Steam shows – too expensive?

My good mate and fellow model engineer Julian and I like to visit as many steam fairs as we can. Covid saw many cancellations so it’s very welcome to see them back again.

So far this year we have visited

Stapleford, which with entry at £5.00 per car was great value, Whissendine for which entry was free, even better value, and Ashby Magna which at £6.00 per person for a big show was also good value.

Next on the agenda is Rempstone which is a big steam rally local to us – I usually treat my family to a day out, which is myself and wife, three daughters and a son-in-law and three grandchildren. This year they have whacked the price up to £15.00 per adult! That would cost me £90.00 just to get us in. Plus nine burgers at around a fiver, nine drinks in the beer tent and the grandchildren haven’t had a coke or ice cream yet or a visit to the fun fair.

My gripe is I simply can’t justify that amount of money at present what with gas and electricity prices rocketing plus petrol.

I do understand the shows have lost some income recently but to try and get it back by increasing the entry fee by 50 per cent in my opinion is not on.

They should be trying to encourage people back to the show not putting them off. I’m not the only one who won’t be going this year so how many more tickets have they got to sell to get back what they will lose by just me not going? Rich Wightman

The Editor replies: I can see Rich’s point, but I can see the other side too. Show organisers really face an unprecedented balancing act this year, coping with greatly increased costs, a lack of income from the past two years and still a threat that Covid could rear its head again. I think the show scene is going to remain pretty unsettled for some time yet...