Fair, we ask them to apply but they may have to wait until late August/September for confirmation.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not generally allow repeat bookings for 'Christmas only'
Standard stalls are available from 6' to 12' frontage by one table deep with working space behind giving a standard projection of 5' (1.52m). Anyone requiring more than standard depth must request this specifically when booking and be prepared to pay at 1½ times the standard stall rate.
Budget Stalls
Only a few are available, these are small and may be in disadvantaged spaces. Please enquire specifically if you are interested in these.
Courtyard Stalls
Courtyard stalls may be any size, within reason, for the same flat rate. You must supply your own tables and weather protection: modest sized gazebos or tent awnings are permitted. Most stalls can have access to electricity and wi-fi.
Conditions
There is at least one 2' opening at the side for access to the stall which must not be filled with the stall or stock and may only be used for selling from with the agreement of the neighbouring stallholder. Booth type stalls which are accessed from the front (customers 'walk in') do not get 2' side access. All indoor stalls back on to a wall, some incorporating a window/door/fireplace etc. Stall backs and display boards may be leant against the wall but no fixings used on the wall. Some walls have picture poles that can be used for suspending items. Electricity supply to each stall is a 4-gang trailing socket, max load 250W, stalls over 10' get two: no heaters or kettles may be used. Wi-fi is available at an additional charge. No naked flames (e.g. candles) permitted. Stall holders must have public liability insurance cover (insurance for 'work away'). A valid certificate must be sent with the Booking Form or on renewal, whichever is sooner.
New exhibitors are offered one fair first to ensure both sides are happy before committing to subsequent bookings. Christmas spaces are reserved for those applying new to the Summer Fair and are offered after the Summer Fair. When an applicant is unable to do the Summer Fair but would like to do just the Christmas Fair, we ask them to apply but they may have to wait until late August/September for confirmation.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not generally allow repeat bookings for 'Christmas only'
How to Apply
Brancepeth Castle craft fairs aim to provide a high quality, diverse selection of stalls for visitors. To facilitate this, we look for quality and originality from potential exhibitors and aim not to have two stalls selling almost identical goods. Obviously, some overlap is inevitable and across eighty or more stalls the same craft may be represented on several, but we would expect there to be strong differences in the craftsperson's style or content. This does mean that there is more competition on popular crafts, particularly jewellery, cards and photography.
The items that you sell must be your own work, we do not allow 'bought-in' goods. You will be asked to submit photographs of your work as well as photographs of the work 'in-progress' as verification that it is your own.
Please note that we do not allow exhibitors without Public Liability Insurance.
To apply for stall at the fair, you will need to submit:
Attn. Mrs AC Hobbs (Fairs)
Brancepeth Castle,
Durham,
DH7 8DF
If you are accepted to exhibit, you will be asked to complete an online booking form regarding the table type you require and other information.
The items that you sell must be your own work, we do not allow 'bought-in' goods. You will be asked to submit photographs of your work as well as photographs of the work 'in-progress' as verification that it is your own.
Please note that we do not allow exhibitors without Public Liability Insurance.
To apply for stall at the fair, you will need to submit:
- A written description of your craft, and the range of items that you would like to sell at our fair.
- Photos of the work, including in–progress shots.
- Your web address/Facebook page (if available)
Attn. Mrs AC Hobbs (Fairs)
Brancepeth Castle,
Durham,
DH7 8DF
If you are accepted to exhibit, you will be asked to complete an online booking form regarding the table type you require and other information.
