Royal showground

[stirdup]

It is several years since the last Royal Show. What has happened to the showground? Who owns it /did own it? Does the RASE have assets and if so what are they being used for? It was a huge site and we hear nothing about it.

 

[Barleycorn]

I heard that HS2 was going through the middle of it if it ever happens.

 

[Bob c]

rugby farmers mart is there in one corner

 

[chaffcutter]

I think the buildings are all used, NFU based there, also City&Guilds who admin NoRoSo. and some breed societies?

Also the horse facilities I think?

Don’t know if th Showground is used much though.

@Clive and @Chris F were there a few weeks ago, might know more

 

[uztrac]

Many moons ago I was a governor of the RASE,what excellent lunches we had during The Royal Show. What has happened to the show ground I have no idea,are the AHDB located there ?

 

[Gong Farmer]

AHDB have a big presence there.

 

[lloyd]

Was sad to see it end .
It was the best agricultural show for a mixed farmer in my opinion.
Don't miss the car parking on a very wet year though

 

[Derrick Hughes]

What about the dairy farm is that still going

 

[texas pete]

Hmm, mismanagement (deliberate or otherwise) and incompetence from the RASE in general lead to the downfall of a once great occasion. Perhaps the best opportunity to get the entire industry together annually, along with a fantastic shop window.

I grew up with the show being one of the highlights of our calendar, seeing the show run down, bit by bit was sad and I fail to see how those concerned managed to f**k up a situation as well as they did. A group of self serving individuals who have a hell of a lot to answer for IMHO. A fine, owned show ground in the middle of the country and it ended up as it did.

What a shame we don't possess the same sense of national identity as our Welsh and Scottish cousins

 

[Muck Spreader]

The place is still on the go for exhibitions and events by the look of it
http://www.stoneleighparkestate.com/events.html

 

[Clive]

It is several years since the last Royal Show. What has happened to the showground? Who owns it /did own it? Does the RASE have assets and if so what are they being used for? It was a huge site and we hear nothing about it.

It’s like a ghost town of slowly decaying buildings and show facility

Amongst the decay are a few active buildings like the (very) facncy AHDB and NFU offices

The halls there are still used and have sone shows like the shooting show (until it moved to the nec last year) retro race etc and buildings like the Aurther Rank Center still host various conferences and meetings

Seem to find myself there quite a lot
But it always seems strange seeing some of the show buildings around the main ring looking abandoned almost like a scene from Chenobal !

 

[Tarw Coch]

What about the dairy farm is that still going

No, the dairy unit was wound up a few years before the show finished.
IIRC there was a pig unit there too, I presume that finished about the same time.

 

[wanton dwarf]

Housing estate incomng ...

 

[Bruce Almighty]

What about the dairy farm is that still going

That went years ago
As said above, it's in a sorry state.

The Kennel Club is based there & I think their expansion means Rugby Farmers Mart have to move from there soon

HS2 will go through the grand ring (if it happens)

How could it all go so wrong ?

 

[Tarw Coch]

IIRC. NFYFC are also based there.

 

[Clive]

Think farmers have to take some responsibility maybe ?

Look at the attitude towards Cereals and LAMMA we see on threads here

One day those shows will stop running and then everyone will start crying about how there should s a summer / winter show !

Use them or loose them and stop bregrudging the fact that someone might make a shilling out of you running them - no one is going to provide facilities for nothing

 

[texas pete]

No, the dairy unit was wound up a few years before the show finished.
IIRC there was a pig unit there too, I presume that finished about the same time.

I remember all the units shutting, Sheep and Beef too I think?

I think, like the show in general it was easier to run/close everything down, rather than do anything proactive.

 

[rusty]

DairyTec show run by RABDF was there in Feb this year in 2 of the exhibition halls. As @Clive has said the buildings around the old main ring look like something from a ghost town. Appear to have been abandoned since the Royal show finished.

 

[texas pete]

Think farmers have to take some responsibility maybe ?

Look at the attitude towards Cereals and LAMMA we see on threads here

One day those shows will stop running and then everyone will start crying about how there should s a summer / winter show !

Use them or loose them and stop bregrudging the fact that someone might make a shilling out of you running them - no one is going to provide facilities for nothing

It's chicken and egg though isn't it?

The Royal was a good very well attended show. Exhibiting became prohibitively expensive, exhibitors stayed away, attendance dropped, the show closed....It was that way around, not the other. (as is happening at Cereals) Poor management killed it, not industry staying away.

Your point about making a shilling...the RASE is a charity so the shilling was staying in the industry it that instance, unlike Haymarket et al.

 

[Still Farming]

Everything that was good they ban or close.
Central of Country location the lot.
Royal Show Summer.
Smithfield Winter.
Heard Grassland etc.there moving also? is it?
What about Stonleigh Abbey and parks etc.?