Some traders have packed up and left Jeremy Clarkson's Farm-Fest early after claiming they were not making any money, with even Spud Man saying he is struggling to make a profit. Business owners have posted tearful videos on social media, with another titling hers 'what a shambles. Giving a new meaning to "diddly squat"'. While a stall holder alleged that their area was blocked off by a lorry.
Social media star and legendary potato seller Spud Man, whose real name is Ben Newman, said he may make a small profit and that other caterers were also struggling. But he hailed the second day of trading: 'Did we have a good day? We did. Thank goodness, because if we were going to do it, it was yesterday.' He said he hoped to 'make a little bit' by the end of the third day's trading, which includes sales from another unit at the Bearded Theory festival in Derbyshire.
Organisers said they were 'surprised' that a 'handful of exhibitors' had left already from the 400 who attended. The three-day festival is taking place over the bank holiday weekend across 300 acres at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, where adult tickets cost £35 for a half-day or £60 for an all-day admission.
Korrine Pallas, who owns pet product firm Phoenix Equestrian and Pet Supplies, was one of those who left the festival early. She said Friday was 'the worst day's trading we have ever ever had'. 'It has been darn right awful at Farm-Fest,' she said in a video posted onto the company's TikTok account. 'When I say it's not worth getting out of bed for, it's an understatement. It has been horrific, and I know everyone else is feeling the same and is in the same boat as us.'
Korrine updated her followers yesterday in a tearful message where she announced she was leaving a day early, something the company had never done before at a trade show. Holding back tears, she said: 'It has been catastrophic for us, and when you are already a small family business in hard times it is heart-wrenching.' She said they were a 'few grand down' and it would cost her £400 to come on Sunday 'and I haven't even come near that in the last couple of days'. 'Nowhere f***ing near in fact,' she said.
Emma, who co-founded pet brand Pops and Coco, said in a TikTok video today that the event was a shambles. 'There have been a lot of traders who have gone home - lots of traders left last night, particularly dog traders,' she said. 'I would say 90 per cent of traders across the whole showground, whatever they are selling, have either made a loss and they haven't made their costs back or they are only just making some money now. To come to a three-day event like this, which has been heavily advertised on social media, to walk away at a loss is incredible really.'
Saddle fitter Julie Masters, of Masters Saddles, posted a picture on social media of her stall being blocked by a huge lorry. She said that they had made the decision to close the stand at The Great British Farm-Fest. 'A very expensive mistake setting up and investing resources,' she said. 'Photos show the main shopping aisle and then us, blocked by a lorry. We asked several times for the lorry to be moved but no joy. We are thousands of pounds out pocket and they won't give us a refund either.'
The music festival and country fair was attended by 20,000 alone yesterday, with 55,000 expected to go over the weekend. There are 12 arenas across the site where Clarkson took the stage alongside Kaleb Cooper. Alex James from Blur, 10cc, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and a DJ set by Groove Armada are among the musical acts.
A spokesperson for Jeremy Clarkson's Great British Farm-Fest said: 'We have been working closely with traders at The Great British Farm-Fest to provide support during our inaugural weekend. We are surprised that a handful of exhibitors, out of the 400 who attended, left the show within a few hours of the first day without experiencing an event that has attracted over 50,000 visitors.'
