There’s something reassuringly straightforward about a spring fair done properly — a handful of independent traders, a bit of fresh air, and the vague intention of buying one thing and leaving with three. That’s more or less the offering as the Spring Fair returns to Cricklade Hotel & Spa this April.
Set for Saturday 25th, the event will run from 10am to 4pm and, importantly, won’t cost a penny to get in. With more than 20 stallholders lined up and dogs welcome on the grounds, it’s being pitched — quite reasonably — as an easy, low-commitment day out.
The setting does a fair bit of the work. Spread across 33 acres of Wiltshire countryside, the hotel’s grounds offer the sort of backdrop that makes browsing feel less like shopping and more like an excuse to linger. Should the weather decide not to cooperate, plans are already in place to move everything indoors to the ballroom — a sensible fallback rather than a last-minute scramble.
As for the stalls, there’s a familiar but dependable mix. Handmade ceramics sit alongside candles, artwork and jewellery, with food traders filling in the gaps for those who arrive with good intentions and leave slightly hungrier than expected. Names range from small craft outfits to local bakers, with enough variety to keep things moving without feeling crowded.
There’s also a raffle in the mix, with tickets priced at £2 and a spa hamper worth more than £200 up for grabs. The draw takes place the following week, giving at least one visitor a reason to remember the day for longer than the walk back to the car.
For general manager Stuart Earp, the fair builds on a formula that’s already proved its worth. A Christmas event at the end of last year drew more than 1,000 visitors, and this spring version looks to carry that momentum forward, with a similar focus on independent businesses and a relaxed atmosphere.
The hotel itself will be open throughout, with the terrace likely to do steady trade if the weather holds. It’s the sort of place where one coffee turns into lunch without much resistance, particularly with the view doing its part.
For those in Swindon and the surrounding villages, it’s an easy option for a Saturday that doesn’t need much planning. Turn up, have a wander, buy something you didn’t intend to, and call it a day — which, for a spring fair, is rather the point.
