Brancepeth Castle
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About the fair
Our Craft Fair showcases some of the best arts and crafts the North East has to offer.
A wide range of beautiful, delicious, useful and most of all unique items in the inspiring setting of Brancepeth Castle. See inside and outside a beautiful private castle setting (the UK home of CBBC's Lady Grace Mysteries, and featured in Channel 4's Saving Country Houses).
- Over 70 Stalls showcasing handmade crafts
- Workshops and Demonstrations
- Private Chapel and Archives Room open to visit
- Medieval re-enactment group
- Delicious homemade hot and cold food, cakes and scones available
- Free parking
- Wheelchair access throughout
- Free catalogue of exhibitors
The fair is open between 10am and 5pm on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November, and between noon and 5pm on Sunday 29 November.
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 FREEAFTER3
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 its 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 both anticipate and manage visitor numbers throughout the day and avoid overcrowding 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 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.
