Attention mainland-based plant nurseries and growers…Enjoy free free travel and a free outdoor selling pitch at the 2025 Isle of Wight Spring Art & Garden Fair this April!

The Isle of Wight Spring Art & Garden Fair  has become one of the busiest early season events on the Island and is a great opportunity for a range of quality Isle of Wight and the UK Mainland businesses to promote and sell their products and produce.

The Spring Fair will take place this year is on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th April 2025  (Good Friday & Easter Saturday ) and will be open for visitors between 10am and 5pm daily.

The great news for mainland-based plant nurseries is that our sponsors Red Funnel Ferries are giving free return ferry travel to and from the Island and are covering the cost of an outdoor sales pitch at the event, which makes attending the Fair very cost effective indeed (some would say a “no-brainer”!) saving you several hundreds of pounds of travel costs and booking fees.  Quality plant nurseries are the main attraction of the event after all!

But hurry, free ferry space is limited and we can’t offer this indefinitely.

With over 4500 visitors in 2024, the Spring Fair continues to grow in popularity and with enhanced support from Red Funnel Ferries in 2025, more footfall from the mainland via the Southampton Hi-Speed Red Jet is certainly on the cards.

The Fair of course has a specific focus on art and gardening and businesses who trade in to these sectors are particularly encouraged to take part. So if you have a UK mainland-based plant nursery who attends RHS shows and similar plant/gardening type events, this event could be right up your street and we would love you to take part!

What better way to start the new season than a show focusing on everything to do with the Isle of Wight’s  favourite pastime..gardening? It’s a great chance to activate promotions and show off a range of all your latest plants and products to a wide audience looking to not only see, but buy!

Of course, it’s not just about plants and flowers. Producers and retailers of other quality items are welcome to attend over the weekend, including art, craft and local food (for take-home consumption only, though sampling is of course permitted!). Also, charities and local organisations and businesses who want to promote themselves are welcome to attend. Applications from vehicle dealerships are also welcome and may benefit from the Fair’s visitor demographic.

The two-day fair will be the first prime selling opportunity of the year.  Easter provides one of the first  ‘Get Outdoors’ weekend of the season, when customers are at their most eager to revamp their gardens and buy new items for the upcoming season.

The event will be staged on the lawns and within the grounds of Northwood House and Park, now one of the Island’s leading event venues. The venue is managed by Northwood House Charitable Trust, with proceeds from the event going to the charity. This will help to continue the ongoing restoration of this iconic Island building for future generations of Islanders to enjoy.

The event will also feature arena entertainment, live music and demonstrations throughout the weekend, as well as a huge range of quality exhibitors, including, hopefully, yourselves!

To make a booking for your plant nursery to attend the event for free from the mainland (including free ferry return travel) you will need the following:

Your vehicle registration, make and model.

Length of vehicle in meters (and your trailer if applicable).

Height of your vehicle in meters.

Number of passengers (including yourself).

Date & Time of preferred travel from Southampton the the Isle of Wight on Thursday 17th April or early on Friday 18th April.

Date & Time of preferred travel from the Isle of Wight back to Southampton on Saturday 18th April (evening) or on  Sunday 19th April  if you want to enjoy the Isle of Wight for an extra day.

Your choice of outside pitch size  to cover 2 days of trading . Book a space up 3m, 6m or 9m wide by 3m, 6m or 9m deep to include space for your vehicle…any size you need to fit your requirements.  Note: you’ll need  to provide a gazebo/all weather cover for some or all of your stand as you’ll  be sited outside.

Travel is only available via the Red Funnel car ferry service from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. East Cowes is around 30 minutes from the venue via the main town of Newport.

Travel directions from Southampton to Northwood House & Park in Cowes: https://goo.gl/maps/5oq5kJd7WCH2                 

Post code for Sat Nav: PO31 8AZ

Ferry travel times:

Please use the ticketing  section at the bottom of the page to make your booking after reading the information below:

Exhibitor information for all outside pitches / terms and conditions 2025 (sorry-it’s the boring bit)

(Note: we advise you to please copy and save this information digitally for your records)

By booking a pitch, exhibitors agree to read, understand  and abide by the terms and conditions stated below:

Mainland plant nurseries: Free ferry travel and a free outside selling pitch.

