Newbury Michaelmas Fair to provide 4 days of thrills

The annual Michaelmas Fair rolls into Newbury this week with rides and entertainment for all the family.

The fair is based at Northcroft Park and will be in town from today (Wednesday) until Saturday. Opening times for Wednesday to Friday are 4pm-10.30pm and on Saturday, 1pm-10.30pm.

As is traditional, all rides are reduced on the Wednesday to £1.50 per person, except the dodgems, which will be £2.50.

Last year West Berkshire Council announced that the fair would not be going ahead due to the risk of Covid-19 transmissions, but the London & Home Counties section of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain were disappointed, saying they felt the fair could have been staged with adequate safety measures in place.

It said in a statement: "The Guild, in conjunction with its safety consultant, as well as the Environmental Health Office, was satisfied and confident that all Covid-19 security and safety measures in place were adequate to promote a safe and secure funfair."

But added: "The guild is now looking forward to presenting an even bigger, brighter Michaelmas Fair in October 2021."

The fair dates back to the 17th century when farm workers turned up to seek employment, but is now held as a funfair.