Despite ongoing negotiations with the estate management at Belvoir Castle, it has not been possible to reach an agreement to stage the Belvoir Castle Steam Festival & Family Show in 2013 and beyond.
The land has been offered to another event organiser for an event of a non-competing nature, which spans the regular dates for the steam festival. The agreement entered into gives the new event – which we understand to be a one-off event – complete freedom of access across the land known as Knipton Pasture, which is integral to the steam festival.
The organisers felt that such an arrangement was unworkable, and the estate have offered other dates later in the year, which are also unacceptable.
Having spent several months looking for an alternative venue close to Belvoir and on the same dates, the organisers have been unable to secure a suitable venue. Therefore it has been decided to move the event to Rockingham Castle, near Corby, and to run on June 1-2.
The new site is a prestigious venue, in keeping with the location at Belvoir Castle. The parkland is equally attractive and access to the site is much easier, plus there are a number of other benefits to using the site.
The organisers are disappointed not to be able to capitalise on what would have been its tenth anniversary at Belvoir Castle, but are confident that the new venue at Rockingham Castle will give the event a secure future and a positive base to build upon moving forward.
Further details will be posted on the event's web site at
www.steamfestival.co.uk
Paul Appleton and Phil Wing