1. Thanks to our sponsors Red Funnel Ferries, mainland-based plant nurseries who want to attend the Fair are sponsored to have free outdoor sales pitches from sizes 3m x 3m up to 9m x 9m as well as free return ferry travel to the Isle of Wight.

2. Free ferry return ferry travel is available subject to a maximum allowed quota of vehicles at specific crossing times. The sooner you book the better as we wont be able to offer free ferry ferry travel indefinitely. Easter is a busy time of year for Island tourism and ferry space gets booked up well in advance.

3. We will endeavour to book  your ferry crossing times as closely to the requested times as possible but can’t guarantee the availability of any specific crossing time until we book it on your behalf. We will confirm with you your exact crossing times and booking reference number as soon as we have made the booking for you.

4. Cars, 4 x4’s and larger commercial vehicles are permitted to book for ferry travel and may have trailer if required.

5. Once a ferry booking is confirmed by us it cannot be amended without paying an administration fee of £25.00 +Vat.

6. Ferries can be subject to delay or cancellation due to weather, mechanical breakdown and other factors beyond anyone’s control. We cannot be responsible for delays or cancellations that may effect your attendance at the event.

7. Bookings are subject to confirming the size of outside pitch you require. Please only book the size you need and not bigger in order not to waste unnecessary space in the event area.

8. Larger pitches (bigger than 9m x 9m) are available, but will incur standard pitch booking fees from £250. Please call if you wish to discuss larger options.

9. Travel is only available via the Red Funnel car ferry service from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. East Cowes is around 25 minutes from the venue via the main town of Newport. Directions will be provided to all mainland exhibitors.

10. Mainland exhibitors will be responsible for finding their own local accommodation for the duration of the event. Exhibitors can stay on site over night in their vehicles be arrangement.

11. Nursery exhibitors must agree to guarantee attendance on both days of the event between the hours of 10am and 5pm. We are unable to take bookings for single event days only.

12. We will send you a confirmation of your booking once received, but please allow up to 7 working days to hear from us to give us time to book the ferry travel.

What are you selling?/Our right to cancel

13: We require you to confirm what types of plants you will be selling at the Fair in the booking form. Even though its unlikely, we reserve the right to cancel the booking and refund any fee if we don’t believe the nature or quality of what you are vending fits in with our event. Our decision is final. If you are in doubt, you should contact Chris Newnham or Darren Cool at Northwood House before booking on 01983 293642 or email events@northwoodhouse.org

Cancellation:

14 . In the unlikely event that the  Fair is cancelled for any reason on or before 10am on Friday 18th April (eg because of an horrific weekend weather forecast where H&S issues then dictate) , we will contact you as soon as possible to prevent you from travelling if we can. If the Fair is cancelled, no liability is accepted for any items produced or prepared specifically for sale at the Fair or for any additional expenses occurred in relation to attending the event, sorry.

Insurances:

15. All plant nurseries exhibitors do need to hold Public Liability Insurance with an appropriate level of cover to attend the Fair. Please email a copy of your current certificate to Chris at this email: events@northwoodhouse.org  If the current policy expires before the date of the Fair ,a copy of the new certificate will be supplied in advance of your attendance in April.

16. Exhibitors are responsible for ensuring their belongings are fully insured. Northwood House Charitable Trust Co. Ltd. will
not be held responsible in the unlikely event of loss, theft or any damages that may be incurred during the event or if items have been left on the show site overnight.

Security:

17. Security personnel will patrol the exterior gardens and parkland on the evening and night of Thursday 17th and Friday 18th April. However, due to the large size of the site, we cannot guarantee a direct line of sight on your plot at all times. Therefore, all items are left on site at the exhibitor’s risk. If in any doubt, you should remove items from your pitch during closed event periods, although you can leave gazebos in place.

