Travelling Funfairs - How do they work?
Discussion
The fair was meant to come to town last weekend but couldn't due to unsuitable ground. The problem apparently being they made such a mess getting out last year when it was wet the ground was full of ruts etc and unsafe for this year.
It got me thinking though as to who pays or loses out from this. Potentially the landowner although they presumably claim its your breach of contract from last year due to the mess you made.
But what about the ride operators etc? Does a travelling funfair own all its rides and they go to every event, or is there some website (or similar) somewhere where all the funfairs put the locations they are attending and ride owners then select (or bid for) which ones they will go to?
It got me thinking though as to who pays or loses out from this. Potentially the landowner although they presumably claim its your breach of contract from last year due to the mess you made.
But what about the ride operators etc? Does a travelling funfair own all its rides and they go to every event, or is there some website (or similar) somewhere where all the funfairs put the locations they are attending and ride owners then select (or bid for) which ones they will go to?
steveT350C said:
The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
Rides arent cheap! Have a look at https://www.usedrideseurope.com/rides-for-sale/ and then ponder what you could put in your back garden! 
steveT350C said:
Not much to add, but I was talking to the operator of the 'tea cup' roundabout, favoured by 2-3 yr olds, at a fair in Lowestoft a month ago. The fair is there every year for a couple of weeks.
The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
The manufacturer tried and failed to fix it and the owner just ended up going round in circles?The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
wife's family are from this background. As has been said you have rights to hold a fair and you sell a pitch either based on fixed price or a cut of ride takings. During winter when the fairs close. people either take extended holiday / repair rides etc or have another business often xmas tress, decorations or other seasonal activity. Its also common for the ride owners to have a base in a seaside town. So they might own an arcade, fish a chip shop, pub, rock shop etc even hotels in the area. Some familys do very well others just scrape by
I understand a lot of fairs held in towns such as Kings Lynn, Boston, Hull, Nottingham etc etc hold a charter granted hundreds of years ago and on the basis of use it or lose it.
The fairground families are rights holders and is passed down through the family. It is controlled by a fairground society but not sure of the name.
The fairground families are rights holders and is passed down through the family. It is controlled by a fairground society but not sure of the name.
Kenty said:
I understand a lot of fairs held in towns such as Kings Lynn, Boston, Hull, Nottingham etc etc hold a charter granted hundreds of years ago and on the basis of use it or lose it.
The fairground families are rights holders and is passed down through the family. It is controlled by a fairground society but not sure of the name.
just to add I have only been once to Hull as its not my or the wife's thing but it is the largest fun fair in the country with many members of the showmans guild from across the country travelling to meet up there.The fairground families are rights holders and is passed down through the family. It is controlled by a fairground society but not sure of the name.
wolfracesonic said:
steveT350C said:
Not much to add, but I was talking to the operator of the 'tea cup' roundabout, favoured by 2-3 yr olds, at a fair in Lowestoft a month ago. The fair is there every year for a couple of weeks.
The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
The manufacturer tried and failed to fix it and the owner just ended up going round in circles?The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
steveT350C said:
Not much to add, but I was talking to the operator of the 'tea cup' roundabout, favoured by 2-3 yr olds, at a fair in Lowestoft a month ago. The fair is there every year for a couple of weeks.
The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
They probably charge c.£5 a go. But what about those chuck-a-small-ring-and-see-if-it-lands-around-a-prize stalls? I wonder how much they really make. Not much upkeep I suppose. When I was younger we all wanted to be like the hard young fairground guys that ran the waltzers and got the local girls.The roundabout had a fault, was brand new, and had cost £55,000
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