Holding Goose Fair over 10 days this year has been celebrated as a success by those involved - but as the rides are dismantled for another year following the final day on Sunday (October 9), talk has turned to whether next year's event will remain in the longer format or return to usual five day event.
The much-loved event returned to the Forest Recreation Ground after a two year absence due to the Coronavirus pandemic., and was extended to 10 days to make up for not being held in 2020 and 2021.
We spoke to ride operators and stall holders about how the last 10 days have gone and their expectations for next year's event.
Food and Catering stall holder, Gary Evans, said he hoped the event may continue in the 10-day format next year.
The 37-year-old said: “It’s good. Everybody's happy with the ten days, hopefully we can do it again. It’s fine you have more time for setting up. If the weather is bad, you got another chance. It gives families a chance to arrange and if it rains families get a chance to come back.”
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Ray Brooks, 92, has run the ‘cocks on a stick’ stall for the past 72 years. Mr Brooks told Nottinghamshire Live this year has been really good but thinks the 10 days disrupts the life of the city.
Mr Brooks said: “It’s very good, it’s been much better than I anticipated. Spread out over the ten days, I thought it would lose the atmosphere of the jostling and crowds. The first day was very very disappointing with the rain but got out of it [the rain] by the second day. Each day was good and Saturday was stupendous. I’ve been doing it for 72 years and I'm ready to retire.”
But when asked if it should continue as a 10 day event, he added: “I don't think so, it’s such a big city and it really interrupts the life of the city, the parking and the diversions.”
John Wesseldine, who runs the children's sleigh ride and a food stall added that due to rising expenses he doesn’t think it should be 10 days again going forward. Mr Wesseldine said: “Regarding the ten days - it used to be the best three days of the country. The expenses have gone up too much, the rents are up by 40%, fuel costs have doubled with ten days rather than the five days. Fuel costs have gone up considerably."
William Percival, the chairman of the Showman's Guild, gave his personal opinion. Making clear he wasn’t speaking on behalf of the other organisers, he said: “The extra days that we have had, can you imagine how much more money the shops and hotels, the tram and all the local businesses did. The tram was rammed every night, instead of it being rammed for five days it was rammed for ten days.
“All the local shops in the areas, the Asda, all the traders down Hyson green, the restaurants and don’t forget before the fair starts the showmen go in the city and spend a lot of money as well. You’ve got to look at the big picture, not just the Goose Fair, you’ve got to look at what it brings into the city. It brings millions in
“I called it a comfortable fair, it was comfortable to handle for more than five days. Whether it's going to go ahead again for 10 days or not, I hope so, me personally, I hope so. I’m just saying how I feel. In my opinion it’s been a success. We'll see what the council says, we are a long way from making a decision so we will see.”
The City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Planning, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: “It was great to have Goose Fair back after two years away, and we were pleased to have a 10-day event this year to make up for all the fun that was missed over that period. It proved to be incredibly popular, with 550,000 visitors to the site over the past ten days.
“Council teams are now working to ensure The Forest is clear and clean by Wednesday. The Park & Ride site remains closed until Thursday morning to accommodate NET works on Wednesday.
“Together with the Showmen’s Guild, we will need time to assess the options and review the impact of the ten-day event, before planning for next year.”
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