A large beer tent which will be in operation at this year’s Appleby Horse Fair — with capacity for 2,500 revellers — has prompted fears that a “mini-festival” will be created at the site.
As only two pubs are expected to be opening their doors in Appleby while the horse fair is on, the hope is that having a licensed premises for the sale of alcohol in one of the fields at Salt Tip Corner will “take pressure off the town” and move it nearer Fair Hill.
Wannasee Limited, which organises a popular tribute acts festival which takes place in August at Hutton-in-the-Forest, near Penrith, will be running the bar and have public liability insurance for the field, a meeting in Appleby public hall, chaired by councillor Andy Connell, was told on Wednesday evening.
Steve Wilde, licensing officer for Westmorland and Furness Council, said the Midland Hotel and the Grapes were the only two pubs which would be open during the fair which starts on Thursday, June 8.
However, questions were asked about the decision to issue an indefinite premises licence for up to 5,000 people which would enable Wannasee Limited to hold one event per year in that field in perpetuity.
A concern was also raised about the potential to increase the size of the event and cause greater “potential for disorder and the sort of criminal behaviour which is associated with the sale of alcohol”.
Of the proposed beer tent, Mr Wilde said: “It is a bar with some recorded music playing. There is no intention for anything other than bar and recorded music.
“At the end of the day we can’t force the licensed premises to open in the town. It is entirely their choice.
“I think that some of them, certainly one of the premises in particular which was subject to damage, decided that they no longer wanted to open during the fair, but we always try and support the licensed premises where we can.”
Following a suggestion that it would be better for the local economy if Appleby landlords could be supported to run a beer tent during the fair, Mr Connell said historically, that is exactly what happened — local licensees put in bids to have beer tents during the fair.
Mr Wilde said he could put it to the licensed premises at the next PubWatch meeting to see what their opinion was.
He added: “One of the things last year which became quite apparent from the public feedback was that a lot of Appleby residents wanted to see the fair moving back towards Fair Hill.
“What we actually looked at was having a licensed premises at Fair Hill itself and we are hoping that will keep a number of people entertained on Fair Hill.
“It was voiced that some people felt the town was no longer big enough for the amount of people attending the fair.”
Gypsy and Traveller representative Bill Lloyd said: “When we first heard about this. Our very first concern was that having an event or mini-festival of any other kind was going exactly the opposite way to where we wanted to go. We were very clear about that.
“But as I understand it, this bar is not an event.We would object very, very strongly to an event. It is nothing to do with us. It was not our idea.”
Shera Rom Billy Welch, who is known as head gypsy, said: “When any of you go anywhere on your holidays, you are entitled to go and have a drink. Just because we are gypsies it doesn’t mean that we are not allowed to have a drink as well.
“For Gypsies and travelling people, as you know, Appleby fair is an extremely important event, but it is difficult for us as most of the pubs have gone.
“It is only going to be a bar and it is just somewhere for them to go and it is taking pressure of the town. So we actually think it is a good idea.”
Chief superintendent Matt Kinnerley said as well as there being a visible police presence, Wannasee would also have their own security staff who will be working at that the entrance point.
In response to a question from the floor asking if the bar was a success for Wannasee, whether that would encourage them to make it bigger next year and the year after, Mr Wilde said: “Wannasee know that they are going to be at capacity with 2,500 people. In that field they can’t get any bigger.”
Alex Hutchinson, operations director for Wannasee Limited, said: “The event and bar areas have been designed in close consultation with the appropriate authorities with a clear view to being licensable activities into a properly managed, controlled environment.
“With this in mind, we anticipate a substantial improvement and benefit in relation to the consumption of alcohol which is not a new activity to Appleby fair. This isn’t an introduction to the sale of alcohol to the event, simply an improvement in the service, location and control of the same, and any associated concerns.
“The event has been designed to satisfy existing demand for the sale of alcohol and the provision of entertainment, rather than attempting to generate demand itself, which is why there is no marketing or promotion linked to the event. The event is strictly limited to a controlled number of attendees and thwere are no plans for this number to increase this year, or in any future year.”
