Events bouncing back at the Yorkshire Event Centre

Events are bouncing back at the Yorkshire Event Centre with a number of new signings – all coming to Harrogate for the first time.

The Great Taste Golden Fork Reception will be held at the YEC this month; the first time it has ever been held outside London. All Great Taste 3-star award-winning products have been re-judged to find this year’s regional Golden Fork Trophy winners and the Great Taste Supreme Champion 2021. These final results will be announced at the Great Taste Golden Fork Reception on Sunday 17 October, at the Yorkshire Event Centre following the first day of Fine Food Show North, a trade-only exhibition organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) are working with UK events company First Event to bring the international ‘All Industry Conference’ to the YEC on Friday November 5th and Saturday 6th. This will be the first time the event has been held in the UK in 30 years. The event, which brings together companies supplying building materials to the construction industry, will focus on sustainable building with an exhibition of the products and systems that will make our homes more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair will be in Hall 1 of the YEC for the first time ever after relocating from Ripley Castle. The popular show promises to be bigger and better than ever with a range of unusual, artisan Christmas gifts by local businesses and entrepreneurs. From sensational festive decorations to wow factor wreaths and stunning stocking fillers, there promises to be something for every generation at the show running from Thursday December 2nd to Sunday 5^th.

And the YEC will host one of the biggest caravan, motorhome and holiday home expos in the UK for the first time in September next year. The event will be split into two events with the public able to see and order the latest models from Friday 2nd September to Sunday 4^th September 2022. This will be followed by the trade-only show from Tuesday 6^th September to Thursday 8^th September when manufacturers will showcase their latest holiday homes, motorhomes and caravans to holiday parks, dealers and distributors from around the world.

Heather Parry, managing director of the YEC, said that securing new events as well as welcoming back regular events, was very positive for the industry and for the Harrogate area as it brings new visitors into the county.

“We are absolutely delighted to be bringing new business to Harrogate and to Yorkshire, with a number of new events signing up with us for the first time. It’s truly wonderful to be back doing what we do best after a tough 18 months.

“We are looking forward to bouncing back, bigger, better and stronger than ever. We have 250 acres of outdoor space to offer event organisers and we can host large scale indoor events in our event halls in the Yorkshire Event Centre, which are complimented by 14 conference, wedding and dinner rooms at the Pavilions of Harrogate.”

In 2019, businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground contributed £73.7 million to the economy. It supported 688 full time equivalent jobs and attracted more than half a million visitors and exhibitors, according to independent research carried out by the Pegasus Group.

When the Covid pandemic struck, the business adapted and the Yorkshire Event Centre was proud to work with the NHS during this period and to become a vaccination hub. During that time, 64,000 first doses and 62,000 second doses were administered at the site.

The Great Yorkshire Show was the first large scale event to be held onsite in July after organisers worked closely with North Yorkshire County Council Public Health and Harrogate Borough Council to ensure the event met strict criteria to go ahead safely.

The Pavilions of Harrogate has had the busiest August ever with a myriad of events and bookings are strong for 2022, with figures ahead of what they were at the same time in 2019.

The Showground’s onsite farm shop and café, Fodder has responded to support customers in different ways during lockdowns and thus the customer base has increased as more people seek to buy local and eat the best. Adjacent to Fodder, the Harrogate Caravan Park is having a bumper year as staycations have increased.

The Association arm of the business has doubled during the pandemic as the team continued to manage the Farm Retail Association and won the tender to manage the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, creating a new income stream. The membership organisation has 320 members nationally and hosts an annual competition to find the best grower among its members with the winner providing the Christmas Tree for No10 Downing Street.

The profits from all these activities are gift aided to the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to help fund their charitable aims.

Upcoming events at the Yorkshire Event Centre and Pavilions of Harrogate

• Fine Food Show North 2021 – Sunday 17th & Monday 18th October: YEC
• Stamperama – Saturday 23rd October: YEC
• Indoor Funfair – Sunday 24th to Sunday 31st October: YEC
• Beadwork Fair – Sunday 24th October: Pavilions
• Decorative, Antiques and Art Sale – Friday 29^th October to Sunday 31^st: Pavilions
• Boden Clothing Sale -Wednesday 3^rd November & Thursday 4^th: Pavilions
• Children and Crime Book Fair – Saturday 13^th November: Pavilions
• PBFA Book Fair – Saturday 13th November: Pavilions
• Rock, Gem N Bead Show – Saturday 27^th November & Sunday 28^th: Pavilions
• The Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair – Thursday December 2^nd to Sunday 5^th YEC

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