Wealden Times | WT179 | January 2017 | Health & Beauty supplement inside

Midwinter Magic
Julie Simpson reflects on a festive-filled three days at
Wealden Times Midwinter Fair 2016
Photographs: David Merewether
We’ve had so many lovely
comments about this year’s
Midwinter Fair but one
that particularly resonated was from
stand-holder and furniture designer
Steve Armitage from Huutt who said
“we feel that we’re now part of a very
vibrant and growing community of
independent, creative retailers – proud
to serve our region” and I’d like to
add to that that their region is very,
very proud of them. All of them.
The talent, energy, creativity and
enthusiasm of the 250 retailers who
attended this year’s Wealden Times
Midwinter Fair in November was
amazing. The high entry standards for
exhibitors set by the WT Fairs team
really shone through. Visitors were
delighted by the quality and variety
that was on offer with stands selling
everything from beautiful clothes and
accessories to home and garden ware,
gifts and fabulous food and drink. And
they all left laden down with goodies.
Despite the fact that Christmas was on
the horizon, chats on the door with
visitors leaving the fair suggested that as
many purchases were made for personal
consumption as were bought as gifts!
Food is always a big part of any
good event, as is a great cup of coffee
or a glass of fizz. Coffee Real, Hush
Heath Winery and Cocolicious made
sure no one went thirsty at the fair
while a fleet of street food vehicles fed
us all with a delicious range of dishes.
Every taste bud was catered for with
Italian, Indonesian, gluten free, healthy
salads and a traditional afternoon
tearoom being just a few of the
offerings available to hungry shoppers.
The Hop Farm was a new venue
for us this year and it proved a
great success, providing masses and
masses of good parking and easy
access for visitors coming from Kent,
Sussex, Surrey and further afield.
We’d like to thank our friends
and sponsors, estate agents Harpers
& Hurlingham, for their continued
support of our fairs and their unfailing
good humour and generosity in
raising funds for charity. Their raffle
at this year’s Midwinter Fair raised
£1,565.00 for Cancer Research.
Here at Wealden Times, we’re now
looking forward to our Midsummer
Fair at Hole Park on 8, 9 & 10 June.
The theme for the festival which
accompanies the summer event will
be wellbeing and gardening and
we’ll be releasing the programme
of speakers very soon. So, save
the dates and we look forward
to seeing you all in June.