Every year Bridgwater hosts a historic outdoor travelling funfair and market near the centre of Bridgwater, Somerset.
The funfair on St Matthews Field, TA6 7HD is organised by the Showman’s Guild with Bridgwater Town Council organising the market elements of the event.
Bridgwater Fair attracts crowds from far a field and is recognised as the largest fair in the South West with roughly 40,000 visitors each year.
This annual event, which dates back to the Charter of King John, is now almost 800 years old, the last 600 years of which have been spent on St Matthews Field.
The Charter decreed that the four day fair was to start annually on the last Wednesday in September.
2024’s Bridgwater Fair will start on Wednesday 25 September and ends on Saturday 28 September.
Opening times:
Opening and closing times for the fun fair are usually:
- 11:00am to 11:00pm Wednesday;
- 1:00pm to 11:00pm on Thursday;
- 1:00pm to 11:30pm on Friday and
- 11:00am to 11:00pm on Saturday.
The West Street market usually opens:
- 10:00am to 10:00pm Wednesday;
- 10:00am to 10:00pm on Thursday;
- 10:00am to 10:00pm on Friday and
- 10:00am to 10:00pm on Saturday.
Following tradition, the Fair will be officially opened on ‘Fair Wednesday’ at 11:00am by the Mayor of Bridgwater.
Road closures and prohibition of on-street parking:
Detailed road closure information is displayed in the notice section of the Bridgwater Mercury at least twice in the run-up to the event, usually late August and mid-September.
Road closures come into place at 9:00am Tuesday 24 September 2024 and are lifted at 10:00am on Sunday 29 September 2024.
West Street, Milton Place, St Matthews Green, Westover Green and St Matthews Field are affected by road closures. Diversion routes will be in place.
Prohibition of parking (and traffic coning) will be in place along many surrounding streets including Northfield, Durleigh Road (to the junction of Woodbury Road), Park Road and Albert Street from 8:00pm on Monday 23 September 2024 until 10:00am on Sunday 29 September 2024.
Westfield Close and Halswell Close will be residents permit only. If residents park without a permit then they are liable to a parking fine.
Car parking:
As in previous years limited parking will be available Thursday to Saturday of fair week, with the Rotary Club of Bridgwater which is located on the Fairfield and costs of £5.00 per vehicle.
Additional public parking is usually available at the YMCA in Friarn Avenue and at Bridgwater Cricket Club on Durleigh Road.
Please note there are additional car parks within the town centre but these are not operated by Bridgwater Town Council
West Street and Fairfield Markets:
The markets we know today, with their stalls set-up through West Street, as well as the one-day horse and goods market held at the top of St Matthews Field, are very different to the original fairs of 800 years ago.
The West Street market runs from Wednesday morning to Saturday evening. The Fairfield market runs all day on ‘Fair Wednesday’ (the last Wednesday in September).
Traders from across the UK attend the West Street and Fairfield markets with products ranging from clothing and shoes, rugs and cushions, bulbs and plants, china and pottery, as well as culinary delights such as the famed welsh cakes, brandy snaps, preserves and jams and much more.
Please see map highlighting the locations of the West Street and Fairfield Markets and the parking days for the Fairfield Market.
Toilets:
Temporary cabin toilets, provided by Bridgwater Town Council, are available behind the One Stop shop next to West Bow House, behind Westfield House on West Street and behind the Horse and Jockey Public House on Fairfield. Temporary cabin toilets, including disabled accessible toilets, are also provided behind the Horse and Jockey Public House on Fairfield.
First Aid:
First Aid during the event is provided by St Johns Ambulance. This service is situated in Westfield Church car park, West Street, from Wednesday to Saturday of fair week. First Aid provision is funded by Bridgwater Town Council.
Alcohol at the Fair:
Visitors to the Fair should be aware that West Street, St Matthews Field and most of the surrounding area are covered by Somerset Council’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). This is an Order designed to tackle nuisance arising from people acting antisocially through drinking excessively in public places. The Order gives the Police and PCSO’s the power to confiscate alcohol within the PSPO area. These powers will be vigorously enforced and anybody bringing alcohol into West Street or St Matthews Field especially can expect to be challenged and may be required to surrender their alcohol. Only alcohol in plastic cups purchased from the hatch at the Horse and Jockey and consumed within the vicinity will be permitted.