Brancepeth Castle
FAQ
Can I bring my dog to the fair?
As the fair is full of delicate, fragile and edible items; and to ensure the enjoyment of all, only highly trained service dogs are allowed into the fair.
Why do you charge an entry fee?
Proceeds from the fairs go directly to maintaining our historic building.
In order to keep stall fees manageable and offer the widest range of stalls, we charge a small entry fee. We believe this offers good value for money given the quality of the fair and that it provides access to large areas of the castle that are not normally open to the public.
We understand that it can be off-putting to some people, so we offer various special offers. Tickets bought in advance using the discount code LATEENTRY allow free access to the fair after 3pm.
When is the best time to visit the fair?
The fair is busiest during the first few hours of each day. But savvy shoppers visit after about 2pm when the fair is quieter but still packed with the same gorgeous crafts.
This gives the opportunity to view the fair in a much more relaxed way, and is the best time to talk with the stallholders and find out more about them and how they make their items.
Visiting later in the day is especially recommended for people in wheelchairs or with pushchairs who can find navigating a crowd more difficult.
Is the fair wheelchair accessible?
Absolutely. The majority of the fair is on a single floor that is easy to navigate. A lift provides access from the courtyard to the function rooms.
What catering is available?
Refreshments are available at both ends of the fair.
The Castle Café serves a popular range of hot drinks, savouries, cakes, hot food, sandwiches with a comfortable seating area. A wide range of dietary requirements are catered for.
The Café Express offers a faster service with a range of takeaway hot drinks and traybakes and limited seating.
Additionally, in the gatehouse, just outside the fair, Café Burgschneider offers it's regular range of hot drinks including barista-style coffees and authentic German cakes.
Do I have to buy a ticket in advance?
It is a great benefit to the smooth running of the fair if tickets are purchased in advance.
It allows us to manage visitor numbers throughout the day and ensure that overcrowding is avoided at peak times.
It has also proved invaluable when bad weather has caused disruption and we are able to provide visitors with important information.
Tickets can be bought online at https://brancepethcastle.uk/book or by phone to 0333 666 3366 (TicketSource box office).
However, for those who are unable to buy tickets in advance we do sell tickets on the gate.
Is there car parking?
We provide free car parking on the grass outside the walls of the castle. Please follow the instructions of the stewards on arrival, and let them know about any mobility requirements.
We have invested in improving the parking experience in recent years with extra matting and additional lighting in the parking areas. It can get muddy and sensible footwear is advised; the experienced team are on hand to assist any drivers who come into difficulty.
Who runs the fair?
The fair is run by members of the extended Dobson family who have owned and lived in the castle since 1979. Most of the staff at the fair are volunteers and are members or friends of the family.
Stall list
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1. Outlaws and Vagabonds 🔗
13th century living history and medieval re-enactment group -
2. True North Trades Blacksmithing 📞 📧 🔗
Bespoke blacksmithing and hand forged items -
3. Fat Rabbit Crafts 📧 🔗 📷
Chopping boards made from fallen trees -
5. Merchandise and Tours at Brancepeth Castle 📞 📧 🌐
Brancepeth Castle cards, notebooks, gifts, and tours -
6. Pip Hobbs Art 📞 📧 🌐
Art prints of whimsical creatures and classical florals -
7. Sterling Crafts 📞 📧
Unique, affordable, quality jewellery -
8. Hippy Lizard 📞 📧 🌐
Paintings, colourful textile gifts, and unique accessories -
9. Sea Stone Jewellery 📞 📧 🌐
Hand-sculpted gold and silver jewellery inspired by the coast -
10. Oakwood Soaperie 📞 📧 🌐
Handmade natural soaps and skincare products -
11. Jaroslav Pottery 📧 🌐
Art ceramics in distinct and diverse styles -
12. Christine Cave Art 📞 📧 🌐
Original art in soft pastels and mixed media -
13. Magic Clay by Tatjana 📞 📧
Ceramic homeware, kitchenware, and pendants -
14. Jane Charles Studio Glass 📞 📧 🌐
Freeblown studio glass bottles, bowls, and vases -
15. H.i.R.U 📞 📧 🌐
Handmade crochet bags, scarves, and accessories -
