Thousands of farmers across the country are gearing up for the Royal Smithfield Christmas Fair – the exciting new livestock event at the Bath & West Showground next month (Dec 1 and 2).
Just under 800 animals – including 312 cattle and 459 sheep as well as pigs – have been entered for the show at the Showground, at Shepton Mallet, Somerset on December 1st and 2nd chasing over £100,000 pounds worth of prize money and historic, coveted trophies.
This major new agricultural exhibition, centred around the traditional Royal Smithfield Club’s livestock competitions, offers a first class opportunity to showcase the country’s top livestock, and the services and products related to the livestock and meat industry.
The Royal Bath & West of England Society and the Royal Smithfield Club are working round the clock to produce a first class event. Support for the new event has been “phenomenal” say organisers, with entries from 197 exhibitors from all over the country.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will tour the Fair on the morning of the first day, and will present the awards for the Young Farmers’ Cattle and Sheep Classes and their Championship Trophies.
Tradestands promoting services and products related to the livestock and meat industries include manufacturers of equipment and vehicles and stands featuring tagging, nutrition, financial advice and animal health. There will also be a busy programme of seminars highlighting a variety of topics and pig demonstrations will take place daily.
Hotel space is being snapped up across the area by exhibitors and show-goers, many of them taking advantage of the chance of combining their visit to the show with Christmas shopping and theatre trips in nearby Bristol and Bath.
The prestigious Meat Industry Dinner on the evening of the first day of the Show (Friday Dec 1st) is sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture. The guest speaker will be Baroness Byford DBE, the Shadow Minister for Food and Rural Affairs. During the evening the Royal Smithfield Club Bicentenary Award will be presented – in recognition of an individual or company’s significant contribution for the benefit of the British meat industry. Previous winners include John Thorley, former Chief Executive of the National Sheep Association, in 2002, and Don Curry in 2000. Tickets for the dinner, price £45 each, are available from the Showground office (01749 822 223).
Another feature of the new show will be the Festive Farm Food Halls, supported by NatWest, with plenty of festive food available and food demonstrations throughout the day.
As well as hosting the Festive Farm Food Challenge they will be promoting meat at the heart of the food chain, to encourage visitors to appreciate all the best that British food producers have to offer and to promote a better understanding of how agriculture contributes to the nation’s health and well-being.
And while the country’s premier primestock go on parade, there’s also the chance to stock up with gifts galore for Christmas in the Avalon Pavilion.
Tickets for the show can be booked now on the credit card hotline on 01749 822 222. Further information can be obtained from the Bath & West Showground on 01749 822 200 or on www.bathandwest.com
Advanced Saver Tickets are £10 for adults (£15 on the gate), £8 for Concessions and Students (£12 on the gate). There is free entry for children aged 15 and under, and free entry for members of the Royal Smithfield Club and the Royal Bath & West of England Society. The ticket hotline closes on Friday, November24th.
Tickets will be available on the gates at the show, which is open from 8.30am to 6pm Friday and Saturday.
Bus shuttle services will be available from and to Bristol International Airport, Bristol Temple Meads Station and Castle Cary Station.