Shrewsbury Flower Show ticket prices rise by 15%
Ticket prices for next year's Shrewsbury Flower Show have been increased because of 'rising costs and inflation' bosses said today.
Advanced tickets for the 126th Shrewsbury Flower Show, held in The Quarry on August 9 and 10, will be frozen at 2012 prices until December 31 and then increase by 15 per cent – from £20 to £23 for adults and £18 to £21 for OAPs. On-the-door tickets will rise by 8.3 per cent from £24 to £26 for adults and £22 to £24 for pensioners.
Admission after 6pm will be £15 next year, compared to £10 this year – an increase of 50 per cent.
A new £5 ticket has also been introduced for children under 16 who wish to attend the show with friends – last year entry was free as long as they were accompanied by an adult.
And a new family ticket has also been introduced at £46 in advance or £52 on the day which admits two adults and two children.
The annual floral extravaganza next summer will feature celebrity master baker Paul Hollywood, from BBC2's Great British Bake Off, and popular folk rock group Bellowhead.
Celebrity horticulturalist and garden designer Chris Beardshaw will also be at the event and show bosses said the price hikes, particularly for the evening entry, was to reflect the quality of entertainment on offer.
Brian Goodwin, chair of Shropshire Horticultural Society, which runs the show, said: "The reason for the steep increase in price for the evening entry is because we've managed to get Bellowhead here this time and they are really big at the minute so we've had to pay a fortune to get them here."
He added: "We are in a time of recession and costs are rising so it's getting increasingly difficult year-on-year and when looking at comparable entertainment the entrance fees elsewhere are more considerable.
"It's a tricky balance to strike but people have 12 hours of entertainment each day and we are still cheaper than events such as the Malvern Autumn Show and Tatton Park Show."
Peter Road-Night, Shrewsbury Flower Show secretary, said: "Rising costs and inflation mean that we have had to revise our prices for the 2013 show. However, the price still represents great value for money."
By David Seadon
