Irish Vintage Scene has received a communication from the board of directors of the Great Dorset Steam Fair in England regarding next year’s event, a summary of which follows. ED
“Following a thorough review of the 2022 show, it is with great sadness and disappointment that the Great Dorset Steam Fair Ltd Board of Directors have to announce that unfortunately we will be taking a year’s break before running the next Great Dorset Steam Fair event, which will now be held over the August Bank Holiday weekend in 2024. This has been an extremely difficult decision for us to make. Whilst the 2022 event has been a fantastic and resounding success as a spectacle, […] as a big show we have big costs, costs which have risen disproportionately this year and, crucially, are very difficult to forecast for next year in the current economic climate. The event industry as a whole is still feeling the harsh financial repercussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic, which together with the aftermath of Brexit and the war in Ukraine, has seen significant increases in staff, contractor, fuel, transport, material and equipment hire prices.
“The likelihood is that event costs will continue to rise in 2023, compounded by the emergence of the cost of living crisis which will undoubtedly affect consumer confidence and spending in the event industry next year. […] It is not prudent or sensible to hold the show next year, and in order to safeguard and preserve the future of the Great Dorset Steam Fair, we believe this to be the right decision to enable us to continue to run a high-quality event in 2024 and beyond. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you all again between the 22nd to 26th of August 2024. Tickets for the 2024 event will be on sale from the Autumn of 2023.”
For further details, and to access the full release from the organisers, see www.gdsf.co.uk.