16. The Sea the Sea Studio 📧 📷
Handmade driftwood sculptures from the North East coast -
17. The Felted Fleece 📞 📧 🌐
Living fleeces, felt back rugs, throws, and wraps -
18. Tony Frisby Photography 📞 📧 🌐
Natural abstract photographs -
19. The Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club 📞 📧 🌐
Handmade traditional pies and puddings -
20. The Jamporium 📞 📧
Fruit preserves, marmalades, jellies, curds, and chutneys -
21. South Durham Honey 📞 📧 🌐
Local honey, beeswax candles, and bee-themed giftwear -
24. Muckle Brewing 📞 📧 🌐
Bottle-conditioned beers and lagers -
25. Respect Soaps Ltd 📞 📧 🌐
Soap, haircare, bodycare, and scented decorative items -
26. Plantshots 📞 📧 🌐
Plant-growing kits: wildflowers, herbs, and Christmas tree seeds -
27. RedDragonfly Silks 📞 📧 🌐
Hand-painted silk scarves, pictures, lamps, and silk-on-glass artefacts -
28. Alison Hill's Studios 📞 📧 🌐
Nature-inspired artwork in pen, capturing movement and light -
29. Uwe Raw Cotton 📞 📧
Curvaceous ladies' clothing made from natural fibres -
30. Ella’s Handstitched Cards 📞 📧
Hand-stitched cards for all occasions -
31. Northumberland Cheese Company 📞 📧 🌐
Award-winning, handmade, artisan cheese -
32. North Chocolates 📞 📧 🌐
Luxury, hand-made, award-winning chocolate bars -
33. Loopy Lisa's Fudge 📞 📧 🌐
Authentic handmade crumbly fudges and Belgian chocolate -
34. MYcrafts 📧 📷
Handmade welcome wreaths and small floral arrangements -
36. Metals and Petals 📞 📧
Nature-inspired handmade silver and resin jewellery -
37. Alison Tutcher Milliner 📞 📧 🌐
Handmade everyday wearable hats and refashioned timeless chic -
38. 2 Knit Tog 📞 📧
Knitted and sewn children's clothes and ladies' accessories -
39. Durham Wildlife Trust 📞 📧 🌐
Local charity restoring wildlife and nature -
40. Kilday & Co 📧 🌐
Handmade luxury home, kitchen, and giftware -
41. Ruth Haldon 📞 📧 🌐
On-trend and unique handmade jewellery -
42. Four Cats to Feed 📞 📧 🔗
Unique handmade quirky gifts and goodies -
43. Lynn's Novelty Knits 📞 📧
Knitting and crochet: bookmarks, bags, and animal figures -
44. Little Bear Ceramics 📞 📧
Hand-sculpted ceramics of animals and 3D animal heads -
45. Feisc 📞 📧 🌐
Award-winning luxury fragrance, beauty, and skincare products -
46. Woodturning Hartlepool 📞 📧 🌐
Wood-turned products from locally supplied timbers -
47. Mickey Blue Jewellery 📞 📧 🌐
Unique chainmaille and fine silver jewellery -
48a. Fieldhouse Pottery 📧 📷
Beautiful hand-thrown pottery with bespoke glazes -
48b. Remade by Sally J 📞 📧 📷
Clothing and accessories for people and pets from reclaimed textiles -
49. All About Words Designs 📞 📧 🌐
Word-based art celebrating what's important to you -
50. Emily Ward Art Limited 📞 📧 🌐
Gift range made from original artwork by Emily Ward -
51. CraftsByJessiG 📧 📷
Notebooks, badges, and digitally designed colourful items -
52. Durham Soap Co 📞 📧 🌐
Artisan luxurious natural soaps and bathroom products -
53. Andy Firth Bespoke 📞 📧 🌐
Hardwood and resin artwork, gifts, and homewares -
54. Green Man Arts & Crafts 📞 📧 🔗
Spiritual and historically inspired jewellery and artwork -
55. FiftyEleven 📧 🌐
Handcrafted woodwork: gifts, jewellery, decorations, and custom pyrography -
56. Creatrix Copper Creations 📞 📧 🔗
Handcrafted pure copper jewellery and accessories -
58. Art of Transparency 📞 📧 🌐
Unique hand-crafted fused glass -
59. Biscuillustrations 📧 🌐
Handmade shortbread biscuits with royal icing and hand-painted designs -
60. Coffea Espression Roasters & Shop 📞 📧 🌐
Uniquely sourced coffee from Colombia and Brazil -
63. Saffie's Glass Studio 📞 📧 📷
Fused glass gifts, decorations, commissions, and workshops -
64. J&R Armitage Ltd - Armitage Sparkling Wines 📞 📧 🌐
Ciders, sparkling apple wine, sparkling elderflower wine, and cider vinegar -
65. Teviot Knitwear Hawick Ltd 📞 📧 🌐
Knitted garments and accessories made in Scotland -
66. Jane Harbottle Wildlife Artist 📞 📧 🌐
Wildlife paintings and giftware inspired by nature -
67. The Northumberland Milliner 📞 📧 🌐
Couture millinery and millinery accessories -
69. Mud Fox Ceramics 📞 📧 🌐
Bespoke contemporary ceramics handcrafted in Durham -
70. Senyucraft 📞 📧 🌐
Sustainable handwoven textiles connecting heritage and design -
71. Vira Melenets 📞 📧
Ukrainian traditional ribbon embroidery -
72. Brancepeth Archives 📞 📧 🌐
Local history publications and cards -
73. Brancepeth Castle Books 📞 📧 🌐
Books and posters from Brancepeth Castle bookshop café -
74. St Cuthberts Hospice 📞
St Cuthberts Hospice Christmas cards inside the Castle Café