Setting up/down & replenishment:

18. All Fair exhibitors will be able to set up/down and replenish their plots at the following times:

• 12pm- 7.30pm (set up) on Thursday 17th April
• 7.30am-9.30am (set up) & 5.15pm-6.30pm (replenish) on Friday 18th April
• 8.30am-9.30am (replenish) & from 5pm-6.30pm (take down) on Saturday 19th April

Mainland-based exhibitors should book ferry travel that allow them to get to the site to meet these times and be set up ready to trade by 9.15am.

19. Unless prior arrangement has been made with Event Management, exhibitors must pack down their displays and
vacate the premises by 6.30pm once the fair is finished on the evening of Saturday 19th April. We are unable to store items in
the House. There will be no security personnel on duty on the Saturday night.

20. Although a general site plan may be available in the several weeks leading up to the Fair, only
upon your arrival at Northwood House & Park will you be shown your designated plot. Unless agreed by prior
arrangement with Event Management to cater for specific needs (space for large sculptures, for example), Event
Management make no guarantees about plot allocations and these are allotted at our discretion based on customer flow and variation of exhibitor.

21. Exhibitors will receive one car parking permit for use on the event field for parking over the weekend and for setting up and down periods.

Gazebos, tables and electricity:

22. Exhibitors with outdoor plots will need to bring their own gazebos for shelter. However they must fit within the dimensions of their plot and not encroach on their neighbour’s allotted space. Please consider the size of your gazebo when choosing the size of your plot.

23. Gazebos and shelters should be erected in accordance with manufactures guidance and should be secured appropriately with weights and anchors in case of windy weather. We only recommend commercial grade gazebos should be used at outdoor public events where ever possible.

24.  Trestle tables are excluded in your pitch fee although we can hire 1.8m trestles for use over the weekend. These must be booked in advance only and are charge at £10 + vat each to hire if required. Please get in touch directly to book these.

25. Access to electricity is not available for outside pitches unless by prior arrangement. Please call Chris Newnham on 01983 293642 to discuss.

26. Generators of any type are not permitted on site unless by prior arrangement.

Waste/Damage/Environment:

27. Exhibitors are responsible for removing all rubbish and waste from their plots at the end of each day.

28. Exhibitors must take reasonable care not to cause damage to any part of the Fair site at any time. Northwood House is
a Grade II* listed building and the use of any adhesives (tapes, Blu-Tac, drawing pins, etc) or fixings on interior and exterior walls is
strictly prohibited.

29. Exhibitors should not remove turf from outside pitches or make any damage to grass. Event Management reserve the right to forward on costs for repairs/reinstatement, accordingly. In the case of wet weather, exhibitors should not drive on the grass unless by prior permission of event management.

30. In order to reduce not only our carbon footprint but our costs, we reserve the right to communicate our
correspondences electronically, so please ensure you provide us with an email address, taking due care to write it
accurately in the booking section. We also encourage exhibitors to provide eco-friendly packaging and carry-bags for customer purchases where ever possible.

Media/advertising:

31. Northwood House Charitable Trust Co. Ltd. reserves the right to use your name/business name and images of your
exhibit in promotional materials, including but not limited to social media posts (Facebook and Instagram), website
and newsletter content, posters and banners.

32. We reserve the right to pass on your email contact details to our event media partners, who may contact you directly to
feature your business via their chosen platform (digital or print). Any such features are understood to be by prior
mutual arrangement between the exhibitor and said media. Northwood House Charitable Trust Co. Ltd. accepts no
responsibility for any content published by a third party.

GDPR:

33. Information we collect about you regarding this event is managed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations. Please click here for our policy.

Who we are: Northwood House Charitable Trust Co. Ltd

34. Northwood House Charitable Trust Co. Ltd is the sole trustee of Northwood House Charitable Trust. We are the charity that was set up in 2010 to take over the ownership of Northwood House & Park from the Isle of Wight Council and have responsibility for the restoration and maintenance of the Northwood House Estate  as well as provide recreational benefit for the community around us. Surpluses generated form this event go to meet our charitable objectives. By booking with us you are contributing to our efforts, so thank you for your support.

You now have all the information you need to proceed with a booking. Select  1 x “IW Spring Art & Garden Fair Booking for Mainland Nurseries” in the ticket section below to enable you to add all the booking information.

Note: Please have your vehicle details to hand.