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Carter's Steam Fair

pluk

pluk

TS Member
Unless the search box is broken there doesn't seem to a Carter's Steam Fair thread, which is an absolute travesty as it is such a wonderful thing. Proper vintage rides, properly cared for, properly run. A real rare bit of quality on the travelling circuit.

It stays down south mostly, because the costs of transportation are HUGE for the big heavy rides on vintage vehicles, but if you ever get the chance to visit you really should.

Came to my attention today for an unusual opportunity to be part of the fair! For £600 you can have your name on a massive promotional carousel horse, or splashed across the front of one of the hauling vehicles, or for half that your name on a dodgem or vintage car. Sure beats your name on a brick!!

https://www.carterssteamfair.co.uk/product-category/support-us/
 
Carters is really nice. Ive been a few times and they usualy set up along my route home around Halloween. Always happy to see it.
I've got a flyer somwhere about them doing lessons in old style ride graphics. Looked really interesting.
 
Always wondered why they had a northern prejudice.
Thought it was because they didnt like the beer/weather/people.
Bet their trucks do a few gallons to the mile.
 
Big Carters fan. Unless we're in the south for something else, last year we saw them at Lichfield and stayed at Drayton. I think the year before we saw them at Wycombe and tagged teamed it with Legoland.

Hoping the Dive Bomber and Octopus become permanent fixtures again.


@rob666 their Skid provides some real Southport Black Hole VIBES.
 
Carters have just said they don't intend pulling out for this season at all. Very sad.

They've worked out that the fixed costs of getting everything up and running with insurances, fuel, staffing etc it's just not worth their while. To give a little insight into the costs of running the fair they anticipated that if their takings were any more than 10% down (which would seem quite likely with all the extra time they'd have to spend cleaning between rides and empty seats for social distancing, as well as people generally staying away from busy places) they'd be running at a loss.
 
A great shame for them but hopefully as they’ve been smart enough to workout this year really isn’t worth it that it’ll save them for the future years.
 
ringo said:
A great shame for them but hopefully as they’ve been smart enough to workout this year really isn’t worth it that it’ll save them for the future years.
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Joby has been bringing in the cash with online songwriting courses which seem to have been really popular with practically no overheads. I wish I had the skills to be able to join in. There's also a decent selection of merch on the website, including the opportunity to have your name on vehicles and carousel horses.

They've also been using the time to refeb a lovely old big wheel which should be out with them next year and I think will compliment their lineup perfectly.
 
Tour dates for this year are out

2022 Tour Dates - Carters Steam Fair

Visit Carters Steam Fair on their 2022 tour to enjoy vintage fairground rides and traditional fairground art and signwriting.
www.carterssteamfair.co.uk www.carterssteamfair.co.uk

No real surprises on the line up, although was hoping we might see the Ferris Wheel. I miss the Octopus and the Dive Bomber.

www.carterssteamfair.co.uk

Vintage Funfair Rides & Attractions | Carters Steam Fair

Learn about our vintage rides, sidestalls, vehicles and living wagons dating from the 1890s. Everything at the fair has been restored to it’s former glory using traditional signwriting techniques.
www.carterssteamfair.co.uk www.carterssteamfair.co.uk
 
Rick said:
I miss the Octopus and the Dive Bomber.
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I don't know what happened to the Divebomber in the end. Up for sale, not up for sale, being referbed, not being referbed. I still live in hope we'll see it again some day.

The Octopus though is back, not on the ride list yet as it isn't going to be ready for the first few dates, but it's been doe up and will be back on the road for summer.
 
JAperson said:
somebody send dreamland margate a memo, this is literally what it's been crying out for.
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My guess would be that they likely made an approach to the likes of Margate, but weren't able to nail down a deal. The quote below from their announcement hints that they approached "other landowners":
We have been looking for suitable land for the fair to be placed on and have talked to the council and other landowners around the UK. As a family run business with expertise in restoration and travelling the fair, we have done our best to familiarise ourselves with the endless details of planning laws, highway regulations and heritage and culture grants. But it is an enormous task that we simply cannot do alone. We are now facing the reality that the best future for the fair is for it to be re-homed on a permanent site and operated by someone else.
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It's a shame they're looking for a permanent home to be honest. Part of the charm of fairs, especially traditional ones such as Carter's is them popping up in different locations throughout the season. As great as the rides are, I'm not sure they have a big enough draw alone to have the repeat visits when they're in a permanent location. It'd have to be something along the lines of the Margate setup, with events being the thing to pull in the crowds and the fair rides as the support attractions.
 
Craig said:
My guess would be that they likely made an approach to the likes of Margate, but weren't able to nail down a deal. The quote below from their announcement hints that they approached "other landowners":

It's a shame they're looking for a permanent home to be honest. Part of the charm of fairs, especially traditional ones such as Carter's is them popping up in different locations throughout the season. As great as the rides are, I'm not sure they have a big enough draw alone to have the repeat visits when they're in a permanent location. It'd have to be something along the lines of the Margate setup, with events being the thing to pull in the crowds and the fair rides as the support attractions.
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You may well be right @Craig , I hope your not but I think it's quite logical. The thing is, I can't see what other park it makes sense at. Maybe somewhere like wicksteed?
 
I could see a park like Lightwater Valley buying these up (or some of the collection at least) as their investment for 2023.
 
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Going to miss it being in Holyport. Always used to love leaving Legoland, taking the back route to Maidenhead and driving right alongside the fair. Especially when Legos fireworks night event was on and seeing the fair lit up was a perfect end to the day.
Although I've since moved it does occasionally come out to where I now live. Hope it does one last time so I can check it out.
 
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