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The Weald of Kent Country Craft Show

Tonbridge
England
TN11 8DG
Event TypeCraft
15 Reviews
Write a Review

About

Date: 04/05/2019 to 06/05/2019
Venue: Penhurst Place
Stand Type: Table Top

Discover delightfully crafted products and soak up the atmosphere with 150 stands and activities to experience and enjoy. Craft Workshops, demonstrations and live music run throughout the day in the striking landscape of Penshurst Place – a truly special day for you and your family.

Reviews

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  1. paula robinson
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    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Well organised event, lots of stallholders complained that footfall was not as they had expected, (one that had been doing the event for 25 years said it was the worst ever!). Toilets are a long way for exhibitors to go, especially if you are running your stall alone.

    3 years ago
  2. Greeny
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    Atmosphere

    Very expensive show and footfall not that great, even though it’s well organised, business well down on last year. Too much bought in stuff being sold so that devalues the real crafstpeoples work, it’s a real bugbear for many real craftspeople like myself that many organisations including Rural Crafts and ICHF just don’t take seriously or for that matter realise how damaging it is for their events . Toilets are a long way away for stallholders, sorry but I won’t be going back. There are better fairs for far less money where all the stallholders are actual craftspeople selling proper Handmade goods

    3 years ago
  3. Sandra
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    Atmosphere

    Well organised and particularly liked the showcase. New to this event but felt footfall ok considering the bad weather!

    I do however want to question the naming of the event as Handmade when it is clearly not. This gives the wrong impression to visitors and also annoys exhibitors who thought all products were made by the designer maker.

    3 years ago
  4. Ildiko Szasz
    Organisation

    Sales

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    Atmosphere

    85% of the visitor age are betveen 70-80 years old. (
    They are come for a day out not for shopping ).
    Our marquee was very badly positioned hardly got visitors in..
    Organiser was not helpful ,
    It was more like a viliage fair…
    Also it was very upsetting ICHF advertised this fair as a hand made fair but 50% of the stallholders product was fake , quick China made etc..
    Never again would exhibit with IHCF. ..

    3 years ago
  5. Jeff
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Well organised fair with helpful staff. Very disappointed with all the bought in clothes, scarves and jewellery. One customer was very angry saying she could go to her local market to get the same product. You really have to get rid of the bought in products as it is really embarrassing. The numbers are dwindling and thats because knowone wants to pay to go to a market and you need to advertise the event. Coming from Maidstone I didn’t see one banner etc until I got on the road to Penshurst. How about the Wealden Times, Wealden advertiser etc

    There are so many clever craftspersons out there who would love to show and sell their craft, the problem is its too expensive and you have to compete with products bought in. Please ditch the cheap clothes its not good, or expensive clothes bought in and of course the jewellery obviously bought in its an insult theres plenty of makers out there. Also sort your advertising flyers out they are outdated and it really didn’t make me or my friends to spend the day at Penshurst, it looked like a church fair.

    3 years ago
  6. Bee
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Exhibited here for the first time. Agree with comments. I do handmake my jewellery and was very disappointed with the number of obviously bought in products demeaning the title of Handcrafted Fair!! Footfall was low and with the high cost of pitches this disadvantaged the true craft makers. Next year the pitches are even more expensive so probably not worth while. I also agree re toilet comments!!!

    3 years ago
  7. Glyn Matthews Fine Art
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    I have been exhibiting with ICHF since 1987; in fact I gave up a teaching career to exhibit at all their shows, basing my new career as a show-led designer/maker around them and enjoyed many years of success, at the same time meeting many talented craftspeople and artists who I felt privileged to be able to call friends. Sadly those days are gone. Stand prices have risen inexorably while takings have steadily decreased and wonderful craftspeople have found it impossible to continue. My recent attendance at Penshurst resulted in financial loss for the first time. This follows the pattern of other ICHF shows (I have already been forced to give up Stonor Park and the NEC Crafts for Christmas – 28 consecutive years at both events, as they became pale shadows of their previous selves, while other once proud and significant ICHF events have become distant memories). The take-over after the sad death of David Bennett has accelerated a deteriorating situation and so my association with a company that has provided me with so many happy memories over 31 years must come to an end. Regrettably, this show is imploding as it explodes with bought-in goods and the original raison d’etre of the show is ignored. The quality of visitor is deteriorating in tandem with the quality of exhibitor and this is only likely to accelerate in the future. There is surely an opening in the market for original, quality, designer/maker work, particularly in this privileged part of the country, but ICHF is singularly unable or unwilling to take advantage of it. Honestly, I think it is too late for them to rectify the situation even if they wanted to – which, clearly and evidentially, they do not.

