Historic Hoppings postponed

Europe’s largest travelling funfair The Hoppings is likely to be postponed this year after the Town Moor land was badly damaged by last year's event and the bad weather that has since followed.

The funfair was postponed last year for only the second time in its history, and doors opened two days later than planned despite the wet weather leaving the ground waterlogged.

Newcastle City Council have announced that the event is likely to be postponed again this year after the region saw the wettest weather for 100 years.

The funfair was due to take place from Friday 21 to Saturday 29 June, but the Freemen and the City Council are now hoping to stage the event later in the year.

"The Hoppings is one of the most exciting and eagerly anticipated events on the city’s cultural calendar so it’s with great regret we have had to consider postponing this year’s event.

“We have been working closely with the Freeman of Newcastle to make sure the Town Moor site was ready for this year’s annual funfair but months of constant poor weather have meant the land is still in a fragile condition. We think it is in the best interests of the event and the long term interest of the Town Moor itself to seriously consider the option of postponing and rescheduling this year’s event”.

“We are looking at possibly staging the event in late summer and continue to work with our partners to run an equally successful event as we have done in recent years however, the safety of those who visit and work at The Hoppings is our overriding priority.”

“There is a 130 year tradition of collaborative working with the travelling fairground industry and any decision to reschedule shall not be taken lightly, however this is a grass heath that also serves to de-pasture the Town Moor herd of cattle and a reality check beckons.

"The water table is a real issue and the root structure of the emerging grass sward is very immature as things stand.”