I am sure some will agree that we are lucky to have a national treasure on our modest doorsteps, in the less modest shape of Chatsworth House.

But what has the annual country fair come to? Not to put too fine a point on it - It was appalling.

£15 per person entry to have rude vendors scowl at one while they serve one nasty, uncountrylike fast food out of mucky vans. And what was there exactly? :huh:

Well, not a lot as far as I could see. :shakes:

The fair was big but there was so little to do and see.

It was little more than a market with lots of similar stores selling stuff you can find at a fraction of the price on the web!

And my moan goes on... The staff around the ground were rude and unhelpful. The facilities were non existent. On a hot day it is important to drink water. If you had K9 characteristics you were fine. Everyone else had to suffer or buy luke warm fizzy drinks at 4 times the retail value. There were no animals to look at this year, no army displays, no aeroplane displays, no helicopters, no LOCAL craft traders, no agricultural equipment, no horses, nowhere to sit, no interactive exhibitions, no covered beer tents, no information points, no fairground rides (except a chair ride and Helter skelter) No RAF stand or plane to climb over. Nothing related to country life and nothing interesting to do or look at for either kids or adults.

I heard someone complain that the businesses were "all run by a bunch of gyppos". This comment was grossly unfair to the Romani people who work hard to survive and maintain a traditional way of life. It did however reflect a sentiment that was apparently felt by most of us commoners.

I had a good look around at one point, at the crowds, a few thousand, at least. You could count the smiling faces on one hand.

A good time was certainly not had by all. :(

So what did we get for our £15 per person? Nothing at all...:loopy:

My advice - don't even think about going next year.

Eyam carnival on Saturday was free and friendly... a much better family day out!
:thumbsup:

I agree with a lot of what you say. We felt like we had been well and truly mugged at the entrance. £15 pp? :shocked:

Once inside, not a lot to see unless you wanted to buy from one of the hundreds of trade stands.

Glad we weren't tempted by the bungee trampolines - £6 for 3 minutes bouncy bouncy! :wow:

But, the worst thing was the total lack of shade unless you wanted to stumble around the craft tent.

Our young dog really struggled after a while and we ended up sat on the grass behind a beer lorry to find somewhere for her to rest. No shade ... very bad on such a hot day. It would have been as bad if rained - no shelter. :nono:

On the whole, we did enjoy it because of the people we were with, but the price will stop us from going next year.

I went Saturday £10 and quite enjoyed it, although I don`t agree with the hunting,fishing,shooting set.
You could have checked online to find out what would be there.I also took my own food and drink.
http://www.Daveyre.ChatsworthCountryFair.photoshare.co.nz
More to come when I get time.

i also went on saturday and had a great time! it seems if you went the day after you got the worng day! there were horses, horses n carts, gun dog competitions (without the need for the shooting of animals), many army vehicles and guns to play with, aerobatic displays (which i also saw from a distance on sunday so i know that it existed both days) parachutists, army motorcycle displays, falconry (spectacular peregrine falcon!), dancing (!) JCBs and most fab was the mass balloon take off at the beginning and end of the day!!

are you sure you were at chatsworth?????

Originally posted by em3978
many army vehicles and guns to play with

They let you with touching distance of a gun - have they no sense of self preservation :p

not just touching distance but picking up and aiming distance.... i was scared and bored to death at the same time ;)

In the main I have to agree with Mr Helicopter. We usually go on Sunday but by going on the Saturday this year we saved £15.

As somebody who has been visiting the event for 20 years I have to say that I noticed a marked deterioration in the quality of the trade stands there, it was very much like a Sunday market.

Don't think that you should complain about the price of food as it is always pricey as this type of event.

I wanted some jodphurs and riding boots and there was not one stall there selling them, hard to believe at a Country Fair but true.

The highlight of the day was definitely the hot air balloons which most people would have missed if they went before 6.30pm.

I wonder if the organisers are different to previous years?

Originally posted by Mo
I wonder if the organisers are different to previous years?

The Duke of Devonshire did die this year, perhaps he forgot to write down the names and addresses of contributors.