    3 years ago
  8. Anonymous
    Organisation

    Sales

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    Atmosphere

    I’m afraid I have to agree with Glyn Mathews re the standard of the ICHF ‘handmade’ fair in Penshurst. I felt we were witnessing the dying throes of a once-great organiser. The footfall was dire as visibly demonstrated by the handful of people embarrassingly applauding the show entertainers. Relying on coach parties shipped in as a captive audience & handing out shedloads of complimentary tickets does not for a discerning audience make. We were saved by a free-spending couple who’d followed us from a previous event by another organiser. Like Glyn we’ve been at an ICHF do in their heyday & there was a hugely discernible difference to last weekend’s sorry affair. We’ll be attending the May show next year but only so we don’t forfeit our deposit. Then that’ll be it. Kaput!

    3 years ago
  9. Kristina
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Overall we had good sales, the Friday was terrible but this was exasperated by the poor weather. We have exhibited now at Penshurst for 5 years, the location and venue is beautiful. Our general feedback is that the organisers need to promote the event more and better signage around the area would be helpful. There did not appear to be many coaches which historically this event used to be fantastic at, which guaranteed the footfall irrespective of the weather. There are many wonderful high end stalls, unfortunately there are also many non craft and bought in stalls which lowers the overall quality, it would be beneficial to the event if the organisers chose more carefully. The stand costs has increased and the footfall decreased. We will go back again next year as we did ok, however I am getting ever more concerned at the longevity of this fair.

    3 years ago
  10. charlotte lunt
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    This was our first time at penthurst as we mainly just exhibit at stonor park and NEC at christmas. Overall I found it ok as we did just as well as we do at stonor. The friday was the worst day but i think this can be said for everyone as the weather was really bad but unfortunately thats something that nobody can fix. I didnt see much signage around the surrounding areas which i was confused about as when we go to stonor park its plastered everywhere. Also as this is a handmade fair I think about 75% of it is bought in goods which is sad as genuine crafters are being put out of trade and are not able to be given the recognition for their beautiful work that they deserve. Im not sure if we will be back next year as the stand prices are a little too much for the small amount of space that we are given.

    3 years ago
  11. John Waller
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Generally felt the cost of entry to the public was too high – there didn’t seem to be much by way of entertainment to warrant such a high fee? Footfall was reasonable given the atrocious weather, and I made a few sales. I did have a few enquiries about the courses I run, which makes it worth my while coming again next year.

    3 years ago
  12. James
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    It’s easy for us to sit back and blame the organisers for a poor show but we all know the importance of Penshurst and Stonor to us. Maybe instead of moaning we can help improve them by introducing other exhibitors we know from other shows

    3 years ago
  13. Hazel Grenville Allen
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    Yes l agree James. To this end l gave complimentary tickets to two quality exhibitors so they could check it out for next year. Neither of them were impressed and will not be applying. One remarked ‘it’s full of tat’. What to do?

    3 years ago
  14. Richard White
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    I used to do this show from about year 2000 upto about 2013, it was at first a reliable show always worth doing but in the last couple of years it dived, so i rested it until this year and it was fairly good for me as i appeared to the public as something fresh and new, i have booked again for next year.

    The other comments about it having bought in products, high ticket price, lack of entertainment are all true and it is shrinking in size, the footfall is not particularly good so the outlook for this show is not good.

    Maybe what it needs is for ICHF to walk away from it and let another organisor to take it on with sensible stand fees and ticket prices.

    3 years ago
  15. swallow mosaics
    Organisation

    Sales

    Communication

    Atmosphere

    expensive for an event that isn’t what it claims to be. I didn’t cover my costs, I make everything that I sell, and it’s all my own unique designs. I don’t like getting to an event advertised, and sold to me as a handmade event, to discover that it’s really not that. Plus, it was very poorly attended. And the loos were miles away so I spent 3 days crossing my legs. Strangely enough, I’m not keen to try any other events run by this company.

    3 years ago

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Tonbridge
England
TN11 8DG
info@went-to-market.com
www.thecraftshows.co.uk
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